Dr. Ruth Wilkins has been Division Chief of the Ionizing Radiation Health Sciences Division at the Consumer and Clinical Radiation Protection Bureau of Health Canada since 2006.
Dr. Wilkins graduated in physics from Trent University, Canada in 1988, received a M.Sc. in Biophysics from The University of British Columbia in 1991, and obtained a Ph.D. in Medical Physics from Carleton University, Canada in 1996.
Her research activities and expertise are in the areas of biological effects and biological markers of low doses of radiation in mammalian systems with a strong focus on cytogenetic biological dosimetry.
Dr. Wilkins is the lead of the Canadian Biodosimetry Network for large scale exposures to ionizing radiation in which Canada has developed a network of laboratories which can provide rapid dosimetry during large scale events. She is an adjunct professor in the Physics Department, Carleton University, Associate Editor for the International Journal of Radiation Biology, Secretary for the International Association of Biological and EPR Dosimetry, Co-Chair of the WHO BioDoseNet and Convener of the ISOTC85/SC2/WG18 on Biological and Physical Retrospective dosimetry.
Dr. Wilkins joined the Canadian delegation to UNSCEAR in 2017, was the alternate representative between 2019 and 2024 and is the representative since the seventy-second session in 2025.
Julie Burtt is a Radiation and Health Sciences Specialist of the Directorate of Environmental and Radiation Protection and Assessment at the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission since 2007.
Ms Burtt graduated with a major in Biochemistry and a minor in Cellular and Molecular Medicine from the University of Ottawa in 2007. In 2011, she completed a Master of Science in Chemical Sciences at Laurentian University. She is currently a PhD Candidate in Interdisciplinarity and Human Studies at Laurentian University. Her research activities and expertise are in the areas of biological effects and risks of low doses of radiation, with a new focus on the perceived risk and effective communication of those effects and risks.
Ms Burtt is a member of Committee 4 Application of the Commission’s Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and serves on several ICRP task groups. She has been a delegate of the Canadian delegation to UNSCEAR since 2019, save for 2021 to 2022 where she served as a Technical Expert for the UNSCEAR secretariat.
Ms. Burtt joined the Canadian delegation to UNSCEAR in 2023 and is the alternate representative since the seventy-second session in 2025.
Dr. Jing Chen has been head of the Radiological Impact Section at the Radiation Protection Bureau of Health Canada since 2010.
She graduated in physics from Wuhan University, China in 1982, received a master degree in biomedical engineering from Peking Union Medical College, China in 1984, and obtained a doctoral degree in health physics from the University of Würzburg, Germany in 1992.
Before joining Health Canada in 2001, she worked as a research scientist at the Institute of Radiobiology at the National Research Centre for Environment and Health (GSF), Germany, the Environment, Safety and Health Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA, and Bubble Technology Industries Inc., Chalk River, Canada.
Her research activities and expertise are in the areas of external and internal dosimetry and microdosimetry, radiation protection and management, radiation health risk assessment, radioecology and radiological impact on the environment.
Dr. Chen is a consultant editor of Radiation Protection Dosimetry and editorial board member of Radiation Environmental Biophysics and Radiation Environment and Medicine. She has worked on the development of Canadian drinking water and NORM management guidelines, the Radioactivity Working Group of Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program, and the WHO Expert Group on Management of Radioactivity in Drinking Water.
She received a number of awards of excellence in science including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012, and the King Charles III’s Coronation Medal in 2025. From the Canadian Radiation Protection Association, she received the Distinguished Achievement Award for outstanding contributions in the field of radiation protection in 2012 and the Founder's Award for outstanding contributions toward the enhancement of the Association in 2019.
Dr. Chen joined the Canadian delegation to UNSCEAR in 2011 and was the alternate representative between 2014 and 2017, and in 2025, and the Representative from 2018 to 2024.
