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Staff Stories

Cui Qiu - Emergency Officer

#safe together;  
#China; 
#Saftey & Quality Department; 
#international school; 
#living in Provence; 
#excellence 

As an Emergency Officer in the Safety & Quality Department, Cui Qiu coordinates emergency response plans, runs drills, and leads training sessions to ensure that every person at ITER knows how to react in an emergency. Cui takes pride in contributing to this mission. “At ITER, safety first is a top priority.” 

“Our slogan ‘safe together’ means we must involve and engage everyone, at all levels of the organization (staff and every collaborator on the ITER project) to build a strong safety culture.”   

Although Cui enjoys the challenge of promoting safety and ensuring everyone is accountable, there are also difficulties—for example, balancing diverse perspectives when implementing safety measures, especially in emergency communications. One example she gives is linguistic diversity. During a recent emergency drill, instructions were given in English and French, but some contractors on the worksite are not completely fluent in either language and so they had difficulty understanding the messages. When time is short, and the pressure is on, language barriers can be an issue in ensuring a smooth response. For Cui, this highlights the need for multilingual resources and simpler cues for clear communication.  

When thinking about ITER’s CARE Values it is "Excellence" that is most important to Cui. “I have colleagues from all over the world who are some of the most qualified people in their field. I regularly work with professional teams at high levels, and the opportunity to learn is fantastic. Not only do many colleagues excel within their professional scope of work, but also in terms of the diversity in their lives. You can learn a lot from colleagues in so many ways.”  Cui also enjoys some of the wellness activities on site that offered by colleagues at ITER, such as yoga and pilates.

Cui has spent many years living in cities in China, Japan and Singapore. About Provence, she says: “It is so peaceful. I love the natural beauty—the lavender fields, vineyards, and stunning countryside that are perfect for weekend outings. I enjoy exploring local markets, where I find fresh produce, and visiting small towns with charming cafés. One thing I highly recommend is taking advantage of the hiking trails and beaches along the coast; the scenery here is amazing, and it’s a perfect escape after a week of work.”

Another advantage of living in Provence is the international school EIPACA for her son. “The school’s bilingual curriculum has also been great for language development.”  Cui’s son currently studies two days per week in Chinese, and two days in French. “The school environment and dedicated teachers have helped my son feel at ease and meet other children from all over the world.”