Speakers

Andy created a spin out company taking the supply chain capability previously housed in the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC) into a new organisation called Nuclear Collaboration Ltd (NucCol). 

Before NucCol, Andrew was appointed as Nuclear AMRC’s Chief Executive Officer in August 2017. Prior to this, he was Programme Director for Rolls- Royce’s civil nuclear business, leading customer engagement and bids with new build developers. 

Before working in civil nuclear, he was General Manager for submarine fleet support, ensuring at-sea availability. Prior to this he was Technical Engineering Manager for primary plant components. He also worked at MoD as part of the visit team restarting the UK / US relationship ahead of the Dreadnought programme collaboration. 

Andrew started work as an apprentice at NEI and developed his career through various engineering roles working on large coal and gas fired power stations as well as delivering components for Sizewell B. He represented the Nuclear AMRC at the Nuclear Industry Council, and led the Winning UK Business work programme as part of the Nuclear Sector Deal. In 2022, he was part of the sprint team convened by the Prime Minister to establish the framework for Great British Nuclear, leading the supply chain, skills and capacity taskforce. 

Currently Andrew is an Executive Director of the Nuclear Industry Association, UK representative on the Generation IV International Forum for materials and manufacture; and a member of the Royal Society’s Nuclear Cogeneration Steering Group. He is Visiting Professor of Nuclear Manufacturing and Capability Development at the Flinders University in Adelaide.

Maggie Brown is a Strategy and Commercial Development Manager for EDF.  She is responsible for leading EDF’s engagement with advanced nuclear technology companies to explore how EDF can best support SMR and AMR development in the U.K. Previously, Maggie focused primarily on major infrastructure delivery and spent almost a decade working on the Hinkley Point C Project and Crossrail in various commercial, innovation and programme management roles. Maggie was part of the award-winning Innovate 18 Programme at Crossrail which was recognised as setting the standard for innovation delivery in Major Infrastructure Programmes.

Maggie also currently spent two consecutive terms on the Nuclear Innovation Research and Advisory Board (NIRAB), advising government about investment in New Nuclear. Maggie is passionate about enabling innovation in the infrastructure sector, particularly as it relates to supporting the renaissance of nuclear in the U.K.

As EDF UK Business Development Director, Rachael has responsibility for developing new business lines and commercial opportunities across EDF’s portfolio of activities in the UK.

Rachael joined EDF UK in 2000 and has worked in the power networks, retail and nuclear operations business units as well as working as an expatriate for five years for EDF Group in Paris.  She is a chartered electrical engineer and holds a master’s degree in business administration from Columbia University and the London Business School. Her recent roles have focused on business development, strategy, supply chain and commercial topics across the thermal and nuclear fleet.  In her current role, Rachael is responsible for delivering net zero development opportunities in new technologies such as advanced modular reactors, energy storage and hydrogen production.

Rachael is also a non-executive director of Cyclife UK, EDF’s nuclear decommissioning business, and Bradwell B Development Company.

Dr. Nicolas Devictor – Nuclear Advisor at the Embassy of France for the United-Kingdom

After studies in applied mathematics, Nicolas Devictor worked until 2010 in the fields of design and safety analysis of nuclear reactors. From 2010 to 2019, He has been involved in the management of the ASTRID program, a French demonstration reactor for Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors.

Nicolas Devictor became Head of the Reactor Studies Department at CEA until 31 August 2023. This department is in charge to operate experimental reactors and to perform conceptual design studies of nuclear reactors for different applications for the decarbonation of the industry.

From 1st of September 2023, Nicolas Devictor has been appointed as Nuclear Advisor at the Embassy of France for the United-Kingdom.

I am an Energy Analyst at the Energy Industries Council (EIC), where I monitor and add global projects to our market intelligence database, EICDataStream, with a particular focus on the hydrogen, carbon capture and nuclear sectors. My role allows me to track developments across the full project lifecycle, providing insights that support our members in identifying opportunities. After completing a Master’s in Climate Change, I developed a strong interest in the role of energy systems in driving global decarbonisation and the nuclear sector’s role in this is paramount. With the renewed momentum behind nuclear power, and the rapid progress being made in small modular reactors and fusion technologies, I am eager to follow and contribute to the sector’s transformation in the coming years.

Tom Greatrex became Chief Executive of the NIA in 2016.  Formerly Member of Parliament for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, Tom was shadow energy minister from 2011 – 2015 and served as a member of the Energy Select Committee from 2010 and from 2007-2010 was a policy adviser in the Scotland Office, including on energy.

In a varied prior career, he was a Director of Corporate Affairs for the NHS in Scotland, a chief officer in local government and a GMB trade union official in England. Outside of work his main interests are family, football (Fulham) and film. He is a member of the FA Council, the governing body of English football, vice-chair of the Football Supporters’ Association and a school governor.

Simon Bowen is the Chair of Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N), having previously served as the Industry Adviser to the Prime Minister tasked with establishing the organisation. Simon is a Nuclear Engineer and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. 
After a career in the Royal Navy, BP and Urenco, in 2015, Simon joined Babcock International as Chief Executive for Nuclear, overseeing Cavendish Nuclear and the defence nuclear portfolio. This included support to all the civil nuclear estate, particularly Hinkley Point C, the naval base services and submarine maintenance at Devonport, Clyde and Rosyth. He retired from Babcock in December 2021.
Simon was instrumental in the formation of GBE-N, leading wide-ranging engagement across government, industry, academia and the international nuclear community. Following the completion of the scoping report, GBE-N has successfully delivered the procurement that has culminated in Rolls Royce SMR being the preferred bidder for the SMR Programme. 

Jordan, a chartered Mechanical Engineer, has been with Babcock for over a decade. His breadth of experience includes sustainment of Vanguard class submarines and support solution development for the future Dreadnought class including secondment to the US supporting the Common Missile Compartment design. Jordan was also Global Head of Engineering Capability establishing Babcock’s global engineering function and driving coherence in the group’s approach to people, processes and systems. Now, as Chief of Staff to the CEO of our £1.8bn nuclear sector, Jordan operates as a trusted advisor and strategic partner, driving alignment across executive priorities, streamlining decision making and ensuring seamless execution of the CEO’s vision. Jordan leads cross functional initiatives, manages critical stakeholder relationships including government, military and industry partners and provides oversight on key business delivery activity. Jordan brings a unique blend of strategic thinking, operational rigour, discretion, precision and agility in a fast paced, high impact environment.

Gareth is Director of Holtec Britain, responsible for managing Holtec’s UK operations. Gareth is responsible for business development and project leadership, including the Holtec Small Modular Reactor SMR-300 Generic Design Assessment, nuclear spent fuel storage projects at Hinkley Point and Sizewell, decommissioning and nuclear waste projects.
He leads UK government relations, strategic partnerships, supply chain development and all commercial aspects for UK. He has led the expansion of Holtec Britain, adding 30 employees over the last year. Gareth was initially based in Holtec’s US office for 4 years prior to transferring to Holtec Britain in 2018 and has been focussing on growing the business and preparing for SMR-300 development.
Previously to joining Holtec, he worked at UK nuclear power plants in the fields of reactor engineering and licensing. Gareth has 18 years of experience in the nuclear industry. Gareth has a master’s degree in Nuclear Science from the University of Manchester and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

After an International career with Rolls Royce Marine and Submarines, Andy Mason has been supporting Empower Advisory in the UK to enter new projects and provide training and mentoring to the cohorts of Empower #learnandreturn placements from Australia. His expert knowledge of chemical, mechanical and process engineering along with understanding of ONR regulatory expectations is profoundly beneficial to developing the approach to complex nuclear projects. Andy was the lead Empower Advisory representative supporting Balfour Beatty’s successful bids for both fissile and non-fissile packages for the new AUKUS reactor project in Raynesway, Derby. He has continued to provide strategic support to the business as it grows in presence on defence and civilian nuclear licensed sites.
Andy has played a key role in establishing Empower Advisory in Australia by supporting LandLease Construction team at HMAS Stirling and also reviewing the challenges associated with the massive Henderson project in Western Australia.

Civil Engineer with experience in Australia and the UK, specialising in the design implementation and delivery of reinforced concrete structures. I have contributed to projects in both government and defence sectors, working across non-nuclear regulated industries as well as highly controlled nuclear regulated environments. Working in both industries and countries has led me to develop a strong connection with the UK and Australia and the importance of sharing knowledge and experience in line with the AUKUS projects. 
My work has led me to a UK based project upgrade to bring a 100 year old asset up to modern nuclear standards. To do this change isn’t just about engineering, it’s about demonstrating nuclear safety, regulatory compliance and tractability. The new structure is designed for extreme hazards such as seismic events and impacts. The Quality Assurance classification of Class 1 which is a correlation to the tractability of records.

Carrie Leadbeater-Hart is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer with over 25 years’ experience delivering consultancy and leadership across the UK’s most complex and highly regulated nuclear environments. Her career spans civil nuclear, defence, decommissioning, and fusion, where she has led large-scale, high-value programmes that align technical delivery with national strategy.
Currently serving as a Nuclear Specialist Advisor to the Department for Business and Trade, Carrie provides strategic and technical counsel on Advanced Nuclear Technologies, supporting the UK’s competitiveness and global trade partnerships. Previously, she was Defence Framework Director at Jacobs for AWE’s £170m Capital Programme, and Director of Decommissioning and Repurposing for the UK Atomic Energy Authority, where she defined the strategic business case for the £500m JET Fusion Reactor decommissioning programme.
Caroline has held senior leadership roles at Magnox, the Office for Nuclear Regulation, and Jacobs Engineering, driving major infrastructure programmes from concept to completion. Her hallmark is an ability to unite multi-disciplinary teams across industry, government, and regulatory boundaries, fostering collaboration, innovation, and a strong safety culture.

Brigadier (Retired) Grant Mason DSC DSM brings more than 35 years of distinguished service with the Australian Defence Force and over two decades in senior leadership roles across Australia and the United Kingdom. As Managing Director of Empower UK, Grant leads the expansion of Empower’s presence as a trusted advisory and delivery partner across the defence, transport, water and nuclear energy sectors—driving growth in alignment with the BMD Group’s Towards 2032 strategy. A strategic leader with deep expertise in international relations and defence transformation, Grant is guided by Empower’s values of family, collaborative, driven and empowered. He views his role as a continuation of his lifelong commitment to building capability, trust, and resilience for Australia and its allies. Before joining Empower, Grant headed the Australian Defence Staff – London, where he was instrumental in strengthening and modernising the Australia–UK defence relationship during the establishment of AUKUS.

Lord Ravensdale is a Crossbench peer, entering Parliament in 2019 as the youngest member of the House of Lords. He also works as a Chief Engineer in the nuclear industry, with 14 years of experience in the sector and expertise in pressurised water reactor systems design and nuclear safety. 

Lord Ravensdale focusses on energy related legislation and has led successful amendments to a number of Acts of Parliament, including the Energy Act 2023 and the Levelling up and Regeneration Act. He is the vice chair of the board of the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, chair of Midlands Nuclear and a member of the Social Mobility Policy Select Committee.

Leon has 30 years’ experience in stakeholder communications and energy project development. He joined X-energy in January 2023 and oversees the company's Government affairs, stakeholder engagement, communications and public policy activities in support of delivering a programme of Xe-100 reactors in the UK. 

Leon was formerly Corporate Affairs Director for Horizon Nuclear Power which sought to build GW scale nuclear power plants on Anglesey and at Oldbury in South Gloucestershire. Before that he spent 7 years at the electricity Utility RWE npower during a period of rapid growth in its renewable and thermal power generation capacity. He also contributed to the establishment of the UKAEA’s fusion demonstration project STEP, including management of the site selection workstream for all 15 candidate sites.

After completing a degree at Lancaster University in Earth and Environmental Science, Michael has spent the last 17 years working in energy efficiency and renewables, working across the private and public sector. He started his career at the Energy Saving Trust, providing energy efficiency and renewable technology advice to the public, progressing in to consultancy which supported Local Authorities working to reduce fuel poverty. Michael then specialised in Solar PV survey, design and operational management for domestic, new build and commercial buildings working for SMEs based in Leicester and Derby; During this time, he gained a MSc in Energy and Industrial Sustainability.

Michael then moved into the public sector and set up the Midlands Net Zero Hub, hosted by Nottingham City Council, which over 6 years grew to a team of 45, securing over £500m of funding in the Midlands region and nationally. Michael was then promoted to Director Environment and Sustainability at Nottingham City Council (and SRO of Midlands Net Zero Hub) supporting their drive to be Carbon Neutral by 2028. Michael is currently working for the East Midlands Combined County Authority as their Director of Climate Resilience and Green Growth.

Chris is Pro-Vice Chancellor and Dean at the University of Derby with responsibility for the College of Science and Engineering.  Within Chris’s portfolio is the Nuclear Skills Academy which delivers apprenticeship qualifications in nuclear engineering alongside business management apprenticeships allied to the nuclear sector.  Working closely with Rolls-Royce and Derby City Council, the University of Derby has recently opened the Infinity Prototyping Centre which will advance research and innovation in nuclear engineering.  In collaboration with regional partners, Chris continues to champion the opportunities and capabilities of the East Midlands to be recognised as a beacon of excellence in nuclear technologies.   

Harry is accountable for developing SMR projects with a focus on the UK, the U.S., and wider industrial markets. This includes the provision of consistent and predictable levels of clean energy for data centres and the production of hydrogen and e-fuels.

 After completing a master’s degree in engineering at the University of Bristol, Harry joined Rolls-Royce in 2010. His career in Rolls-Royce has involved a range of senior project delivery and strategy roles, covering multiple sectors from Commercial Marine, Civil Aero, Nuclear Submarines and for the last five years, SMRs. He has also recently completed a master’s degree in nuclear science and technology.

After completing an MEng and PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Edward began his career with Siemens Energy, working as a Chartered Engineer in technology and innovation.

Edward is now Senior Adviser for Energy at Lincolnshire County Council. As part of that role, he leads the Supply Chain, Industry and Business workstream within the Trent Supercluster. In this role, he is working with regional partners to help businesses across the Midlands build the capability, skills, and connections needed to supply into the growing fusion sector and related opportunities. This includes supporting companies to pivot from existing strengths in engineering, manufacturing, and construction toward emerging markets in fusion, fission, hydrogen, and other advanced energy technologies. Through this work, Edward ensures that this activity creates real benefit for businesses and communities across Lincolnshire. Edward is also an Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham and serves on the Institute of Physics’ Business Innovation and Growth Committee.

Kirsty Gogan is managing partner of LucidCatalyst, an international consultancy advising the world’s largest energy users, and co-founder of Terra Praxis, a non-profit focused on scalable strategies for prosperity and clean energy growth, both with a special focus on accelerating commercialisation and deployment of advanced fission and fusion. She chairs the OECD-NEA '2050 Innovation Advisory Panel' and has served on multiple advisory boards including the UK Government's Nuclear Innovation Research and Advisory Board and a US National Academies committee examining advanced nuclear energy commercialisation opportunities over the next 30 years. Her recent work includes leading the widely cited Energy Technologies Institute Nuclear Cost Drivers Study and contributing expert analysis to major publications by the World Economic Forum, International Energy Agency, International Atomic Energy Agency, and Clean Energy Ministerial on nuclear power's role in clean energy systems.

Kim has spent his entire career in supply chain and logistics role within all modes, corridors and cargo types from the smallest electronic components to the largest component ever moved on land (a desalination plant in Jizan, Saudi Arabia and the largest single piece moved by civilian airfreight (a gas turbine delivered to Sherberghan, Afghanistan). Kim heads Maersk Project Logistics organization in Europe. One of the key verticals that are the focus of Maersk Project Logistics is Renewable Energy Logistics.

Prof Adrian Bull is Associate Director at the University of Manchester's Dalton Nuclear Institute, where he also holds the role as BNFL Chair in Nuclear Energy and Society. Adrian joined the University in 2021, following 40 years in the UK nuclear industry with BNFL, Westinghouse and the National Nuclear Laboratory. His Dalton activities focus primarily on Government policy around nuclear and energy, and on stakeholder and community engagement on nuclear issues. His other roles include being a Trustee and President-Elect of the UK's Nuclear Institute, where he will begin a 2-year term as President in January 2026; work as a consultant for US-based specialist nuclear communications firm, Full On Communications; and serving as the UK representative on the OECD-NEA High Level Group on Stakeholder Engagement, Trust, Transparency and Social Science. 
Adrian received an MBE for his services to the nuclear industry in 2018.

Ollie jointed Tritax in May 2022, having previously worked at Aberdeen PLC within the Strategic Capital arm of its Real Assets business. Ollie is responsible for investment activity at Tritax for projects with real estate and infrastructure characteristics – this currently includes data centres and traditional infrastructure assets. Whilst working at Aberdeen, Ollie was responsible for managing a balanced UK real estate fund that invested in both direct and indirect real estate. Ollie has a broad range of experience across fund management, asset management and transactions, and is a Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

Brian has over 30 years’ experience leading programmes delivering enhanced asset availability and lifetime extensions across Defence, Civil and Naval Nuclear. Brian is the Programme Director delivering a major Defence equipment capability upgrade, as part of an innovative supplier partnership. Previously Brian performed roles as Cavendish Nuclear’s Defence Business Development Director and Technical Services Director responsible for nuclear operations in support of EDF Energy’s fleet of nuclear reactors. Before joining Cavendish Nuclear Brian had an extensive career within the Ministry Of Defence transforming delivery performance and latterly a rationalised delivery model for the Defence Equipment and Support Agency.

With over 20 years’ communications experience principally in policy, public affairs and corporate communications, working for in the UK Government, the private sector and as a consultant he has successfully advised on a diverse range of complex and sensitive issues and sectors.
His focus has been primarily in the civil nuclear, energy and engineering sectors where he has also devised and delivered communication solutions and campaign strategies to corporate challenges on issues and crises management, and market entry and growth.
Rory is the Westinghouse lead in the UK for both Government Affairs and Public Relations and leads on Westinghouse’s UK stakeholder engagement, internal and external communications.

Katie leads the engineering work for the Rolls-Royce Advanced Modular Reactor (AMR), with responsibility for the technical direction and integration of the programme’s engineering activities. She brings over a decade of experience in nuclear engineering, having joined Rolls-Royce Submarines in 2013. Specialising in thermal hydraulics has given Katie the opportunity to work across the lifecycle of multiple nuclear plants, from initial design, through manufacturing to in-service and end-of-life support. Safety case substantiation and the rig testing and validation which underpins it has been a key focus including proposing different ways of thinking about testing and people capability for better, more flexible solutions. More recently, Katie's roles in advancednuclear, including space applications, has brought to life the importance of collaboration across the nuclear industry and throughout the supply chin and lifecycle to successfully deploy innovative nuclear products. Throughout her time at Rolls-Royce, Katie has continued to run the Rolls-Royce Maths Tutoring scheme which she set up in 2016. The scheme sends over 90 volunteers a year from across Rolls-Royce into local Derby schools to support young people to grow in confidence and reach their potential.