For the nuclear sector, social license as a term that applies to all things nuclear is a relatively new thing, but in discussions about AUKUS, it is one that is often discussed as something we ‘need to get’. But what that even mean for this context? And is social license even a useful thing to seek?

Our guest today, Dr Cathy Moloney, has been thinking about this topic for some time, so we invited her in to share her thoughts.

Cathy is is an independent strategic adviser with more than two decades’ experience across academia, government and industry. She specialises in defence; national security; foreign, nuclear and strategic policy; and critical minerals. Cathy provides senior leaders with independent strategic counsel, geopolitical analysis, red-team insight, and stakeholder and market-entry guidance for Australia’s strategic environment.

Formerly the Vice President in The Asia Group’s Australia practice, she has held senior roles including Deputy Director of the Defence Strategy and National Security Program at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute; Director and Senior Adviser at the Centre for Defence Research, Australian Defence College; and subject-matter expert to the Australian Defence Force’s Joint Warfare Development Branch and the Office of the Chief of the Defence Force.

A published researcher and former Editor of the Australian Journal of Defence and Strategic Studies, Cathy holds a PhD in Australian nuclear policy and international relations. She also serves on the Executive Committee of Women in Nuclear Australia and is a member of the Asia Pacific Leadership Network for Non-Proliferation and Disarmament.

CREDITS

Guest: Dr Cathy Moloney

Host: A/Prof Elizabeth Williams

Assistant Producer: Dr Julieanne Dougherty

Audio Producer: Martin Franklin (East Coast Studio)

The usual end matter:

Nuclear Matters is a production of the Australian National University College of Systems and Society and the ANU Nuclear Stewardship Network. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands on which this podcast is being recorded on or listened to, and pay our respects to their Elders – and all First Nations people.

If you want to send us some feedback on an episode, email us at nuclearmatterspodcast@anu.edu.au.

Keep in mind that this podcast is intended for information and education only. In particular, nothing in this episode is intended to serve as medical advice - please consult a qualified medical practitioner.

The views and opinions expressed in each episode are those of the individual speakers and do not represent the official policy or position of the Australian National University College of Systems and Society or the University as a whole.

In this episode, our host, Liz Williams, chats with Mark Schneider about nuclear supply chains and workforce readiness. Mark is the Chief Nuclear Officer for UBH Group, and he's spent much of his adult life in the nuclear industry. He was invited to join us for an episode because of his work on helping companies meet a standard called ISO 19443, which was designed to help companies internationally contribute safely to a nuclear supply chain. Over the course of the episode, we learn why this standard is being discussed in Australia, what it’s meant to do, and how that fits into the broader picture of Australia’s contribution to AUKUS.

CREDITS

Guest: Mark Schneider, UBH Group

Host / Producer: Liz Williams, ANU School of Engineering

Assistant Producer: Julieanne Dougherty (ANU Nuclear Stewardship Network)

Audio Producer: Martin Franklin (East Coast Studio)

Thanks to Ashley Schneider, who originally introduced Liz to Mark.

Links to organisations / information mentioned in the show:

IAEA

Framatome

ISO 19443

DuraTec

UBH Group

The usual end matter:

Nuclear Matters is a production of the Australian National University College of Systems and Society and the ANU Nuclear Stewardship Network. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands on which this podcast is being recorded on or listened to, and pay our respects to their Elders – and all First Nations people.

If you want to send us some feedback on an episode, email us at nuclearmatterspodcast@anu.edu.au.

Keep in mind that this podcast is intended for information and education only. In particular, nothing in this episode is intended to serve as medical advice - please consult a qualified medical practitioner.

The views and opinions expressed in each episode are those of the individual speakers and do not represent the official policy or position of the Australian National University College of Systems and Society or the University as a whole.

Gold is mined at about one gram per tonne, which means every decision a gold mining company makes rests on somebody being able to measure a very small amount of gold, very accurately, in a very large amount of rock. Our guest in this episode replaced the century-old chemical method for doing that with an approach that draws from nuclear science.

Dr James Tickner is chief scientist and co-founder of Chrysos Corporation. In this wide ranging discussion, we talk about mining, entrepreneurship, and the sometimes tricky process involved in changing how things are done in a well-established industry like mining.

CREDITS

Guest: Dr James Tickner

Host: A/Prof Elizabeth Williams

Producer: Martin Franklin (East Coast Studio)

The usual end matter:

Nuclear Matters is a production of the Australian National University College of Systems and Society and the ANU Nuclear Stewardship Network. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands on which this podcast is being recorded on or listened to, and pay our respects to their Elders – and all First Nations people.

If you want to send us some feedback on an episode, email us at nuclearmatterspodcast@anu.edu.au.

Keep in mind that this podcast is intended for information and education only. In particular, nothing in this episode is intended to serve as medical advice - please consult a qualified medical practitioner.

The views and opinions expressed in each episode are those of the individual speakers and do not represent the official policy or position of the Australian National University College of Systems and Society or the University as a whole.