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Isotopes for Hope: Canadian Leadership Needed Now More Than Ever

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

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The Empire Club of Canada Presents:
Isotopes for Hope: Canadian Leadership Needed Now More Than Ever

For over a half-century, Canada has been a World leader in the development and use of life-saving medical isotopes to enable modern health care, sterilization of medical equipment and the diagnosis and treatment of Cancer. The Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council is a national organization focused on asserting the Country’s leadership role globally to ensure the World is supplied with these critical Isotopes that Canada is uniquely positioned to provide. With growing geo-political tensions and Russia historically being a large supplier, along with growing demand for and uses of Isotopes the World needs Canada’s leadership now more than ever. Lives depend on it.

*The content presented is free of charge but please note that the Empire Club of Canada retains copyright. Neither the speeches themselves nor any part of their content may be used for any purpose other than personal interest or research without the explicit permission of the Empire Club of Canada.*

*Views and Opinions Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the speakers or panelists are those of the speakers or panelists and do not necessarily reflect or represent the official views and opinions, policy or position held by The Empire Club of Canada.*

headshot of James  Scongack

James Scongack

Chair, Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council

The Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council (CNIC) is an independent organization consisting of representatives from various levels within the Canadian health sector, nuclear industry and research bodies, convened specifically to advocate for our country’s role in the production of the world’s isotope supply. The organization serves as a voice in safeguarding the continued availability of isotopes, ensuring our public policies are risk-informed and science-based, and supporting the highest levels of public health and safety.

James Scongack is the Executive Vice President, Operational Services & Chief Development Officer Bruce Power. He is currently on a rotational assignment through 2023 leading the day-to-day operations of the Bruce B Nuclear Generating Station – a four CANDU Reactor nuclear facility that produces 15% of Ontario’s electricity and is one of the World’s largest producers of medical isotopes.

He also serves as Chair of the Independent Electricity System Operator Stakeholder Advisory Committee and the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO).

James has been awarded the Platinum Jubilee Award in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s 70th Anniversary on the Throne for his work on COVID-19 Provincial vaccination efforts, the Globe and Mail Report on Business 2022 Best Executive Awards and Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 by Caldwell/Bloomberg.

headshot of Kumutha  Ramanathan

Kumutha Ramanathan

Moderator
Financial Markets Reporter/Fill-in Anchor, BNN Bloomberg

Kumutha Ramanathan is an award-winning international journalist.

From Toronto to New York to London and beyond, she has covered murders, protests, floods, hostage takedowns and many other dramatic events for well over a decade. Along the way, she has also sat down with CEOs, politicians and other notable public figures as an anchor and reporter – asking them the tough questions. Her investigative feature on gay and illegal migrants in the United States of America led to her being awarded the First Place Prize for reporting by the South Asian Journalists Association in 2012.

Ramanathan eventually chose to specialise in business journalism after moving to London, reporting on-air and producing for Bloomberg TV and Radio, Yahoo Finance and other publications. She was nominated for the Asian Women of Achievement Awards UK 2017 following her accomplishments as a journalist. She is currently a lead financial markets reporter and fill-in anchor at BNN Bloomberg.

Ramanathan holds degrees from the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University and the University of Toronto.