The Jan Runermark Award

Promoting the Young Generation

The Jan Runermark Award was created at the ENS Steering Committee meeting in Dresden on 24 November 1995, in memory of Jan Runermark, the initiator of the Swedish Young Generation Network and promoter of the ENS Young Generation movement. Jan Runermark, at the time President of ABB Atom and President-Elect of the European Nuclear Society, died in a tragic car accident on 25 July 1995.

Jan Runermark

The Award is presented by the ENS Young Generation Network to a person who has given outstanding service, to the benefit of the young generation and has done so in compliance with the goals defined in the YGN Terms of Reference.

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001..

Jan Runermark Award 2007 – Dr. Ralf GÜLDNER

Dr. Ralf Güldner

The German Young Generation was delighted that Dr. Ralf GÜLDNER has been chosen to receive the 2007 Jan Runermark Award. The German Young Generation nominated him due to his continuous support over the last years – openly as well as “behind the scenes”.

Ralf GÜLDNER, born in 1953, a doctor in chemistry from the University of Munich, Germany, began his career in 1981 at Siemens' nuclear activities department, in charge of radiation protection, process engineering and quality control at the Hanau fuel fabrication plant. In 1995, he was appointed manager of the Advanced Nuclear Fuels (ANF) cladding production plant in Duisburg, Germany. He was then appointed General Manager of ANF in 1997, with responsibili-ties extended to all European manufacturing facilities. In 1999, he became head of Siemens' nuclear fuel business in Europe. Since 2001, he is Managing Director of AREVA NP GmbH in Germany, and since November 2006 he is the Executive Vice President of the Fuel Sector of AREVA NP.

Next to his professional career, he has always been an active member of different organizations promot-ing the benefits of nuclear energy. From 2003 to 2006, he was president of the German Nuclear Society and is today Chairman of the Board of the World Nuclear Association.

The German Young Generation benefits from Ralf GÜLDNER’s activities in many ways:

As Managing Director of AREVA NP GmbH, Ralf GÜLDNER has good relationships with many represen-tatives from German as well as foreign utilities, research facilities and organizations. He repeatedly en-courages young employees to attend international meetings such as ENS meetings or the International Youth Nuclear Congress, helps to find high ranking representatives to give presentations at conferences and also stresses to upper managers the importance of an active Young Generation.

When it comes to the recruiting of new members for the Young Generation, he is one of the most suc-cessful promoters. Every year, the German Young Generation organizes two conferences for students and young professionals in nuclear facilities, and Ralf GÜLDNER - formerly as president of the German Nuclear Society or today as chairman of the board of the WNA - attends at least one of them to give the welcome speech - and always convinces many attendees of the benefits of the German Nuclear Society.

Ralf GÜLDNER is always open and very supportive to new ideas such as the “Nuclear Energy Campus”, an information day for school students about nuclear technology, which was first introduced 5 years ago during an Annual Meeting on Nuclear Technology and is now being held successfully every year. Once convinced of a new concept, he pushes the idea by giving his time and opinion as well as making sure the initiative is financially and organizationally supported.

Last but not least, Ralf GÜLDNER promotes nuclear energy also in his home country Germany, a country that has decided to gradually phase out nuclear energy. He believes in its future also in Germany and gives interviews to the media, takes part in political debates, and discusses with German politicians about the benefits of nuclear energy. These activities encourage the German Young Generation even more to continue promoting nuclear energy in Germany.

The German Young Generation is indebted to Ralf Güldner. We want to thank him for his outstanding and con-tinuous support and are delighted that he has been chosen to receive the 2007 Jan Runermark Award.