Jean-Claude (JC) Poirier

Jean-Claude (JC) Poirier is currently engaged in the CNSC’s work as a member of the CNSC’s Alumni Program, having retired in 2022 following a remarkable 26-year career with the organization.

Expertise and education

JC began his career in nuclear medicine, earning certification as a nuclear medicine technologist and serving as radiation safety officer. He later studied at the Université René Descartes in Paris, earning French certification in radiation protection for nuclear medicine, oncology and dental applications.

Fluently bilingual in English and French, JC is recognized as a subject-matter expert in compliance and enforcement. He chaired the Community of Federal Regulators’ Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs) Working Group for 9 years, fostering collaboration across federal agencies.

Throughout his career, JC received multiple CNSC Excellence Awards in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the CNSC’s mandate — honouring his leadership, innovation and dedication to public safety.

Roles and responsibilities

JC has served in many roles, from licensing specialist to inspector site coordinator and lastly as a senior project officer in the Operations Secretariat. Known for his strategic thinking and unwavering commitment to regulatory excellence, JC led several transformative initiatives that strengthened Canada’s nuclear safety oversight.

He was instrumental in developing and managing the AMPs program, crafting the Conduct of Inspection corporate process and shaping the CNSC’s enforcement strategy. In his final years at the CNSC, JC led the development of the organization’s Investigation Handbook and training suite and also began work on the Inspector’s Guide to Critical Questioning, a resource designed to elevate inspector performance and critical thinking.

In his capacity with the Alumni Program, JC has also been invited on several occasions to collaborate with the International Atomic Energy Agency, sharing his experience in developing and delivering training programs that support global regulatory capacity building.

Other roles

Outside of his professional life, JC is a passionate community builder. He serves on the executive of the Canada/Mauritius Cultural Association, coaches youth soccer, and has performed for over 15 years in a Mauritian band. He’s also a dedicated endurance athlete, having completed marathons, skating and skiing races, and Spartan races — bringing the same energy and discipline to his personal pursuits as he did to his regulatory career.