Are We Nearly There Yet?

Take a risk once in a while! Robin Taylor, Senior Fellow, National Nuclear Laboratory

Robin Taylor is a Senior Fellow at the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory.
He lives in Cockermouth, with his wife Anna and three teenage children.
Robin grew up in Stoke where he enjoyed school and chemistry in particular as his teacher was very engaging and interactive.
Robin went to Manchester University to read Chemistry and continued on to do a PhD in radiochemistry on neutron activation analysis. Robin was successful in getting his research published.
After university, Robin joined BNFL in their Technical Department at Sellafield in the Advanced Reprocessing group. During his time at work, Robin helped set up university research alliances and set up the first one at Manchester in Radiochemistry. He then had an opportunity to manage a 50-strong team, stepping out of his comfort zone. Robin’s successfully worked his way up to be a senior fellow, working collaboratively on European programmes.
For more information please visit: www.nnl.co.uk

Have that inner belief, you can do it. Georgia Pawson, Consultant Analyst, Corporate Risk Associates

Georgia Pawson is a Consultant Analyst a Corporate Risk Associates and the acting chair of the Next Generation Nuclear Industry Council.
Georgia Pawson lives in Fulham near where she grew up. She went to boarding school at Wycombe Abbey. Georgia was diagnosed as dyslexic during primary school and found the pressure during her GCSEs overwhelming and decided to move to St Edwards in Oxford to do her A levels in Maths, Chemistry and Geography her where was offered more support with her dyslexia.
Georgia had a gap year where she lived in Australia and Spain and worked as a wind surfing and sailing instructor before going on to study Geology at Bristol University. At the end of her second year, Georgia was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue where she was forced to take a year out of University. She then went back to University to join complete third year where there was an extra module added to the syllabus called Environmental Radioactivity which led Georgia to the career she is in.
After completing her Undergraduate degree in Geology, Georgia went to Birmingham University to do a Master’s degree in Nuclear Decommissioning and Waste Management. Georgia then went on to join Areva Risk Management Consulting as a Safety Consultant which she found a very friendly environment where she felt she could get involved and develop her skills. After two years, she then joined Corporate Risk Associates in London where she works on Nuclear safety cases and Periodic reviews of safety.
For more information visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiapawson/
This was recorded prior to Georgia moving to PA Consulting

“Just try and be slightly better than yesterday or the week before as it’s those small improvements that compound over time!” Arun Khuttan, Engineer, Magnox Ltd

Arun Khuttan is an Engineer at Magnox Ltd, a member of the Next Generation Nuclear Industry Council and also the COP26 lead for the UK Nuclear Institute Young Generation Network.
Arun grew up in Slough and went to Herschel Grammar School and now lives in Bristol with friends.
He enjoyed sciences at school as well as music where he played an Indian instrument called the dhol. He then studied A-Levels in Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology to potentially go down the medical route, encouraged by his dad. Medical places being limited, Arun took a gap year where he worked as a Healthcare Assistant before deciding to go to University College London (UCL) to study Chemical Engineering.
During his time at university Arun continued to work part-time as a healthcare assistant and then a sales assistant and laterally a M&S Operations Assistant.
As part of his degree, Arun went to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a private research university in Troy, New York on an exchange programme with UCL. While out there he volunteered on a design project building a solar powered hot water system for a village in Mexico before returning to UCL to complete a master’s degree in nuclear engineering.
During his master’s Arun worked on a research project for a Waste Effluent Plant in Australia for four months and spent two weeks at the University of California, Berkeley on a nuclear innovation bootcamp.
In 2016, Arun joined the NDA Nuclear Graduate Programme giving him an overview of the whole nuclear lifecycle before continuing his work with Magnox where he chairs their young person’s network to give young people a voice.
For more information visit: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/arunkhuttan

"Enjoy the journey of learning." Maggie Brown, Hinkley Point C, EDF

Maggie Brown works with EDF UK at their Hinkley Point C site. She leads on Supplier Relationship Management and previously led their innovation programme.
Maggie grew up in Ottawa Canada and now lives in Bristol with husband Sam and two-year old Mya.
In 2003, Maggie studied for a BA in Political Science at Concordia University in Montreal. Following this period of study, she travelled across Australia, Asia, Mexico and Central America.
Maggie then took the bold decision and moved to London to do her MSc in Political Sociology.  
After her MSc, and a short-term position with Ringway Jacobs in London, she began a job with Amida Recruitment in 2012, with a focus on sustainability. Impressed by her work ethic, Maggie won the Rising Star Award in 2012.
In 2013, Maggie decided to become an Independent Consultant and worked with clients like Mott MacDonald.
In 2016, she started as an Innovation Coordinator at Crossrail and was promoted to Innovation Programme Migration Manager before making a move to EDF as an Innovation Manager where Maggie got involved with their new build project at Hinkley Point C project. Maggie is currently Commercial Lead-Supplier Relationship Management.
When Maggie’s not too busy pushing the next generation of nuclear power stations into existence, in her spare time she likes to sail and also enjoys travelling, cooking and dancing.
For more information visit: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/maggie-brown-61870a42

"There's lots of fun ahead, life is an adventure" Callum Thomas, CEO, Thomas Thor Associates

Callum Thomas is the founder and CEO of Thomas Thor Associates providing recruitment, executive search and consulting services to the global nuclear industry and major infrastructure projects. Callum is also Chairman of KeySource Global.
He is also a co-founder with Monica Mwanje of Inclusion and Diversity in Nuclear which aims to support and enable the industry to achieve diversity and inclusion in their teams.
Callum spent the first six years of his life in Brighton and then moved to grow up in a village called Cosgrove in Milton Keynes. He attended Akeley Wood School and then went to Royal Latin School in Buckingham studying A-levels in Business studies, Mathematics and Physics.
He then went on to study Financial Studies at Bournemouth University in 1996. During his time at University, he ended up contracting severe meningitis which made the headlines in the local paper. He then went on to run a marathon for a meningitis charity (once recovered) and carried on running ever since.
He currently lives in Amsterdam with his wife Analia and are soon to be parents.  
In 1999, Callum became a Consultant - Recruiting for Contract Project/Programme Management, Business Analysis and Technical Consultant roles within the Financial Services and Public Sectors in the UK.
From here, he became the Business Manager for Sthree. Building and managing teams of up to 20 consultants and team leaders to provide recruitment services to the IT, Financial Services and Public sectors, Callum later went on to become the director of the business.
In 2009, Callum set up Thomas Thor Associates, having been inspired as a child, when he used to go his dad’s office at weekends, he had an ambition to have his own business from an early age. 
Callum is also a on the Board of Panda Life Sciences and a member of the Next Generation UK’s Nuclear industry Council.
In his spare time, Callum enjoys triathlon running, cycling, swimming and is looking for to travelling too.
For more information visit: https://nl.linkedin.com/in/callumthomas

Failure isn't always a bad thing, it's how you grow from it! Fiona Reilly, Managing Director, FiRe Energy

Fiona Reilly is Managing Director of FiRe Energy and a Strategic Advisory Board member of the Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) and Non-Executive Director of Ansaldo Nuclear.
Fiona grew up in a village called Reed in the Ribble Valley and went to school in Burnley. She now lives in Weighbridge.
Fiona studied Law at university before completing a master’s level with International Business, Trade and Tax at The University of Manchester and qualified as lawyer in Lancashire. 
Throwing herself in at the deep end, she joined Alstom as their Company Solicitor and Commercial Counsel reporting directly to the Commercial Director and to the Board before moving to Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, Associate where she worked for 15 years.
During her career, Fiona has worked on some large nuclear cases, including advising on the proposed sale of UKAEA and advising International Nuclear Services on a number of politically sensitive issues relating to the storage and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel and waste and MOX fuel. Fiona has also advised on the structuring, investment, financing and implementation of nuclear new build programmes not only in the UK but also in the Middle East and the Russian Federation.
In 2018, at the request of BEIS, Fiona Chaired the Expert Finance Working Group on Small Reactors (EFWG to create the EFWG and develop the programme for the group. She led a series of meetings (hearing presentations from a number of potential vendors) including discussions on available finance and the risks associated with small nuclear. In conclusion she drafted and presented the report to Ministers.
At the start of 2019, Fiona established FiRe Energy Limited to deliver advisory work to the energy and infrastructure industries providing strategic and project advisory services to a wide range of public and private sector stakeholders.
For more information visit: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/fiona-reilly-1992975

Being convinced that a course of action is the right one is to question it and question a bit more! Tom Greatrex, CEO, Nuclear Industry Association (NIA)

Tom Greatex is a Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association (NIA).
Tom was born in Ashford in Kent and grew up in Tunbridge Wells, attending a local grammar school. During his time at school, he learnt to question and challenge actions and has continued to so throughout his career.
Tom now lives in in Oxfordshire near Culham and is married to Laura, with twin daughters Katie and Jessica.
Tom went to university at London School of Economics (LSE) where he studied politics.
Formerly MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, Tom was shadow energy minister from 2011 – 2015 and the opposition’s lead spokesman on nuclear energy, electricity market reform, smart grid and metering, carbon capture and storage, interconnection and both onshore and offshore oil and gas. Leading the scrutiny of the Energy Act and the Infrastructure Act in the last Parliament, he secured a number of amendments to the proposed legislation. He also 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.
Since 2015, he has been an independent policy analyst working in the energy sector for a range of clients, a frequent media commentator on energy issues, and a regular columnist for Utility Week. In a varied prior career, he was Director of Corporate Affairs for the NHS in Scotland, a chief officer in local government and a GMB trade union official in England.
In his spare time, Tom likes to watch his favourite team Fulham play football, spend valuable time with his family and enjoys watching films to relax from his busy life.
For more information visit: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/tomgreatrex

Don't ever be afraid, try new things! It's the only way you'll get to truly enjoy different experiences! Nichola Newton, Head of Technology & Digital Change, NNL

Nichola grew up in Warrington in Appleton and still lives in Warrington now with her husband Chris, son Harry and four dogs.
Nichola thought that she wasn’t particularly academic at school and preferred art and drama. She went on to study Health & Social Care at College with the idea of becoming a Social Worker whilst working part time at British Telecom (BT) as a Sales Advisor. She then went on to work at BT full time and really enjoyed the money she was earning.
Nichola then went on to become the Team Manager which enabled her to be able to fund buying her first house by the age of 18. This drove Nichola to want to progress further and applied for the role of Implementation Manager at Barclaycard where she was successful at getting the job. During her time at Barclaycard, Nichola was offered the opportunity to lead projects outsourcing companies in India which was a great experience for her.
After a number of years of developing in Project Management Nichola then started working for The Co-operative Banking Group as a IT Programme Support Consultant and worked her way up to Project Manager. Nichola then went on to work for United Utilities as Portfolio Manager for three years.
Nichola then joined National Nuclear Laboratory as Head of PMO and is now Head of Technology and Digital Change.
 
For more information, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nichola-newton-19a5644b/

Bring your whole self to work. Julianne Antrobus, Global Head of Nuclear, PA Consulting

Julianne joined PA Consulting last year and is Global Head of Nuclear. She also sponsors the PA’s Women Networks and works with Women in Nuclear on their leadership programme.
She lives in Southport with her husband David also known as ‘Mr A’ and two children Oliver and Lucy who are at primary school age - and has been doing plenty of home schooling with them!
Julianne grew up in Levenshulme, Manchester and moved to Southport with her family to start a hotel business. She spent most of her youth living in a hotel where she learnt to work hard. She helped out with everything from pot cleaning, changing beds to serving at the bar.
Julianne loves all music from Country music to Oasis and Take That. She played in St Johns Silver brass band for 10 years playing the fluegelhorn. She has even played at Albert hall and has appeared on television!
Julianne attended Manchester University to study Environmental Science and Environmental Technology as she was fascinated by the world around us. During her time at University, she went overseas for 6 - 8months to New York to look at the pollution in places like Ontario.
She has also been an Interim at the Environment Agency and then went on to become a graduate at BNFL working with Springfield Nuclear Fuels.
Her next role at BNFL was working closely with the Chairman which meant she had to move to London.
She left BNFL during the break-up of the industry and went on to work at Nuvia for four years in the Business Development side of the company. In 2009 she took on the Statutory Board position.
Julianne then went on to work at Atkins as Business Development Director.

Believe in yourself, believe that you have potential and believe that you can make a difference. Mike Tynan, Nuclear Expert and Advisor

Mike lives in Preston with Wife Janet and his son and daughter who live nearby. He grew up in West Cumbria and lived in a small village Keekle in a single row of houses between Cleator Moor and Whitehaven.
He went to Whitehaven Grammar School and then went on to West Cumbria College in 1976.
Mike joined Calder Hall power station in 1975 when he was eighteen and spent much of his early career at Sellafield Ltd starting out as an Accountant.
He joined Westinghouse in 2004 as the Director of Springfields Fuels Ltd. In 2010 he became Managing Director of Nuclear Power Delivery UK then Vice President of Westinghouse UK Fuel and Managing and finally CEO of Westinghouse UK.
In 2013 he moved to The University of Sheffield as CEO of Nuclear AMRC. He was also a founder Board member of both the National Skills Academy for Nuclear and the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership.
He is now the chair of NIRAB and a member of the UK Nuclear Industry Council.

I saw it as an opportunity to learn something new, it was a challenge but I got there in the end! Reuben Holmes, PhD Researcher, The University of Tokyo

Reuben grew up in Hawarth, Yorkshire and then moved to Cumbria before starting secondary school in Millom. Reuben enjoyed taking part in competitive sports when he was younger and particularly enjoyed tennis. He was also heavily involved in the Air Cadets and after four years at the Air Cadets he became the highest ranked cadet in his squadron. Reuben’s goal up until he was sixteen was to be a pilot, however due to his eyesight deteriorating, he went down the Chemistry route instead after being inspired by his enthusiastic chemistry teachers.
Reuben went to St Andrew’s in Scotland to study Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry. He really enjoyed his time at university where he worked part time at the betting shop, Ladbrokes and joined the local darts club.
After completing his masters degree, Reuben went on to work at British Sugar UK in the laboratory providing direct operational support. During his time at British Sugar UK, Reuben used the time to think about what he really wanted to do with his life and applied for a graduate scheme at Sellafield, where he ended up working in the Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing department as a Technical Specialist.  
Reuben then moved on to work for the National Nuclear Laboratory as a Plant Chemist. Within just weeks of starting at NNL, his chemistry responsibilities became split with public engagement research on nuclear topics, so he developed a broad range of experience in both the technical as well as social aspect of nuclear.
After working for NNL for five years, Reuben then decided to start a PhD at The University of Tokyo, Japan after deciding he wanted to gain more confidence in his technical ability and reasoning.
For more information visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reuben-holmes-96748639/

Take the plunge, it will be okay! Have that courage. Jack Gritt, Founding Member and Former President, Women in Nuclear UK

Jack Gritt lives in Gloucestershire with her 2 dogs and is the founding member and former president of Women in Nuclear UK and still works as an advisor and is an executive board member of Women in Nuclear Global. She has 3 children who all live locally to her.
In her early years she grew up in Buckinghamshire. She started out her journey by starting an apprenticeship in hairdressing and then at 18 she started her own beauty therapy business for a couple of years. She soon realised this wasn’t for her and then went on to start her first position at Berkeley Nuclear PowerStation as a General Duty Assistant – quite the opposite to her other job! This gave her a real taste for the nuclear industry and realised this was for her.
She moved to working within the reactor, and after reading in to the nuclear industry, she realised she needed qualifications to work her way up. She then applied to do an HNC in Physics and Chemistry – the only female at Berkeley on site other than in the admin blocks. After that, she went on to study Mathematics, and is now a chartered Mathematician.
Working her way up the grades at Magnox, she continued to work there for seven years. She then went on to work at Jacobs for over nine years. In total, she has 36 years’ experience in the nuclear industry, holding a number of positions including Executive Management, Director of Operations, Programme and Project Management, Transformation and Change Management, Safety Case Management and Performance and Quality.
It was in the early years of her career that she formed a passion for encouraging people in the nuclear industry, especially women. She currently sits on the WiN Global Executive Board, is the UK representative on the WiN Global Board as well as retaining a role within WiN UK in a Non-Executive Director capacity. Through these roles Jack believes she can continue to build a future for the nuclear industry and create an environment where women can thrive in this exciting sector which offers endless opportunities. 
Jack has championed women in the industry throughout her career, as well as working in her local community as a Councillor and School Governor. She has always had a keen focus on helping women to manage their work/ family balance, remain in employment whilst raising a family and to have the confidence to consider transferrable skills to explore new opportunities. This lifelong passion led her to becoming a founding member of WiN UK and is what continues to drive her commitment today.
For more information visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-gritt-49962a2b/
 

The strength of a leader is having people in your team that are better, stronger and come together collectively. Clare Barlow, HR Director Board Member, National Nuclear Laboratory

Clare Barlow lives in Preston with her husband Warren and daughter Hannah and is the HR Director and Board Member at the National Nuclear Laboratory.
Clare grew up in Liverpool and really enjoyed school. She loved maths and went on to do maths A level. After leaving school, Clare decided against going to university and went on to work at CBS Batteries as an Accountancy Trainee where she made the most of all the opportunities that came her way.
Clare then went back to study and get her degree in Business whilst balancing working at the same time. After moving around a few companies, in 1990 Clare started working for Kawneer where she eventually became Head of HR.
After taking a step-down to learn more about the business side of her job, she had the opportunity to travel to many different countries and throughout these jobs, Clare had a mentor which she valued greatly, and she felt she learnt a great deal through this period.  Clare went on to have jobs in British Airways and BAE Systems where she was HR Director for almost ten years.
To find out more about Clare visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarembarlow/

Find the skills to connect with people. Relationships create opportunities! Andrew Sherry, Special Advisor, National Nuclear Laboratory

Andrew Sherry is Special Advisor UK's National Nuclear Laboratory and Research Professor at The University of Manchester. He lives in Manchester with his wife Sue and has two grown up daughters.
Andrew grew up in South East London and went to school at Dulwich College. He really loved sports and music and wasn’t particularly academic during his time at school. After not getting the A level results he’d hoped for, Andrew was offered a place through clearing at The University of Manchester to study Metallurgy.
Andrew really enjoyed his time at university and jumped at the chance when he was offered to do a PhD which he did on Single Crystal Superalloys. After completing his PhD, Andrew went on to work at UK Atomic Energy Authority for seventeen years and within his time at UKAEA Andrew began a Royal Society Industry Fellowship with the University of Manchester enabling him to do part time research whilst working for five years.
This then led Andrew back into academia. Andrew became the Director at Dalton Nuclear Institute. It was here that Andrew was working on significant projects that impacted the whole country and he found the work very rewarding. Andrew then went on to work at National Nuclear Laboratory as a Chief Scientist.
For more information visit: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/ahsherry

Contribute to a greater good! Nassia Tzelepi, Laboratory Fellow, National Nuclear Laboratory

Nassia Tzelepi was fascinated by science from a young age growing up in Greece.  It led her to read Molecular and Laser Physics at the University in Crete.  Her career journey took her from 40°C heat in Greece to horizontal rain in West Cumbria to work in the UK nuclear industry.
Nassia talks about discovering her purpose and her inner desire see the positive impact of science in the real world; on energy and the environment. As a materials expert, Nassia shares her passion to contribute to a greater good, to something that is useful; the safe operation of nuclear reactors providing zero carbon power in the UK.
Nassia is a Laboratory Fellow at the National Nuclear Laboratory. For more information visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nassia-tzelepi-7a3aa132/

If you really believe in something, stick to it! Professor Gerry Thomas, Director of the Chernobyl Tissue Bank and Professor of Molecular Pathology at Imperial College London

Professor Gerry Thomas is Director of the Chernobyl Tissue Bank and Professor of Molecular Pathology at Imperial College London. She has an experienced career in research, including becoming a Research Associate at the Department of Pathology in the University of Wales, College of Medicine and then became an MRC Postdoctoral Scientist at the University of Wales after completing her PhD.
Gerry grew up in Rugby and Leicestershire and now lives in Buckinghamshire with her husband Peter, who she met on her first day at University and two Jack Russel’s.
To begin with, Gerry did her BSci (Hons) in Pharmacology at the University of Bath in 1978. She then went on to become a Research Associate at the Department of Pathology in the University of Wales College of Medicine and completed a PhD in clonality of thyroid-tumours.
After her PhD Gerry went on to do more research as an MRC Postdoctoral Scientist at the University of Wales.
After her post-doctorate, she adopted the role of Research Associate, and then Senior Research associate.
In 2002, Gerry moved to Cambridge and then began lecturing at Swansea University. She then became the Scientific Director of Wales Cancer bank and on top of this, she also became a Clinical Director for the West London Genome Medicine Centre.
Gerry was a designated individual for the Imperial College Human Tissue License, this was where she featured on Sky News to talk about the Fukushima disaster. She then went out to Japan many times to give her advice.
Gerry is now part retired, but is still the Director of the Chernobyl Tissue bank.
For more information visit: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/geraldine.thomas