Dr Robert Walker

Dr Robert Walker has been appointed CEO of Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd (AECL) after serving for one year as its senior VP during the agency's reorganization (R$, September 23/10). Walker — formerly assistant DM at the Department of National Defence and CEO of Defence R&D Canada — will lead the Nuclear Laboratories Division (NLD) of AECL, the agency's main asset following the sale of its CANDU Reactor Division to SNC Lavalin (R$, August 9/11). He holds a BSc in physics from Acadia Univ and an MEng in engineering physics and a PhD in electrical engineering from McMaster Univ. The NLD conducts nuclear R&D, produces medical isotopes and manages legacy nuclear waste. Also joining the AECL leadership team is Peter Currie as chairman. A board member since 2008, Currie was formerly executive VP and CFO of Nortel Networks Corp and vice-chairman and CFO for the Royal Bank of Canada. He holds a Bachelor of Economics and MBA from York Univ….