1. Advancing Safeguards One Person at a Time: Developing Safeguards Champions
About the Image: PNNL Aerial Photo
Aerial photo of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory campus from the west.
Oksana Elkhamri
Sr. Researcher/Regional Technical Manager

2. Preliminary Questionnaire
5/23/2019
Safeguards Champions are the Engine of Effective and Sustained Safeguards Implementation
Premise: Success in safeguards implementation and its sustainability in States often depends on long-term commitment and advocacy by a dedicated individual—a Safeguards Champion.
Research introduces the concept of a safeguards champion to jump start a wider discussion on identifying and formalizing the development of these safeguards leaders.
Conceptual framework built upon existing leadership theory
Informed by in-field experience and preliminary input from safeguards leaders (“champions”) in four countries
Preliminary Questionnaire
Need for SG Champions
Definition of a SG Champion
Characteristics of SG Champions
Circumstances leading to their emergence?
Formalizing development of SG Champions
Input from 4 countries
Morocco
Myanmar
Thailand
Vietnam

3. Defining a Safeguards Champion
Proposed Definition: Safeguards champions are proactive and resourceful innovators, who inspire others to join the safeguards cause and who are dedicated to advancing safeguards beyond their borders, for the ultimate goal of peaceful uses of nuclear technology.
Networked leader
Perfectionist
(High standards of themselves and others)
Continuous improvement
Leads by example
Passionate
(contagious enthusiasm)
Ability to influence
Long-term vision
Patient and persistent
Resourceful
Nimble: navigates changes in policies and government
Genuine belief in importance of safeguards regime
Innovative
Committed
Team builder/
Promotes others

4. Why Safeguards Champions Needed
Safeguards champions are uniquely positioned to impact and contribute their national organization, country and international safeguards regime
Earn global reputation internationally, contribute time and expertise for the good of international safeguards, and often the single voice to explain their country’s safeguards story to the world.
Nation’s Safeguards ‘Face’ to the World
Reputation and networks enable them to conduct effective informational campaigns with local impact to explain or convince on behalf of safeguards.
Credible Safeguards Messengers within their Country’s Government
Are not satisfied with “good enough.” Enthusiastically promote improvements and are receptive to trying new models and approaches promoted by the IAEA or encouraged by other Member States.
Enthusiastic Advocates for Change and Continuous Improvement
Ensure safeguards receive the necessary attention within organization, on par with safeguards and security
Movers and Shakers in Capacity Building at their SRA
Mentors and role models and can be inspirational to staff nationally and worldwide
Pillars of Sustainability
Promote the shared belief in the importance of safeguards within the organization. They “walk the walk and talk the talk” and encourage others to do the same.
Creators and Enforcers of Safeguards Culture
Create and maintain the ‘shared belief’ in safeguards within their organizations. They ‘walk the walk and talk to talk’ and encourage others to do the same.

5. Formalizing Development of Safeguards Champions
Key findings from the questionnaire:
Informal and ad hoc nature surrounding emergence of safeguards champions.
Lack of formalized process for cultivating and supporting such individuals
Thoughts for consideration to help formalize the process:
Safeguards Champion Seminars
Safeguards Champion Leadership Program
Learning community for safeguards champions
Stretch opportunities beyond typical safeguards training
Mentoring by existing safeguards champions

6. Apply Analytical Approach Strengthen Conceptual Framework
Next Steps in Research
Widen survey to more countries and individuals to obtain broader and diverse data
Develop a more rigorous analytical approach to assessing the data
Explore key issues to strengthen the conceptual framework.
Apply Analytical Approach
Widen Survey
Strengthen Conceptual Framework

7. Next Steps in Research (cont’d)
What factors lead to the emergence of safeguards champions?
Do organizations have the capability to identify potential champions? How?
Why did these individuals give extra attention or dedicated their professional lives to safeguards?
What did they do to gain national and international recognition?
What role did their organization or international safeguard community play in their development?
What can aspiring and self-aware individuals do to achieve the “champion” signature?
What can State Authorities and international organizations do to recognize them and contribute toe their development?