Ottawa, Ontario — July 28, 2026 —
Following consultation with the Chair of the Board of Directors, AECL President and Chief Executive Officer Fred Dermarkar has informed the Board that he will not seek renewal of his mandate when it concludes on February 7, 2027, believing this is the right time for a leadership transition as AECL enters an important new phase of opportunity. Mr. Dermarkar will continue to serve as President and CEO until the expiry of his current mandate, providing continuity of leadership while AECL advances key strategic priorities and supports a smooth transition to new leadership.
The announcement comes at a time of growing momentum for Canada’s nuclear sector and following the release of the Government of Canada’s Nuclear Energy Strategy, which recognizes the critical role that nuclear energy, science, technology, and innovation will play in advancing the country’s energy security, economic prosperity, and environmental objectives.
Over the course of Mr. Dermarkar’s tenure, AECL and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) have worked together to strengthen Canada’s nuclear enterprise and position AECL as a strategic contributor to the future of the sector. Progress has included strengthening the GoCo model and its governance framework, advancing CNL’s role as Canada’s premier national nuclear laboratory, improving operational excellence and organizational effectiveness, and deepening partnerships across industry, academia and governments.
Significant progress has also been made in advancing Indigenous relations and reconciliation, including the development of long-term partnerships founded on respect, collaboration, and shared opportunity. These accomplishments reflect the contributions of dedicated employees, strong leadership teams, engaged Boards of Directors, Indigenous partners, and stakeholders across Canada’s nuclear community.
James Burpee, Chair of the AECL Board of Directors, thanked Mr. Dermarkar for his leadership and service.
“Fred has provided exceptional leadership during a period of important transformation and renewal for AECL. Under his leadership, AECL strengthened its strategic relevance within Canada’s nuclear sector, enhanced its oversight of the Government-owned, Contractor-operated model, and worked with CNL to advance Canada’s nuclear science and technology capabilities in support of national priorities. The Board is grateful for his service and remains confident in the strength of the organization, its leadership team, and its future direction.”
Mr. Dermarkar expressed gratitude to the many individuals and organizations that have contributed to AECL’s success during his tenure.
“Serving as President and CEO of AECL has been one of the greatest privileges of my career. I am deeply grateful to the employees of AECL and CNL, to the AECL Board of Directors, to Indigenous Nations and communities, and to our many partners across government, industry, academia, and the broader nuclear sector. Everything we have accomplished has been the result of a collective effort. I leave this role with great confidence in the strength of the AECL and CNL teams and with tremendous optimism about Canada’s nuclear future. Our country is better positioned than it has been in decades to realize the benefits of nuclear energy, science, and technology, and I believe AECL and CNL are exceptionally well positioned to help make that future a reality.”
AECL remains focused on delivering its mandate on behalf of the Government of Canada and advancing priorities that support nuclear science and technology, environmental stewardship, innovation, and economic growth. The organization will continue to work closely with CNL, Indigenous Nations and communities, industry, academia, utilities, and governments to help ensure Canada remains a global leader in the nuclear sector.