With demands for nuclear energy skyrocketing in Canada and around the world, many have coined this period of growth a ‘nuclear renaissance.’

We sat down with Kirsten Saguil, Senior Manager, Strategy and Business Development in New Nuclear Development at Ontario Power Generation (OPG), for a Q&A about her journey from economics student at Mac to working as a consultant in the UK, and what drew her back to Canada for a new nuclear chapter in her career.  

What did you study at McMaster and what inspired you to pursue your degree?

I really loved math in high school, so that was what I originally went to McMaster for. However, in first year, I took introductory micro and macroeconomics courses and saw how economics can shape policies and decisions that directly affect people’s lives. That combination of math and real-world impact is what inspired me to switch into economics in my second year.

After finishing my third year at McMaster, I was fortunate to receive an undergraduate research fellowship introduced by one of my professors, Dr. Abigail Payne. That experience gave me hands-on exposure to working with data – cleaning, analyzing and applying it to real research that could inform public policy decisions. That’s really where I saw the power of economics beyond the classroom.

“I remember taking an energy economics course at McMaster and being really excited about nuclear – its potential to generate so much power sustainably. It feels a bit serendipitous to now be working in the industry. In a way, McMaster indirectly sparked that interest, and it’s nice for it to have come full circle.”

What inspired your transition from consulting to the nuclear energy sector and what opportunities did you see in this space?

After graduating from Mac, I decided to pursue a Master’s in Business Economics at Wilfrid Laurier. I did a co-op at KPMG that later turned into full-time positions in both Canada and the UK in the Infrastructure Advisory team. My role focused on making the strategic, economic and financial case for major infrastructure projects and programs.

When I moved back to Toronto at the end of 2024, and after 10 years in consulting, I wanted to try working client-side instead; at an organization delivering high-profile, high-impact infrastructure projects. Naturally, with energy demand increasing worldwide and OPG being in growth mode, it felt like an exciting opportunity. OPG was clearly stepping up as a leader in this space and that drew me in.

Tell us about your role at OPG as a member of their New Nuclear Development team.

For much of the past 25 years, electricity demand in Ontario was relatively stagnant and it was expected to stay that way. Only recently have forecasts increased dramatically. In 2025, Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) projected demand could grow by as much as 75% by 2050. The New Nuclear Development team is working to strategically grow nuclear’s share of the electricity mix to meet this rising demand in Ontario and worldwide.

OPG will be the first power company in the G7 to build and connect a small modular reactor (SMR) to the grid through the Darlington New Nuclear Project (DNNP). We’re also using that experience to support SMR deployment across Canada – in Alberta and Saskatchewan – and internationally, including in Poland.

The Canadian SMR Roadmap identifies three streams of opportunity: (1) large power grids; (2) heavy industry; and (3) microreactors for remote applications. My role is to help shape OPG’s strategy and business cases for streams (2) and (3). This means I’m working across the organization and with external partners and vendors to develop the strategic and economic rationale, define our commercial approach with partners and confirm the role OPG will play in getting these projects off the ground. I’m using a lot of transferrable skills from my previous job in consulting, while learning more and more about the nuclear industry every day.

“I have always been passionate about major infrastructure projects because of the real-life impact it has on people, jobs and communities.”

What opportunities and challenges lie ahead in Canada’s nuclear energy landscape?

In Canada, only two provinces currently host operating nuclear reactors: Ontario and New Brunswick. But growing energy demand isn’t unique to Ontario; it’s happening across the country and globally. If Canada is serious about meeting its net zero goals, nuclear has to be part of the solution, and not just in the provinces that already have it.

That’s where there is a huge opportunity in Canada: supporting other provinces in bringing operating nuclear reactors online. The challenge is that these provinces have never done this before. In Ontario, nuclear is part of our DNA. Ontario’s operating facilities in Pickering, Darlington and Bruce have been running for decades.

Elsewhere in the country, that nuclear expertise doesn’t exist yet and building it out will take time. That’s why OPG has been involved in helping other provinces like Alberta and Saskatchewan on their SMR programs. So yes, it’s a challenge, but it’s also a really exciting opportunity and great time to be in the industry.

What advice would you give to current McMaster students – especially those in non-STEM programs – who are interested in pursuing careers in the nuclear industry?

I’m a huge advocate for co-op programs. In fact, my team hired a McMaster business student for a co-op term this past summer. I’d really encourage students to look at OPG’s co-op postings. It can be such a critical way to differentiate yourself when you graduate and start applying for full-time roles.

I don’t come from an energy or nuclear background and I’m still learning even now, six months into the role. Even just getting the terminology and acronyms right in the nuclear world takes time!

But I think it shows that there are roles in nuclear that don’t require a highly technical skill set. You can still contribute in meaningful ways. Strong analytical skills, clear communication and genuine curiosity and excitement for the subject matter are the types of skills we need in the industry. Having those skills, plus a passion for sustainability and making a positive impact on local communities, can go a long way in your career in the nuclear industry.