PHOENIX - For the seventh year at the Waste Management Conference, EM contractor Fluor hosted a discussion on the expanding role of women in environmental management this month in a panel session attended by more than 250 people. 

   The session was led by Carol Johnson, president and CEO of Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, the EM Savannah River Site management and operations contractor. Panelists Joyce Connery, chairwoman of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB); Ann McCall, director of Waste Management, for Radioactive Waste Management Ltd, a subsidiary of the United Kingdom’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority; and Dyan Foss, global managing director, CH2M Nuclear Sector, engaged in a candid dialogue about inspired leadership. 

   “For me, there is a difference between a transactional manager and an inspirational leader,” McCall said. “An inspirational leader has the ability to communicate a clear vision, motivate their teams, and empower them to contribute to its realization. They also have the ability to communicate expectations so that the people around them have clarity on where they fit in.” 

Newcomers look for more than a paycheck

   The panelists talked about how they create opportunities for young people interested in nuclear careers.

   “It’s a fact that we have more people retiring than we do choosing environmental and nuclear fields as their profession,” Foss said. “I see more and more recent college grads who want to make a difference, and the work we do allows us to do that, not just for our generation, but for generations to come. As an industry, our recruiting messaging needs to reflect that.”

   As the first woman and youngest chair of the DNFSB, Connery was asked if she considers herself a trailblazer.

   “The first step on the road to success is being honest with yourself about what you’re good at,” she said. “Know your strengths and put yourself in situations that allow you to contribute in a meaningful way. That’s the best approach to opening doors, even doors that haven’t been opened before. Being a trailblazer is a combination of hard work, some luck, and a positive attitude, and you also have to be passionate about what you do.”

Giving back on the job and in the community

   A Fluor official noted the company's charitable contributions to organizations focused on medical research and quality care access.

   “Community involvement is a touchstone for Fluor and something that our entire team feels strongly about,” said Greg Meyer, Fluor senior vice president and Waste Management Symposia board member. “I always look forward to this event because of the spirited conversations that it generates, and because it highlights some truly phenomenal leaders. These topics will have a lasting effect and we’re hopeful that the donations we make on behalf of the attendees will have an equally significant impact.”

   Meyer announced that Fluor will donate $7,500 to the American Cancer Society and $7,500 to the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade.

   Connery, a cancer survivor, recalled her initial diagnosis, and the importance of having a solid support network.

   “When you hear that you have cancer, it’s terrifying,” she said. “But because of organizations like the Avon Foundation and the American Cancer Society, there’s help available when you need it. The Women of Waste Management event was a reminder on several different levels that we’re not in this alone.”