On October 16-19, 2023, a meeting of like-minded people was held in Almaty, to inaugurate a new regional professional network for women called “Women in Nuclear in Central Asia” (WINCA).

The first WINCA inaugural meeting in Almaty focused on the formation of this network, its concept, and structure.  The meeting was opened by the U.S Consul General in Almaty, Ms. Michelle Yerkin, who was introduced by Ms. Constance McAninch, Director of the Department of Energy Office at the U.S. Embassy in Astana. In her remarks, Consul General emphasized the importance of the network’s mission to unite women in the nuclear field, to help them find their common voice to identify challenges and opportunities for women in the nuclear sector, and to encourage collaboration in overcoming these challenges.

Ms. Erin MacLaughlin from NNSA’s Office of International Nuclear Security, Ms. Aiymgul Frith from ISTC, Ms. Zarina Sayfieva from WiN Tajikistan, and Ms. Olga Martin from LANL provided welcome remarks.

Among the active participants of the meeting, representing Central Asian initiatives to support women in Central Asia were:

  • Togzhan Seifullina, WiN Kazakhstan.
  • Taalaibek Bektashev, WiN Kyrgyzstan.
  • Zarina Saifieva, WiN Tajikistan.
  • Marina Li, Initiatives to support women in Uzbekistan.

Also other experts in nuclear and other related fields from these Central Asian countries, representing national regulatory authorities, academia, industry and civil society.

International participation was represented by:

  • U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
  • National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).
  • U.S. Department of State.
  • World Institute of Nuclear Security (Austria).
  • Women in Nuclear Global (WiN Global).
  • King’s College of London (UK).
  • Malaysian Nuclear Agency.
  • Black Sea Women Network.
  • Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (Programme Office in Astana).

This event was organized with the support of the National Nuclear Safety Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE/NNSA), the James Martin Center for Non-Proliferation Studies (CNS) and the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC).

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