Nuclear security experts and officials from Australia's nuclear agencies have convened at the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) headquarters in Vienna, Austria last week for the International Conference on Nuclear Security (ICONS).
The theme of the ICONS 2024 conference - Shaping the Future - marked the fourth instalment of the key event for the global nuclear security community, following the most recent conference held in 2020.
The forum brought together over 2,000 participants from across the IAEA's Member States, including ministers, senior officials, policymakers, and nuclear security experts to discuss the future of nuclear security worldwide, and exchange information, share best practice, and facilitate international cooperation opportunities.
Australia served as Co-President of ICONS 2024 with Kazakhstan, led by Assistant Foreign Minister, The Hon Tim Watts MP and Australian Ambassador to Austria and Permanent Representative to the IAEA, Mr Ian Biggs.
ANSTO warmly welcomed the opportunity to join the Australian Government contingent of nuclear agencies, alongside the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO), the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) and representatives from other Australian agencies to showcase Australia's strong, long-standing commitment to nuclear security.
Through ANSTO, Australia is a world leader in nuclear security operations and nuclear security science, strengthened by its longstanding membership of the IAEA. Underpinned by pioneering research in nuclear forensics, border security technology, and approaches to improving cybersecurity in nuclear enterprises, ANSTO is a strong supporter of global nuclear security and the peaceful use of nuclear technologies in Australia, the Asia-Pacific and around the world.
Key areas of focus during the five-day conference included physical protection, insider threat mitigation, cybersecurity, radioactive source security, and nuclear security science.
Featuring a range of panel presentations, technical sessions, side-events, exhibitions, and ministerial statements, we have captured a number of key highlights for ANSTO, including:
Memorandum of Understanding for Australia and the United States
ANSTO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the US Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to enhance the Australian and United States partnership in nuclear security science and the physical protection of nuclear materials and facilities.
The signing of the MoU took place on 22 May and formally solidifies the strategic collaboration between the two respective organisations on matters of nuclear security science technology exchange.
