Speakers
Todd Abrajano
President & CEO
U.S. Nuclear Industry Council
Todd Abrajano is the President & CEO of the United States Nuclear Industry Council where he serves as USNIC's chief advocate in its mission to advance the development and implementation of new nuclear technology and services to secure the U.S. economic supply chain in America and abroad.
Additionally, he leads the promotion of USNIC’s vision to advance nuclear energy to be established, recognized, and accepted world-wide as an essential baseload, emissions-free, reliable, and clean energy source, as well as promoting the expansion of the use of nuclear for space, medical, propulsion and other advanced applications.
Previously, Mr. Abrajano was the Founder and President of Turning Point Public Affairs. For nearly 13 years, the firm assisted corporate, non-profit, and political clients with international markets and business development, government affairs, strategic communications, political strategy, and legislative and regulatory grassroots advocacy.
From 2017- 2021, Mr. Abrajano served as a senior-level presidential appointee in the U.S. Federal Government. He began his federal service at the U.S. Department of Commerce as the Department's White House Liaison and a top advisor to former Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.
In 2018, he transitioned to the U.S. Trade and Development Agency where he ultimately served as the Chief Operating Officer and Head of Agency, leading the Agency’s global export promotion efforts supporting U.S. jobs and businesses in priority development projects within emerging markets in the energy, transportation, ICT, healthcare and agribusiness sectors.
Dr. Christina (Tina) Back
Vice President, Nuclear Technologies and Materials
General Atomics
Dr. Christina “Tina” Back is Vice President of Nuclear Technologies and Materials at General Atomics (GA), where she leads the company’s nuclear fission programs and related technology development. An internationally recognized expert in both fission and fusion energy research, she brings three decades of experience leading R&D for private industry as well as the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Defense. She regularly serves on expert committees for the National Academies, U.S. national laboratories, and universities, and has been invited to provide technical insights for U.S. policymakers—including participation in the 2015 White House Summit on Nuclear Energy and testimony to U.S. Congressional committees.
Dr. Back is committed to advancing nuclear energy as a critical capability for U.S. and global energy security and for national security needs. At GA, she is responsible for a diverse portfolio of programs that apply engineered materials and advanced technologies to deliver transformational improvements in nuclear systems. Major thrust areas include space and terrestrial advanced reactors, accident-tolerant nuclear fuel technologies, novel isotope production (including medical isotopes), and related energy and thermal solutions. She has also been identified as the lead physicist for GA’s Energy Multiplier Module (EM2) advanced reactor concept.
Earlier in her career, Dr. Back spent 13 years at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) working in Inertial Confinement Fusion and High Energy Density Science programs, and she also spent two years as an experimentalist at École Polytechnique in France. She holds an active DOE-Q clearance and a U.S. Department of Defense clearance, and has received numerous honors for her contributions, including the DOE Technical Excellence Award and the Defense Nuclear Sciences Award. In 2013, she was named Woman of the Year in Business by the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Back has authored 100+ peer-reviewed publications, holds two patents, and is a Fellow of the American Physical Society. She earned a B.S. in Physics from Yale University and a Ph.D. in Physics/Plasma Physics from the University of Florida, and is fluent in English and French.
Hon. Rita Baranwal
Chief Nuclear Officer
Radiant
Dr. Rita Baranwal is Chief Nuclear Officer at Radiant, where she is helping lead the development and deployment of Radiant’s Kaleidos microreactor as the company advances toward a first-of-a-kind U.S. reactor test.
Baranwal brings nearly three decades of leadership across nuclear technology, policy, and commercialization. Most recently prior to joining Radiant, she served as Senior Vice President for Westinghouse’s AP300™ Small Modular Reactor program, leading technical development and engagement across utilities and industrial end users. She previously returned to Westinghouse as Chief Technology Officer, where she led global R&D investments and technology strategy across the company’s nuclear portfolio.
In government, Dr. Baranwal served (2019–2021) as Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy, leading DOE’s nuclear R&D and deployment efforts for both today’s fleet and next-generation systems. She also led in the nonprofit research community as Chief Nuclear Officer at EPRI, with responsibility for nuclear R&D supporting a large portion of the world’s commercial nuclear fleet.
Earlier, she was the inaugural director of GAIN (Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear) at Idaho National Laboratory, expanding industry access to DOE capabilities to accelerate advanced nuclear development. Her technical foundation includes leadership roles at Westinghouse (including work associated with early microreactor development) and research and development supporting the U.S. Naval Reactors program at Bechtel Bettis.
Dr. Baranwal is a Fellow of the American Nuclear Society and holds a B.S. from MIT and M.S./Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, all in materials science/materials engineering.
Dr. Baranwal is a widely respected voice in the global nuclear community and a passionate advocate for deploying advanced nuclear technologies to meet the world’s growing demand for reliable energy.
Mr. Patrick Brown
Senior Vice President for Field Operations
Centrus
Patrick Brown is Senior Vice President, Field Operations, for Centrus Energy and President of American Centrifuge Operating, LLC. In these roles, Mr. Brown leads Centrus’ activities at its Tennessee and Ohio sites, including the centrifuge design and manufacturing as well as the operations of our enrichment and manufacturing facilities.
A nuclear engineer and experienced business leader, Brown previously served as Vice President of Strategy & Transformation at National Grid, working to reposition the company’s portfolio and delivering a $450 million operational excellence and efficiency program. He spent nearly a decade as a management consultant at Ernst & Young and RLG International, advising major utilities, oil and gas companies, and local energy services companies. He also served as an operations and engineering lead helping guide the commissioning of Urenco’s centrifuge enrichment plant in New Mexico.
Brown led and managed teams to operate, maintain and refuel Entergy’s Waterford 3 nuclear reactor in Louisiana, and served as a project manager at Nucor, the largest steel manufacturer in the United States. He began his career in the U.S. Navy, serving as a nuclear power plant operations leader aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise and directing a nuclear operations team in a combat environment during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Nick Bumpaous
Business Manager
UA Local 598 (Tri Cities, Washington)
Nick (Nicholas A.) Bumpaous is Business Manager of UA Local 598 Plumbers and Steamfitters, based in Pasco (Tri-Cities), Washington, representing skilled trades professionals who support major energy, industrial, and infrastructure projects across central Washington and northeastern Oregon.
As Business Manager, Bumpaous leads Local 598’s advocacy, workforce pipeline, and partnerships with signatory contractors—helping ensure projects have access to a highly trained, safety- and quality-focused craft workforce, including nuclear-qualified capabilities rooted in the region’s long history supporting work at the Hanford site. He has emphasized the union’s commitment to debt-free apprenticeship training and continuous upskilling so that workers can build long-term careers while meeting the specialized demands of emerging sectors such as small modular reactors and other advanced energy projects.
Bumpaous also serves as President of the Central Washington Building & Construction Trades Council, and he is engaged in broader civic and community leadership, including service noted through local community organizations. In public-facing roles, he has represented the construction trades in regional and national conversations tied to major energy and environmental priorities affecting Washington state.
Dr. Stefano Buono
Chief Executive Officer
newcleo
A nuclear physicist and successful entrepreneur, Stefano started his career working for 10 years with Nobel laureate Carlo Rubbia at CERN and CRS4, in the field of Accelerator Driven Systems and nuclear waste transmutation. In 2002, he founded Advanced Accelerator Applications, listed on NASDAQ until its acquisition by Novartis for $3.9 bn. He is the Chairman of various organisations, and the founder of Elysia Capital, his single family office. He is the author of numerous scientific publications, and received his Master’s degree in Physics from the University of Turin.
Diane Cameron
Head of Nuclear Technology Development & Economics Division
OECD Nuclear Energy Agency
Diane Cameron is Head of the Nuclear Technology Development and Economics Division at the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA). In her role at the NEA, she leads an expert team of economists and scientists that supports energy policy and nuclear energy policy development among NEA Member Countries by advancing evidence-based, authoritative assessments and analyses in the areas of nuclear economics, financing, and cost reduction, as well as nuclear technology, innovation, and the fuel cycle.
From 2014 to 2021, Diane was Director of the Nuclear Energy Division with the Government of Canada. As Director, she headed up the division responsible for leading and co-ordinating Canadian public policy on nuclear energy, and served as Chair of Canada's Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Roadmap and Action Plan. She joined the Government of Canada in 2007 to work on energy, environment, and economic policy - including international relations and negotiations. Prior to her tenure with the Government of Canada, she worked in management consulting and engineering in the private sector specializing in global value chains and international logistics.
A Canadian national, Diane holds a Master's Degree in Technology Policy from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where she was named Alfred Keil Fellow for Wiser Uses of Science and Technology. Diane also holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Systems Design Engineering from the University of Waterloo.
Amit Chandra
Managing Director, Global Head of Climate Technology
Barclays Capital
Amit Chandra is a Managing Director and Global Head of Climate Technology at Barclays Capital, where he focuses on advising clients across climate technology and the energy sector. With more than 24 years of experience, Amit works with companies and investors on capital markets and strategic financing solutions supporting the energy transition.
Over the course of his career, Amit has completed 500+ energy transition and energy-related capital raises, totaling more than $175 billion since 2005—bringing deep transaction experience and market perspective to both established energy leaders and emerging climate-focused innovators.
Amit earned a degree in Business Commerce from McGill University and holds an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.
Dr. Sunil Chirayath
Distinguished R&D Scientist
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
Dr. Sunil Chirayath is a Distinguished R&D Scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), working in the laboratory’s nuclear nonproliferation mission space. His research and technical leadership focus on strengthening nuclear security and safeguards through advanced measurement science, monitoring, and analysis—with work that spans nuclear forensics and emerging reactor fuel-cycle challenges.
Before joining ORNL, Dr. Chirayath held senior academic and program leadership roles at Texas A&M University, including serving as Director of the Center for Nuclear Security Science and Policy Initiatives (NSSPI) and as a faculty member in the Department of Nuclear Engineering, where he supported education, research, and professional training in nuclear security and nonproliferation.
At ORNL, his recent published work includes topics such as material control and accounting for liquid-fueled molten salt reactors and techniques for molten salt reactor feed monitoring, reflecting a practical focus on deployable safeguards and monitoring approaches for advanced reactor systems. He is also an active contributor to the broader technical community, with a publication record reflected across major research indexes.
Brooke Poole Clark
Partner
Morgan Lewis & Bockius, LLP
A former 23+-year member of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff whose tenure included numerous leadership roles, Brooke Poole Clark works with clients on a broad range of matters in the nuclear industry. In her most recent position as NRC general counsel, Brooke directed matters of law and legal policy and provided opinions, advice, and assistance to the Commission and the NRC staff with respect to all agency activities.
Prior to her appointment as general counsel, Brooke served as NRC secretary as well as in the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, and the Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer. From 2008–2018, Brooke led the NRC’s Office of Commission Appellate Adjudication, assisting the NRC in its quasi-judicial functions, including supporting the Commission’s resolution of appeals from decisions of the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board panels. She also advised former NRC Chairs Nils Diaz and Dale Klein. During her time with the NRC, Brooke also served in multiple roles in the Office of the General Counsel, including as deputy general counsel for licensing, hearings, and enforcement.
Brooke began her legal career at the NRC in 1998 as part of the Office of the General Counsel's Honor Law Graduate program. After a stint as an associate at a global specialist law firm, she rejoined the NRC's Office of the General Counsel in 2004 and served in progressively responsible positions across the agency.
Mr. Larry Corte
Senior Counsel, Freeport – McMoRan Inc.
Chair, Industrial Advanced Nuclear Consortium Regulatory Working Group
Lawrence (Larry) Corte is Senior Counsel, at Freeport – McMoRan Inc. Inc. (FCX) and President, Western Nuclear Inc. He also is Chair, Industrial Advanced Nuclear Consortium Regulatory Working Group.
Previously Mr. Corte was Assistant General Counsel, Environment & Safety, Kinder Morgan; Adjunct Professor, Colorado School of Mines, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering; Attorney, Chevron Resources Company; and Engineer/Project Manager- Mining, Fuels Division, Houston Lighting & Power. He has Bachelor of Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, and Doctor of Jurisprudence, South Texas College of Law, Houston.
Hon. James P. Danly
Deputy Secretary of Energy
U.S. Department of Energy
James P. Danly was sworn in as Deputy Secretary on June 9, 2025.
Before arriving at the Department, Deputy Secretary Danly was a partner and the Energy Regulatory Group leader at Skadden in Washington, D.C. This followed his service at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, first as the Commission’s general counsel then as the commissioner and chairman.
Deputy Secretary Danly was an officer in the United States Army. He served two tours in Iraq, receiving a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.
A graduate of Yale University, Deputy Secretary Danly earned his J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School. He clerked for Judge Danny J. Boggs of the Sixth Circuit.
Cyril Draffin
Senior Fellow, New Nuclear
U.S. Nuclear Industry Council
Cyril Draffin serves as Senior Fellow, Advanced Nuclear for the U.S. Nuclear Industry Council, which represents more than 90 companies engaged in nuclear innovation and supply chain development. He is focused on development, demonstration, regulation, financing, and deployment of advanced nuclear technologies to meet industrial and utility energy requirements.
Mr. Draffin also is working as a specialty consultant contracted to ExxonMobil supporting the Industrial Advanced Nuclear Consortium. He is Regulations and Standards workstream lead for the U.S. Trade and Development’s Small Modular Reactor Working Group, is affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Energy Initiative, has been Vice-Chair of the Maryland Cybersecurity Critical Infrastructure subcommittee, is Deputy Director MIT Alumni Angels of DC, and is member of MIT Corporation Development Committee. He led the USNIC 2025 “Western States New Nuclear Workshop” and 2024 “Integrating Nuclear Solutions for Petrochemical and Industrial Needs” Houston workshop.
Mr. Draffin is affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Energy Initiative, gave an energy talk at MIT in May 2022, is workstream lead for Standards, and Regulations for the U.S. Department of Commerce Small Modular Reactor Working Group, is representative to International Energy Agency’s International Smart Grid Action Network Academy, and serves as member of the Maryland Cybersecurity Council focused on critical infrastructure.
Previously, Mr. Draffin was Director, Strategic Development for Northrop Grumman Corporation for 15 years; Vice President of Strategic Planning and Business Development for BDM International; Vice President of Greater Washington Investors, a venture capital firm; Director and strategic planner with the U.S. Department of Energy; and a nuclear and environmental engineer at Bechtel Power Corporation. Mr. Draffin has made major national contributions in developing hydraulic fracturing for natural gas production, sulfur dioxide removal from coal combustion, industrial energy markets, and clean-up of nuclear weapons waste. Mr. Draffin has BS and MS degrees in chemical engineering from MIT.
Mr. Chad Eaton
Director of Government Affairs
Nucor Corporation
Chad Eaton is Director, Government Affairs at Nucor Corporation headquartered in Charlotte, NC. Nucor is the largest steel producer in the United States and is North America’s largest recycler.
Eaton’s career has spanned the private and public sector having worked as Manager of Federal Government Affairs at Duke Energy, served as director of public affairs for former US Congressman Heath Shuler, and served as Associate Pastor at First Baptist church in South Carolina. He is a graduate of Samford University in Birmingham, AL with a bachelor of education, and currently resides in North Carolina.
Dr. Ron Faibish
Vice Chair, USNIC;
Sr. Director, Strategic Development, Nuclear Technologies & Materials
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS)
Dr. Ron S. Faibish has nearly 23 years of combined experience in the government and industry energy sectors, including extensive work with and within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory complex and other government functions.
Dr. Faibish leads strategic development for General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems Group (GA-EMS) in the area of nuclear technologies and materials, leading strategic planning and programmtic growth for fission-related technology development and products, such as high temperature gas-cooled fast reactor technologies, space nuclear thermal propulsion and power systems, advanced nuclear fuels, and various applications of advanced ceramic composite materials, such as GA-EMS’ SiGA®-silicon carbide technologies-related applications.
Prior to joining General Atomics, Dr. Faibish worked at Argonne National Laboratory for nearly 14 years, most recently leading Argonne’s Energy Systems initiatives and associated program development. He managed several DOE international engagements on nuclear safety and technology. Dr. Faibish also spent time in Washington as an Argonne detailee, serving as the Senior Advisor to the Director of the DOE Advanced Research Projects Agency—Energy. In this role, he advised the Director on policy, technology and strategic planning.
Dr. Faibish also served as the Science Fellow with the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, where he worked on major legislation, led the authorship of one of five whitepapers for Senator Lisa Murkowski on the energy-water nexus, worked closely with numerous external stakeholders, and negotiated complex issues related to bilateral international energy legislation, among other accomplishments.
Prior to joining Argonne, Dr. Faibish worked as a Research Development Manager at the International Atomic Energy Agency, managing multinational scientific research proposals and projects related to peaceful, non-electrical applications of nuclear energy.
Dr. Faibish received his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles. He also completed a certificate program at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Dr. Jess Gehin
Associate Laboratory Director – Nuclear Science & Technology
Idaho National Laboratory
Dr. Jess Gehin became associate laboratory director for INL’s Nuclear Science & Technology (NS&T) Directorate in March 2021 after serving as chief scientist for the directorate since 2018. Over his 28-year career, he has built national strategies and priorities for nuclear energy, led complex projects and organizations, and developed strong relationships with senior leaders within INL, DOE and federal sponsors, and other laboratories, companies and universities. In support of the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy, he served as the national technical director for the DOE Microreactor Program. He expanded NS&T’s strategic direction and helped develop and establish key projects to build advanced reactors at INL such as the Department of Defense’s demonstration microreactor Project Pele, and the Microreactor Applications Research Validation and Evaluation (MARVEL) Project. Previously, he held research and leadership positions at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in nuclear reactor core physics, reactor core and system technologies, reactor modeling and simulation, and fuel cycle reactor applications. While at ORNL, he served as director of the Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water Reactors. He earned a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from Kansas State University, and master’s and doctoral degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His was an associate professor at the University of Tennessee, is a Fellow of the American Nuclear Society, and has authored or co-authored more than 120 refereed journal and conference articles, technical reports and conference summaries.
Joseph Gnanapragasam
Director, Investment Banking
BofA Securities, Inc.
Joseph Gnanapragasam is a Director within the Global Corporate & Investment Bank at BofA Securities, Inc. Based in Seattle, he covers energy technologies and infrastructure across North America.
Joseph leads the firm’s coverage of the advanced nuclear sector, providing strategic advisory and capital solutions across the next-generation nuclear ecosystem—from reactor developers to the nuclear fuel value chain. He brings more than a decade of energy investment banking experience and has advised on approximately $35 billion of M&A and capital markets transactions across North America and Asia Pacific.
He began his career in the Natural Resources Mergers & Acquisitions group at Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore. Joseph holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Mr. Robert Freeman
Chief Growth Officer – Nuclear Fuels
Framatome Inc.
Mr. Freeman is responsible for Framatome’s nuclear fuel commercial operations in the United States, Japan and Taiwan. He has more than 25 years of experience in the nuclear industry. In his current position, Mr. Freeman focuses on business development, sales and execution of both large and small projects centered on the nuclear fuel industry. Strategic planning, customer management, and fuel inspection and repair in the field are also main areas of focus for Mr. Freeman and his team. Prior to joining Framatome in 1999, Mr. Freeman held positions with ABB Combustion Engineering performing nuclear criticality, core design engineering and licensing of fuel fabrication facilities and shipping containers.
Rex Geveden
President and Chief Executive Officer
BWX Technologies
Rex D. Geveden is president and chief executive officer of BWXT, a $3B nuclear technology and manufacturing company headquartered in Lynchburg, Virginia. As CEO, Mr. Geveden directs all business operations and leads strategic planning, capital allocation and leadership succession.
BWXT manufactures nuclear reactors, fuel and components for the U.S. Navy; provides nuclear technical services at contractor-operated Department of Energy and other government laboratories and facilities; develops and manufactures microreactors for national security and space applications; and processes special nuclear materials and advanced nuclear fuels. BWXT also manufactures medical radioisotopes and supplies precision manufactured components, services and fuel for the commercial nuclear power industry.
With about 10,000 employees, BWXT has 20 major operating sites in the U.S., Canada and the U.K., comprising over four million square feet of manufacturing space. In addition, BWXT joint ventures operate at more than a dozen U.S. Department of Energy sites.
Mr. Geveden joined BWXT in 2015 as chief operating officer (COO) before advancing to CEO in 2017. Previously, he advanced to the position of executive vice president at Teledyne Technologies over an eight-year period, ultimately leading the Digital Imaging and Engineered Systems segments of the business.
He spent 17 years at NASA, including service as the agency’s COO responsible for a $16 billion portfolio of work in NASA’s mission areas of science, aeronautics, space operations and exploration, along with oversight of NASA’s 10 field centers.
Mr. Geveden chairs the board of TTM Technologies, Inc., a global electronics manufacturing company. He is also on the Board of Trustees of the Universities Research Association and is a member of the Wall Street Journal CEO Council. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physics from Murray State University.
Dr. Cesare Frepoli
Co-Founder, Chief Operating Officer
Terra Innovation
Cesare is Co-Founder, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs at Terra Innovatum. He has served as a member of its Board of Directors since October 2025. He has over 30 years of experience in nuclear engineering, specializing in safety analysis, regulatory strategy, and advanced simulation technologies.
In 2013, he founded FPoliSolutions, a firm providing risk-informed safety analysis and regulatory support to nuclear and green energy sectors, working with advanced reactor developers. The company has received multiple DOE grants to develop digital platforms like FPoli Agile Application Platform (FPoli-AAP) to improve safety assessments.
Previously, he worked at Westinghouse Electric Company, where he pioneered the Full Spectrum LOCA™ methodology and ASTRUM™, key innovations in best-estimate safety analysis now widely adopted in the industry. He played a vital role in licensing the AP1000 reactor globally. He is a named inventor on patents in safety technology and has authored over 100 technical publications.
He has received multiple George Westinghouse awards recognizing his leadership and innovation. Cesare holds a PhD in Nuclear Engineering from Penn State University and a Master’s from Politecnico di Milano.
M.C. Hammond
Counsel
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP
M.C. Hammond has been practicing nuclear energy law for nearly 10 years at both Pillsbury and the Department of Energy (DOE). She recently returned to Pillsbury from the DOE, where she advised on over $2.9 billion in nuclear loans and awards within the past three years.
While at DOE, M.C. served as the lead nuclear regulatory counsel for the Department’s $1.52 billion loan guarantee for the first-of-a-kind restart of the Palisades Nuclear Generating Station. M.C. was also nuclear regulatory counsel for the DOE’s Civil Nuclear Credit Program’s $1.1 billion award to Diablo Canyon Power Plant, including extensive advice on National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) issues.
She also co-led the development of a groundbreaking $300 million Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program award for Kairos Power at the DOE.
During her time at Pillsbury, M.C. advised clients on complex licensing and enforcement proceedings before the NRC, including license renewals, license transfers and the first below-ground-interim-storage facility for spent nuclear fuel.
M.C. is also a leading practitioner in nuclear liability law and has—by invitation of the International Atomic Energy Association—taught workshops on nuclear liability law and regulation to nuclear newcomer countries, including in the Baltics, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Stuart Henderson
Chief Technology Officer
Subcritical Systems
Stuart Henderson is Chief Technology Officer at Subcritical Systems, where he leads technology development for accelerator-driven, subcritical nuclear energy systems and the enabling superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) and accelerator technologies required to deliver them at scale.
Henderson brings decades of leadership experience from the U.S. national laboratory system and is widely recognized for his expertise in particle accelerators and high-performance scientific facilities. He previously served as Director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab), guiding the laboratory’s operations and long-range vision for world-leading nuclear physics research and advanced accelerator capabilities.
Prior to Jefferson Lab, Henderson led major accelerator initiatives across the DOE complex, including serving as Director of the Advanced Photon Source Upgrade Project at Argonne National Laboratory, Associate Laboratory Director for Accelerators at Fermilab, and holding senior roles at Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Spallation Neutron Source, where he helped drive construction, commissioning, and the transition to successful high-power user operations.
He has contributed to national and international advisory bodies for large-scale accelerator facilities and is a Fellow of the American Physical Society. Henderson earned a B.S. in Chemistry from Vanderbilt University and a Ph.D. in Physics from Yale University.
Nicole Hughes
Senior Director, Workforce Solutions
Thomas Thor
Nicole Hughes is Senior Director, Workforce Solutions at Thomas Thor, where she helps nuclear and clean-energy organizations design and deliver the people strategies required to scale—spanning workforce planning, talent pipeline development, knowledge-transfer approaches, and culture/retention initiatives.
With 20+ years of international experience across the talent and project-delivery space, Hughes has managed significant staffing and workforce initiatives for Thomas Thor in multiple regions, including early work supporting projects in the United Arab Emirates and her current leadership across North America. In her North American leadership roles, she has overseen cross-functional delivery for contract recruitment, staff augmentation, and workforce programs in the United States and Canada—working closely with utilities, OEMs, EPCs, and the broader supply chain to align hiring and capability-building with project schedules and organizational needs.
Hughes is also an active voice in industry conversations on what it will take to grow the nuclear workforce quickly—advocating for broader cross-sector recruitment, more adaptable career pathways, and intentional approaches to mentorship and institutional knowledge. She has emphasized practical, human-centered tools for change (including reverse mentoring and continuous skills-gap analysis) as organizations navigate fast-moving shifts in technology and work models.
Her career has included supporting workforce development tied to major nuclear programs, including the Barakah project in the UAE and Vogtle Units 3 & 4 in the United States (as described in public biographical coverage).
Todd Hurrle
Program Director, Nuclear Digital Transformation
NextAxiom
Todd Hurrle is the Program Director of Nuclear Digital Transformation and brings more than 25 years of experience across nuclear operations, engineering, maintenance, and innovation. He spent over two decades at Xcel Energy’s Monticello Generation Station and corporate engineering organizations, serving as a Senior Reactor Operator and contributing to design engineering, system engineering, equipment reliability, and major initiatives including the Extended Power Uprate, post‑Fukushima response, and the Fix‑It‑Now program.
Todd now serves at NextAxiom, where he leads digital transformation efforts that help nuclear utilities modernize workflows, strengthen decision‑making, and improve operational efficiency. Previously, as Director of Innovation, he advanced technologies that enhanced safety, equipment reliability, human performance, and maintenance effectiveness.
A recognized advocate for nuclear modernization and workforce enablement, Todd focuses on helping the industry adopt digital tools that elevate safety, support long‑term sustainability, and enable the next generation of nuclear advancements.
Zabrina Johal
Senior Vice President, Nuclear Strategy and Commercial
AtkinsRéalis
Zabrina Johal is Senior Vice President, Nuclear Strategy and Commercial at AtkinsRéalis, where she leads global efforts to expand the firm’s nuclear portfolio and drive strategic growth across new and existing markets. In this role, she focuses on the commercial and strategic pathways needed to bring next-generation nuclear technologies online—working at the intersection of industry, government, and major infrastructure customers.
Johal brings a cross-sector background spanning nuclear energy, defense, and advanced technologies, with experience in commercialization strategy, stakeholder engagement, and leading complex initiatives in highly regulated environments. Prior to joining AtkinsRéalis, she spent nearly two decades at General Atomics, including as Senior Director of Strategic Development, where she led initiatives aimed at accelerating innovation in advanced energy technologies and systems.
Earlier, Johal was recruited into the U.S. Navy’s Nuclear Power Program and served as a nuclear propulsion officer on the USS Carl Vinson—experience she often cites as foundational to her leadership approach and to operating in high-accountability technical environments.
She is active in industry leadership and advocacy, including involvement with organizations advancing innovation and inclusion across the nuclear and fusion communities, and she has publicly shared that she was elected to the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) Board of Directors.
Johal earned undergraduate degrees in Physics and Chemistry from Santa Clara University, and later completed an MBA and an M.S. in Real Estate at the University of San Diego.
Dr. Sama Bilbao y León
Director General
World Nuclear Association
Dr. Sama Bilbao y León is Director General of the World Nuclear Association (WNA), the international organization representing the global nuclear industry. Appointed in October 2020, she leads WNA’s work to connect stakeholders across the nuclear value chain, develop and represent common industry positions in major global forums, and provide authoritative information that supports the growth of nuclear energy worldwide.
Bilbao y León also serves as President of the World Nuclear University, advancing leadership development and global collaboration for the next generation of nuclear professionals.
With more than 20 years of experience spanning nuclear engineering and energy policy, she brings a rare blend of technical depth and international perspective. Before joining WNA, she held senior roles in intergovernmental organizations, including as Head of the Division of Nuclear Technology Development and Economics at the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), and as Head of the Technical Secretariat for the Generation IV International Forum (GIF)—positions focused on the intersection of advanced nuclear technology, innovation, and economics for member-country decision-making.
Earlier in her career, she served at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as Head of the Water Cooled Reactors Technology Development Unit, worked in industry as a Nuclear Safety Analysis Engineer at Dominion Energy, and held academic leadership as Director of Nuclear Engineering Programs and Associate Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Bilbao y León is a founding member of North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NA-YGN). Her expertise includes reactor thermal-hydraulics (light-water and sodium-cooled systems), reactor design and safety, energy and environmental policy, and complex decision-making.
She holds degrees from the Polytechnic University of Madrid (Mechanical Engineering; Energy Technologies), the University of Wisconsin–Madison (M.S. and Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics), and an MBA from Averett University.
Ken Langdon
Vice President, Nuclear Development
Energy Northwest
Ken Langdon is Vice President, Nuclear Development at Energy Northwest, where he serves as Project Director for the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility—the organization’s proposed small modular reactor (SMR) project in Washington state.
Langdon joined Energy Northwest in 2023, bringing 35 years of nuclear industry experience spanning operations leadership, site readiness, and major project execution across utilities, OEMs, and the broader nuclear supply chain. A U.S. Navy veteran (eight years of service), he has held senior roles at some of the industry’s most recognized organizations and operating stations.
His prior leadership experience includes serving as Site Vice President at the Nine Mile Point Nuclear Plant (Constellation Energy Nuclear Group), Director of Operations at Diablo Canyon Power Plant, and Plant Manager at TVA’s Sequoyah Nuclear Plant.  He has also led operational readiness and deployment work in the nuclear construction ecosystem, including Vice President of Operational Readiness at Westinghouse and Vice President of Operations and Plant Services at NuScale Power.
Beyond his utility and vendor experience, Langdon is active in regional clean-energy and innovation initiatives, including service as Board Chair of the VERTical Innovation Cluster, which focuses on accelerating deployment-ready clean energy technologies and the enabling supply chain.
Langdon holds a B.S. in Workforce Education and Development and earned a Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) certification from the LaSalle County Nuclear Station.
Patrick Leonard
Lead for Washington State Nuclear Deployment
Amazon Web Services
Patrick Leonard leads Washington State nuclear deployment efforts for Amazon Web Services (AWS), helping advance AWS’s strategy to secure reliable, carbon-free electricity to support continued growth in cloud and AI infrastructure. In this role, he works at the intersection of energy market strategy, stakeholder engagement, and project development—linking utility-scale power solutions with AWS’s long-term operational needs.
Leonard has 15+ years of experience across the energy and sustainability sector and is part of AWS’s broader clean-energy team focused on scaling carbon-free power at pace. He has emphasized that AWS’s approach goes beyond matching consumption with clean generation, aiming instead to help reduce overall grid emissions—particularly by prioritizing projects in higher-emitting regions where new clean supply can have outsized impact.
As AWS expands its carbon-free portfolio—now spanning hundreds of wind, solar, and storage projects—Leonard has also been a visible advocate for adding firm, clean resources, including advanced nuclear. He regularly participates in industry dialogues on how nuclear can support energy-intensive sectors (including data centers) and has appeared on public agendas and forums focused on the role of nuclear in powering large-scale digital infrastructure.
Across his work, Leonard focuses on practical pathways that accelerate deployment—bringing together technology providers, utilities, policymakers, and market stakeholders to move “big rocks” in clean energy and enable durable, scalable decarbonization.
Chris Levesque
Chief Executive Officer
TerraPower
Chris Levesque is president and chief executive officer of TerraPower and serves as a member of the TerraPower board. He was appointed to that position in November 2018 after having served as president of TerraPower since 2015. Levesque leads this nuclear innovation company in the pursuit of next-generation nuclear energy solutions and oversees TerraPower’s new venture into therapeutic medical isotopes. His proven track record in scoping, planning and implementing complex projects began with his service in the U.S. Nuclear Navy and features more than 30 years of experience in the nuclear field.
Prior to joining TerraPower, Levesque led major new reactor build efforts at both Westinghouse and AREVA, overseeing projects in both the U.S. and Finland. Before his assignment in Finland, he led the formation of AREVA’s joint venture with Newport News Shipbuilding, AREVA Newport News, for which he served as chairman of the board and president.
Levesque has extensive experience with the nuclear industrial base and nuclear component manufacturing. Earlier in his career, he served as the manager of engineering and manufacturing at Westinghouse’s Newington, New Hampshire, component manufacturing facility, and he has served in multiple management positions at two nuclear-capable shipyards. Levesque began his career as a nuclear submarine officer and served on both the USS Boise (SSN 764) and the USS Will Rogers (SSBN 659). On Boise, he supervised initial criticality and reactor startup testing, and qualified as chief engineer.
Levesque holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a Master of Science in mechanical engineering and a Naval Engineer degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He currently serves on the Department of Energy’s Energy Workforce Advisory Board that advises the Secretary on workforce issues; and serves on the board of the Nuclear Energy Institute.
Mr. Paul Lorskulsint
Chief Nuclear Officer
Urenco
Paul Lorskulsint is Chief Nuclear Officer at Urenco USA (UUSA), where he is responsible for the nuclear safety, industrial safety, and security of Urenco’s U.S. uranium enrichment operations, and for ensuring the facility remains in compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and its NRC license. UUSA’s enrichment plant is located near Eunice, New Mexico, and is widely described as the only operational centrifuge-based enrichment facility in North America, supplying enriched uranium for U.S. and international commercial nuclear customers.
In addition to leading plant nuclear safety and compliance, Lorskulsint has been publicly identified as an Advanced Fuels Sponsor at UUSA, reflecting his involvement in initiatives supporting evolving fuel and supply-chain needs as new reactor deployments accelerate. He has also represented UUSA in public and stakeholder settings, including industry events focused on nuclear growth and supply-chain resilience.
Lorskulsint brings a background spanning nuclear operations, compliance, supply chain execution, and management. Prior to Urenco USA, he worked at KAPL (Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory) as a Shift Supervisor, gaining hands-on experience supervising operations in a high-accountability nuclear environment.
He is a World Nuclear University (WNU) Summer Institute alumnus and has contributed to WNU programming, including participating as an invited expert supporting leadership development for nuclear professionals.
Lorskulsint holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.
Dr. Corey McDaniel
Vice President, Fuel & Advanced Reactor Deployment
Kiewit Nuclear Solutions
Dr. McDaniel has 30 years’ experience accelerating the deployment of advanced nuclear and integrated clean energy systems by expanding markets for commercial reactor vendors. Corey has served as an executive, engineer, scientist, and policy adviser on nuclear energy issues, including business development, manufacturing, project development, regulatory oversight, safety, marketing, global sales and investment.
During his time as chief commercial officer (CCO) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), he led lab-wide industrial research partnerships and technology development efforts. Before re-joining INL in 2019, Corey had a similar role as COO for the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories where he engaged more than 30 advanced reactor executives in laboratory-led siting, integrated energy systems, and commercial deployments initiatives. Corey is well known and respected in the U.S. and international nuclear industry and has played instrumental roles in high profile nuclear deployment efforts.
Hon. Jeffrey Merrifield
Former Commissioner, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission;
Chairman, USNIC;
Partner - Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman
Jeffrey Merrifield is a partner in the Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP’s energy practice. Mr. Merrifield was appointed by President Clinton and reappointed by President Bush to serve on the five-member, Senate-confirmed, independent United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. During his tenure, which was from October 1998 to June 2002 and from August 2002 to June 2007, the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission had a staff of 3,250 employees with a budget of $900 million and set all policies and rules that govern the safe and secure use of nuclear materials at the 104 U.S. nuclear power plants operating at that time.
Prior to joining Pillsbury, Mr. Merrifield served as President of The Merrifield Group, LLC where he provided energy and environmental consulting, advocacy and strategic advice for companies, organizations and individuals. Specific areas of focus included management, energy market analysis, nuclear, fossil and alternative energy policy and deployment, radioactive and hazardous waste disposal strategies, safety and regulatory assessment and analysis, as well as public and government engagement.
Before working with the Merrifield Group, Mr. Merrifield was the Senior Vice President of Global Business Development with CB&I’s Power Business Unit. While there, he led a team of twenty-five sales and proposal staff to develop and win over $1.5 billion in annual sales, including the first competitive, EPC combined cycle gas unit in over six years.
Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President for The Shaw Group, Inc.’s Power Group. As a member of the Power Group's executive team, he was responsible for overseeing the group's external relationships including nuclear business development, customer relations, strategic planning, marketing and communications, as well as government and regulatory affairs.
Mr. Merrifield also served on the Board of Directors for the U.S. Ecology Corporation, which is one of the largest U.S. operators of both hazardous and low-level radioactive waste disposal facilities. He served as the Lead Director and Chairman of the Governance Committee and was a member of the Compensation and Audit Committees.
Currently, Mr. Merrifield serves on the Board of the U.S. Nuclear Industry Council and is also the Chairman of its Advanced Nuclear Working Group. Composed of more than 70 companies, the Council is the leading business consortium advocate for new nuclear energy and the promotion of the American supply chain globally.
Mr. Rich Mroz
Former President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (2014-2018);
Founder & Managing Director
Resolute Strategies
Richard S. Mroz, Esq. has a long and distinguished career in law, government, and public service. His experiences are as a regulator, lawyer, lobbyist, banker, consultant and thought leader on issues including energy markets & technologies, cybersecurity, water & wastewater policy, and infrastructure development & financing in various industries.
Ms. Elizabeth Muller
Co-Founder & CEO
Deep Fission
Liz is co-founder and CEO of Deep Fission, and a serial entrepreneur in the nuclear and environmental sectors. Before joining Deep Fission, she was Chief Executive at Deep Isolation, a pioneering nuclear waste startup, where she continues to serve as Board Chair. During her time at Deep Isolation, she redefined the way the world thinks about nuclear waste disposal, led the successful demonstration of the borehole technology now central to Deep Fission, and forged key partnerships across governments and the private sector.
Muller is also the co-author of two patents and was named a Clean Energy Rising Star by Business Insider in 2020. In addition to her professional accomplishments, she is an author, inventor, dance instructor, and mother of two based in the Bay Area.
She holds a Bachelor of Mathematics from UC San Diego and an MBA from ESCP Business School in Paris.
The Honorable Ho Nieh
Chairman
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
The Honorable Ho Nieh was sworn in as a Commissioner of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on December 4, 2025, for a term ending June 30, 2029. He is the first former NRC resident inspector to serve as a Commissioner.
Immediately prior to this appointment, Nieh served as an officer of Southern Nuclear on loan to the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO). He joined Southern Nuclear in March 2021 to assume the role of Vice President of Regulatory Affairs after more than 20 years as an NRC staff member.
While at the NRC, Nieh served as Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, where he was responsible for reactor safety licensing and oversight programs for operating and new reactors. His other roles at the NRC included: Senior Resident Inspector; Director of the Division Reactor Projects in Region 1, in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania; Director of Division Inspection and Regional Support at NRC headquarters; and Chief of Staff for Commissioner William Ostendorff.
In addition, Nieh previously worked at the Nuclear Energy Agency as Director of the Division of Nuclear Safety Technology and Regulation, where he enhanced international cooperation for nuclear safety regulatory authorities and research institutes. He also served as Communications Advisor to the International Atomic Energy Agency and worked at Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory as a civilian instructor for the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program.
Nieh earned his Bachelor of Engineering in marine engineering from New York Maritime College and is a graduate of the United States Naval Nuclear Power School. He attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for graduate studies in nuclear engineering and earned a Master of Business Administration from Johns Hopkins University. Nieh completed the Executive Education in Strategic Management program from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He also completed the INPO Senior Nuclear Plant Manager program.
Cristina Paredes
Executive Director
SC Nexus for Advanced Resilient Energy
Cristina Paredes is the Executive Director of SC Nexus for Advanced Resilient Energy, South Carolina's Regional Technology and Innovation Hub (TechHub). She brings a wealth of experience in economic development and strategic leadership to her role, driving innovation and resilience in the state's energy sector.
Cristina Paredes is a seasoned economic development professional with over two decades of experience in leadership and consulting. Throughout her career, she has spearheaded policy development and initiated projects to drive economic growth and community development. Most recently, as a Senior Consultant at VisionFirst Advisors, she guided clients through strategic business expansion and location decisions, enhanced economic competitiveness, and navigated local government processes. With a deep understanding of economic development dynamics, Cristina excels in managing complex programs and navigating priorities effectively.
As the Director of the Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality, Cristina played a pivotal role in steering the community through its most significant economic growth phase, a feat that earned her national recognition. Her oversight of major expansion projects, such as the Amazon Robotics Fulfillment Center and Danfoss Turbocor’s new manufacturing and research facilities, resulted in the creation of over 2,900 new jobs. Cristina's commitment to diversity and economic inclusion was evident in her certification of 300 minority and women-owned businesses, which in turn enhanced business opportunities for nearly 2,000 employees.
Cristina's collaboration with university partners at Tier I research institutions and business leaders has bolstered recruitment, expansion, and commercialization efforts in the applied science industry. She worked with community leaders to secure U.S. Commerce Economic Development Agency funding for a regional innovation laboratory and small business funding, demonstrating her ability to develop collaborative structures and policies that expedite technology deployment. Under her leadership, her office earned 12 state, national, and international awards.
Cristina is committed to continuous learning and professional development. She is currently pursuing a Master of Legal Studies degree from Texas A&M College of Law, specializing in Environmental and Energy Law and Policy. She also holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s in public administration from Florida State University. Cristina has a Certificate in Economic Development from the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute. She is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).
In 2021, Cristina’s contributions to economic development were recognized when Consultant Connect named her one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers. The Tallahassee Democrat also acknowledged her as one of 25 Women to Know. In 2022, she was honored with the Pinnacle Award from 850 Magazine, a testament to her significant impact on business and community development across the North Florida region.
Carl Perez
Chief Executive Officer
Exodys Energy
Carl is a native New Yorker and earned his B.S. from Babson College. In his final year of undergraduate studies, he began a decade-long career in nuclear energy as CEO of Elysium Industries, a molten salt reactor company, where he led partnerships, technology development, and government relations.
In 2023, he co-founded Exodys Energy, a nuclear fuel recycling developer, alongside U.S. Navy nuclear system designers and recycling operators from La Hague, France. The company is partially owned by the State of New York.
Carl advises multiple nuclear initiatives across industry and government, including the Nuclear Energy Institute’s Recycling Task Force, and was elected by industry as co-lead of the DOE Nuclear Fuel DPA Consortium’s Reprocessing & Recycling Committee. He also serves on the advisory board of Nuclear New York, an independent, non-partisan advocacy organization that helped advance New York State’s recent nuclear expansion announcements.
He supports development of the next-generation nuclear workforce through his role on the Industrial Advisory Board of Excelsior University and is the author of Chapter 22 in the latest edition of the Molten Salt Reactor & Thorium Fuel Cycle textbook.
Dr. Mark Peters
CEO, Mitre Corporation;
Vice President/President Elect, American Nuclear Society
Mark Peters is the president and chief executive officer of MITRE, the global not-for-profit technology company that operates R&D centers around the world. He leads a multidisciplinary team that stands united in providing technical expertise, stability, and continuity to government agency sponsors. Peters is responsible for governance and oversight of the company's diverse markets, including artificial intelligence, aerospace, telecommunications, homeland security, cyber, transportation, defense and intelligence, health, and government innovation.
A recognized expert in nuclear energy and national security, Peters spent more than 25 years leading scientific discovery for federally funded R&D centers (FFRDCs). Before joining MITRE in 2024, he served as the executive vice president for laboratory management and operations at Battelle Memorial Institute. Prior leadership roles include director of the Idaho National Laboratory and president of Battelle Energy Alliance LLC, a large, multipurpose laboratory focused on nuclear energy, national and homeland security, and energy and environmental science and technology.
Peters also served two years as chair of the National Laboratory Directors’ Council, an independent body that coordinates initiatives and advises the Department of Energy and other national laboratory stakeholders. Prior to joining Battelle, he was associate laboratory director for Energy and Global Security at Argonne National Laboratory.
Peters was awarded the 2023 Henry DeWolf Smyth Nuclear Statesman Award, which recognizes individuals for outstanding service in developing and guiding the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the American Nuclear Society. He also serves on the Idaho Power Board, the National Academies Board on Human-Systems Integration, and several boards that support innovation and economic development.
In 2024 and 2025 Virginia Business Magazine named Peters to its Power 500 list for federal contractors in technology. The list recognizes the state’s most influential leaders in business, government, politics, and education.
Peters holds a bachelor’s degree in geology from Auburn University and a doctorate in geophysical sciences from the University of Chicago. He has also completed extensive executive management education and training courses, including the Strategic Laboratory Leadership Program at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Hon. Daniel Poneman
Former Deputy Secretary of the Department of Energy;
Senior Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Univ.
Hon. Daniel Poneman is a leading expert on the intersection of energy, national security, and nuclear policy, with senior experience across government, industry, and the policy community. He is a Senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and a Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, where his work focuses on nuclear security issues.
Poneman served as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy (2009–2014), also acting as the Department’s Chief Operating Officer during a period that included major energy-security and international nuclear challenges. He additionally served as Acting Secretary of Energy (April–May 2013).
From 2015 through 2023, Poneman was President and CEO of Centrus Energy, a supplier of nuclear fuel and services, where he led a multi-year turnaround and helped position the company for expanded U.S. nuclear fuel capabilities. Earlier in his career, he held senior national-security roles at the National Security Council focused on nonproliferation and export controls and worked in the private sector, including leadership roles advising on international strategic and energy issues.
Poneman has published widely and is the author (or co-author) of multiple books on nuclear energy, diplomacy, and nuclear security, including Nuclear Power in the Developing World and Double Jeopardy: Combating Nuclear Terror and Climate Change. He earned A.B. and J.D. degrees (with honors) from Harvard University and an M.Litt. in Politics from Oxford University.
Dragan Popovic
Executive Vice President and Chief of Global Operations
X-energy
Dragan Popovic is Executive Vice President and Chief of Global Operations at X-energy, where he leads global execution and operational strategy to accelerate the company’s commercialization and growth.
Popovic brings more than two decades of nuclear industry leadership spanning the full project and plant lifecycle—financing, licensing, construction, operations, maintenance, and decommissioning—with deep experience in small modular reactor (SMR) development and nuclear operations.
Before joining X-energy, Popovic served at Ontario Power Generation (OPG) as Senior Vice President, SMR Project Execution, leading the Darlington New Nuclear Project. In that role, he guided integrated project teams through major milestones, including site preparation licensing, construction approval, and final investment decisions supporting development of OPG’s first SMR project.
Earlier in his tenure at OPG, Popovic held multiple leadership roles at both the Pickering and Darlington nuclear stations, building a track record of delivering complex nuclear programs and strengthening performance in high-accountability operating environments.
At X-energy, Popovic’s remit aligns with scaling delivery across the company’s growing deployment portfolio and international partnerships, bringing disciplined operational execution to the transition from development to fleet deployment.
Craig Primer
Director, Client Services
NextAxiom
Craig Primer serves as the Director of Client Services at NextAxiom, where he leads customer strategy, digital execution programs, and the adoption of intelligent work technologies. Craig brings more than 30 years’ experience across nuclear operations, digital engineering, and modernization.
He spent nearly two decades at Comanche Peak as a Senior Reactor Operator, later led major digital I&C and software programs for the AP1000 at Westinghouse, and most recently served as the National Technical Director for the DOE’s Advanced Sensor & Instrument Program, as well as led the DOE’s Plant Modernization Program, guiding industry-wide digital and AI transformation.
Craig now helps utilities adopt intelligent work technologies through NextAxiom — blending deep operational experience with a sharp focus on practical, real-world innovation.
Austin Raynor
General Counsel
General Matter
Austin Raynor is General Counsel at General Matter, where he leads the company’s legal, regulatory, and risk-management work as it advances a mission to restore U.S. uranium enrichment capability and strengthen the domestic nuclear-fuel supply chain.
In his role, Austin advises the leadership team across corporate governance, commercial contracting, compliance planning, and regulatory strategy—supporting the legal frameworks required to build and operate a highly regulated industrial business. He works closely with technical and project teams to align execution with business objectives, stakeholder expectations, and applicable requirements, helping General Matter move from concept to deployable capability.
General Matter’s focus is to enrich uranium in America to support reliable, carbon-free power and broader national energy and industrial goals, and Austin’s work helps ensure the company is positioned to deliver on that mission with discipline, transparency, and long-term resilience.
Mr. Mike Rinehart
President
Kiewit Nuclear Solutions
Mike Rinehart is President of Kiewit Nuclear Solutions Co., responsible for all operations, personnel and business development related to commercial nuclear and Department of Energy projects in the United States. Kiewit Nuclear Solutions Co. is currently executing three Department of Energy capital line-item projects at Idaho National Laboratory, Waste Isolation Pilot Plant and Y-12 National Security Complex, and is projected to complete $1 billion annually across the nuclear market.
Mike applies over 20 years of Kiewit experience in project management, engineering and execution of alternative project delivery and contracting models across a variety of public and private markets. His broad portfolio of self-performed contracts includes government and commercial work across nuclear; power and renewables; oil, gas and chemical; water; and industrial projects.
Prior to his current role, Mike served four years as Executive Vice President of Mass. Electric Construction Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Kiewit Infrastructure Group Inc. and part of the larger Kiewit Corporation, where he specialized in electrical work. Mike was responsible for all MEC industrial, renewable and federal (i.e., Department of Defense) operations, where he doubled his division’s volume to $400 million annually in three years. Mike also served as Vice President of Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. and Vice President of Kiewit Power Constructors Co., where he managed a variety of mega (i.e., over $500 million) engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and traditional bid-build projects in the infrastructure and power markets.
Mike joined the company in 2003 as a field engineer, and since has established his expertise in all aspects of alternative project delivery. Mike has led a variety of high-profile EPC power projects across California, including his role as project manager on the $620-million Alamitos Energy Center Project in Long Beach; constructability manager and design manager on the $450-million Scattergood Unit 3 Repowering Project in Los Angeles; and project manager on the $500-million Marsh Landing Generating Station in Contra Costa County. While serving as Vice President of Kiewit Infrastructure West Co., Mike was responsible for a variety of bid-build, design-build, progressive design-build and construction manager at-risk infrastructure projects.
Mike graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.
Nat Sahlstrom
Vice President of Energy
Meta
Nat Sahlstrom is Vice President of Energy at Meta, where he leads work to secure reliable, scalable energy to support Meta’s growing digital infrastructure. In a recent public update, Sahlstrom noted he joined Meta as VP of Energy and highlighted the team’s focus on major power agreements—including nuclear energy—to strengthen U.S. energy infrastructure and enable AI growth.
Sahlstrom is a long-time leader in data center and hyperscale energy infrastructure, with more than a decade building large-scale clean-energy portfolios and the commercial and grid strategies needed to deliver them. Prior to Meta, he was Chief Energy Officer at Tract, a developer of master-planned data center parks, where he helped shape energy strategy for next-generation digital infrastructure campuses.
Before Tract, Sahlstrom spent 12+ years at Amazon, joining in 2011 as the company’s first energy hire. During his tenure, he helped build Amazon’s global energy business into what Tract described as the world’s largest corporate buyer of renewable energy, with 28 GW+ of contracted renewable capacity across 27 countries.
Across roles, Sahlstrom has been a prominent voice on the intersection of load growth, grid buildout, clean firm power, transmission, and responsible infrastructure development—bringing a practical, execution-focused lens to how the energy system can keep pace with rapidly growing compute demand.
James Schaefer
Senior Managing Director
Guggenheim Partners
James Schaefer is a Senior Managing Director within Guggenheim Securities Investment Banking and covers a number of electric and gas utility and renewable energy accounts for the firm. Mr. Schaefer brings to Guggenheim extensive expertise in energy‐related mergers, acquisitions and financing, developed over his more than 20 years in the financial services industry. Prior to joining Guggenheim, Mr. Schaefer lead the Global Energy, Power and Renewables Practice at Blackstone. Prior to Blackstone, Mr. Schaefer was a Managing Director, Global Head of Power & Renewable Energy at UBS Investment Bank. Prior to UBS, Mr. Schaefer worked in the power groups at Lehman Brothers, Salomon Brothers and Chase. Mr. Schaefer has completed approximately $60 billion of strategic advisory assignments and more $30 billion of lead managed financings. Mr. Schaefer graduated with honors in Finance and Accounting from the University of Michigan's M.B.A. program and cum laude in Finance from the University of Vermont
Sean Sexstone
Executive Vice President, Advanced Nuclear
G.E. Vernova Hitachi, Nuclear Energy
Sean Sexstone is Executive Vice President, Advanced Nuclear at GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GVH), where he leads the development and project delivery of GVH’s advanced nuclear portfolio. In this role, he is responsible for advancing the design and market readiness of the BWRX-300 SMR and Natrium programs, supporting customers, meeting product cost targets to ensure competitiveness, and building key partnerships to accelerate global deployment.
Sexstone joined GVH in February 2022 from Aecon, where he led Aecon’s nuclear group with a focus on life extension, plant life maintenance, decommissioning, and nuclear fabrication—experience that informs his emphasis on disciplined project execution and deliverability as the industry scales new nuclear builds.
He is an active voice in industry discussions on SMR deployment and execution realism, including public remarks on GVH’s positioning for near-term deployment and supply-chain readiness in markets such as the UK, Canada, and beyond.
Greg Schulze
Strategy & Innovation Advisor, ExxonMobil Corporation;
Chair, Industrial Advanced Nuclear Consortium
Greg Schulze is a Strategy & Innovation Advisor with ExxonMobil Global Projects, where he works on applying new and emerging concepts to ExxonMobil’s projects and operations. In this role, his current work has been especially focused on evaluating how nuclear energy could provide reliable heat and power for large-scale industrial facilities—including the types of energy-intensive assets that require around-the-clock, high-temperature process energy.
Schulze is an active contributor to industry dialogue on what it will take to deploy nuclear in industrial settings—where integration requirements, permitting timelines, and project delivery expectations can differ meaningfully from traditional grid-only applications. He has participated in technical and industry forums examining modularized/offshore nuclear concepts and broader pathways to bring nuclear options into industrial project architectures.
He also serves as Chair of the Industrial Advanced Nuclear Consortium (IANC), an initiative launched under The Open Group to help accelerate the deployment of advanced nuclear heat and power solutions for industrial applications. The consortium’s stated focus includes standardizing interfaces and sourcing terminology, adopting risk-appropriate design practices, and developing open frameworks and business guidelines intended to reduce cost and schedule uncertainty and improve deployability for end users.
Across these efforts, Schulze’s work sits at the intersection of industrial project execution and next-generation energy systems—helping translate emerging nuclear capabilities into practical requirements that align with the real-world needs of major industrial operators.
Prior to joining ExxonMobil, Mr. Schulze was a Submarine Officer in the U.S. Navy where he served aboard the USS HAMPTON (SSN 767) and was an Assistant Professor of Naval Science at Auburn University. He continues to serve today in the Navy Reserves. Mr. Schulze has a bachelor degree in nuclear engineering from Texas A&M, and a master of mechanical engineering from Auburn University.
Tighe Smith
Chief Nuclear Officer & SVP
Mirion
Tighe leads nuclear energy strategy for Mirion and Paragon. He has spent the last 20+ years working in various roles in the nuclear power industry. His broad experience includes nuclear business leadership, instrumentation and control (I&C) system development for commercial nuclear plants, research reactors and advanced reactors, and specialty nuclear sensor development.
Tighe is a participating member of the American Nuclear Society’s Nuclear Policy Leadership team, briefing members of Congress monthly on issues of interest to the U.S. nuclear industry. He earned a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering and an MBA from the University of Tennessee.
Giacomo Sozzi
CEO & President
U.S. Forged Rings
Giacomo Sozzi is CEO and President of US Forged Rings, where he is building a next-generation, vertically integrated U.S. heavy-manufacturing platform to strengthen domestic capability for large-scale NQA-1 nuclear grade forgings, energy, infrastructure, and power-generation components. He brings more than 30 years of leadership experience developing and operating capital-intensive industrial assets, with a track record spanning strategy, project development, and operations across multiple international markets.
Mr. Sozzi is also CEO and co-founder of the Canadoil Group, which under his leadership developed and operated multiple manufacturing facilities across Italy, Thailand, Japan, Canada, and other regions—employing several thousand workers globally. His background includes repeated execution of greenfield projects in Asia, including steel and advanced manufacturing investments developed alongside global industrial majors.
Most notably, he led a joint-venture investment and development effort in Thailand involving a large-scale hot-rolled steel plate mill, with Sumitomo Metals (later Nippon Steel) as a strategic 25% minority partner. That initiative combined international equity participation, advanced metallurgical technology transfer, and delivery of new domestic steel capacity serving high-end energy applications.
Dr. Rick Springman
President of the Global Clean Energy Opportunities Division, Holtec International
Senior Vice President of International Projects, Holtec International
Dr. Rick Springman is President of Holtec International’s Global Clean Energy Opportunities Division and Senior Vice President of International Projects, where he leads strategy, new project development, partnerships, and commercial structuring to advance the global deployment of Holtec’s clean energy technologies. His portfolio includes Holtec’s SMR-300 small modular reactor, along with other clean-energy offerings, and he also oversees investor relations, project financing, and offtake arrangements that support capitalization and growth of these initiatives in the U.S. and internationally.
In his international role, Dr. Springman is responsible for strategic partnerships, supply-chain expansion, project development, and government relations across key markets, including South America, Europe and the UK, MENA, Africa, and East Asia. Over his tenure at Holtec, he has played a central role in building the company’s global footprint, including serving in managing-director capacities for multiple international entities (including Holtec Britain, Holtec Europe, Holtec do Brasil, Holtec Japan, and others).
Dr. Springman also serves as Vice-Chairman of Holtec’s Executive Committee, advising on corporate growth strategy, international expansion, and related strategic initiatives.
A technically grounded leader, Dr. Springman holds multiple patents in spent nuclear fuel management and has contributed to the development, licensing, and commercialization of Holtec products. He earned both his B.S.E. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics from the University of Pennsylvania, where he also serves on the department’s External Advisory Board.
Jacob Stedman
Chief Executive Officer
Blykalla
Jacob Stedman is Chief Executive Officer of Blykalla, the Swedish advanced nuclear company developing a lead-cooled small modular reactor designed to deliver reliable, carbon-free power with a compact footprint. He became CEO in January 2023 and leads the company’s commercialization strategy—working across industrial partners, regulators, investors, and the broader European energy ecosystem to move the technology from development into deployment.
Stedman is a serial entrepreneur and company builder with experience spanning energy, technology, and mission-driven organizations. Prior to Blykalla, he served as CEO of Platform24 Healthcare AB (2019–2022), and earlier co-founded Doktor24, where he held senior leadership roles including Deputy CEO and CPO. Before his entrepreneurial work, he spent six years at McKinsey & Company as an Engagement Manager, focusing on electricity production and energy-related strategy, and later joined Reach for Change (within the Kinnevik sphere), serving as COO/Deputy CEO and then acting CEO.
Alongside executive leadership roles, Stedman has served on several nonprofit boards, including Better Shelter and Friends, reflecting a long-standing engagement with social-impact initiatives.
He holds BSc and MSc degrees in Business Administration and Economics from the Stockholm School of Economics, and participated in an MBA-level exchange program at UCLA Anderson.
Kenya Stump
Executive Director, Office of Energy Policy
Kentucky’s Energy and Environment Cabinet
Kenya Stump was appointed as the Executive Director of the Kentucky Office of Energy Policy in March of 2020. Prior to that, Kenya served as Assistant Director for the Division of Energy Assistance within the Office of Energy Policy. Before her work in OEP, Kenya managed the environmental assistance programs at the Cabinet, including environmental leadership, brownfields, and compliance assistance with the Division of Compliance Assistance. She also served as an environmental scientist and policy advisor in the director’s office at the Division for Air Quality. Prior to her work in state government, she served as an environmental consultant with the Kentucky Business Environmental Assistance Program at the University of Kentucky. Kenya has master’s degrees in Environmental Science from the University of Kentucky and Public Administration from Indiana University. She graduated from Western Kentucky University with a BA in Chemistry and holds a post-graduate certificate in Environmental Systems.
Mr. Jay Surina
Managing Partner
Pelican Energy Partners
Jay Surina joined Pelican in 2022. Prior to joining Pelican, Jay worked for over two decades in the management of mostly private equity backed/venture capital backed energy businesses at the executive level including CEO of Northwest Medical Isotopes, CFO of NuScale Power, VP of Corporate Finance at Boart Longyear, VP of Finance at Texas Genco, VP of Finance/M&A at Centrica North America/Direct Energy and VP of Finance at Sithe Energies. Prior to his corporate roles Jay, along with two partners, started up and ran an energy focused consulting firm, CornerStone Energy Advisors, assisting clients in the purchase of deregulating generating assets on the buy side and, as well, consulted with Coopers & Lybrand Consulting with a similar focus. Prior to graduating from business school, Jay was a nuclear trained submarine officer in the US Navy.
While CFO at NuScale Power from 2009 to early 2021, Jay raised over $1 B in equity and US DOE funding allowing NuScale to grow from a pure startup with 20 employees to the leading Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology with over 400 employees and leading to NuScale becoming a public company in May, 2022. While at Boart Longyear, Jay completed the purchase of six acquisitions in a one-year time frame immediately prior to Boart Longyear going public on the Australian exchange in April, 2007 (at the time the largest IPO to date on the Australian exchange). While at Texas Genco, Jay was a part of the management team that was formed when Texas Genco was purchased by four large private equity firms for $900 mm in 2005 and subsequently sold to NRG for $5.8 B in February, 2006.
Jay earned his MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a concentration in Finance and Strategic Management, and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. Jay holds a nuclear engineer certification from the US Navy and is a Professional Engineer (PE).
Keith Swenson
Deputy Assistant Director
Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness
State of Washington
Keith Swenson is Deputy Assistant Director in the Office of Economic Development & Competitiveness at the Washington State Department of Commerce, where he helps advance statewide strategies to strengthen Washington’s economy and support business growth and investment.
Swenson joined Commerce from the Governor’s Office, where he served on the Executive Operations team and most recently as Director of Boards and Commissions, managing executive priorities through stakeholder engagement, outreach, and operational support to statewide boards and commissions.
His background also includes private-sector experience in the construction industry, with work spanning federal contracting as well as residential and commercial building—experience that informs his practical approach to economic development, site readiness, and project enablement.
In public-facing roles, Swenson has represented Commerce and Washington’s economic development priorities in regional forums, including presentations on economic development strategy and division priorities such as improving access to capital, strengthening partnerships statewide, expanding trade opportunities, and improving site readiness and permitting.
Dr. Joshua Vajda
Chief Engineer – UCOR;
Workforce Development Lead – American Nuclear Society
Dr. Joshua Vajda is Chief Engineer at UCOR (United Cleanup Oak Ridge), the U.S. Department of Energy cleanup contractor responsible for major environmental remediation and deactivation work in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Appointed in October 2025, Vajda serves as UCOR’s design authority, ensuring technical excellence, design standards, and engineering program requirements are maintained across the organization.
He brings 20+ years of experience spanning nuclear operations, reactor design, regulatory policy, and environmental remediation across both the DOE complex and the commercial nuclear industry. Prior to joining UCOR, Vajda served as the regulatory lead and subject-matter expert for transuranic waste characterization and acceptance at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), supporting key aspects of DOE’s surplus plutonium disposition mission. At UCOR, he has led engineering efforts for the deactivation of two historically significant Oak Ridge National Laboratory reactor facilities—the Low Intensity Test Reactor and the Oak Ridge Research Reactor.
Vajda is also a long-time leader within the American Nuclear Society (ANS), where his workforce-focused work has emphasized credentialing, certification, and professional standards for the nuclear workforce. He has been recognized by ANS for these contributions, including honors tied to credentialing and certification initiatives and broader contributions benefiting DOE-EM sites nationwide. Additionally, he has served as ANS’s chair of the Professional Engineering Examination Committee, underscoring his focus on professional licensure and career pathways in nuclear.
Dr. Vajda holds a doctorate in Engineering Management (George Washington University), master’s degrees in Nuclear Engineering (University of Idaho) and Materials Science & Engineering (University of Virginia), and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering (Penn State). He is a licensed Professional Engineer (mechanical and nuclear) and a Certified Health Physicist (CHP).
Mr. Alexei Viarruel
Executive Director, Global Natural Resources, Investment Banking
JPMorganChase
Alexei Viarruel started his financial career in Trinidad & Tobago—the Caribbean’s largest oil and natural gas producer—working closely with energy companies. As Executive Director, Global Natural Resources, Investment Banking at J.P. Morgan, he brings 15 years of specialized expertise in the energy sector to clients navigating the evolving nuclear energy landscape. Based in New York, Viarruel holds a CFA designation and an MBA from the Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management.
Will Wagner
Vice President for Nuclear Power Business Development
Bechtel
Will Wagner is Vice President for Nuclear Power Business Development at Bechtel, where he focuses on strategy, marketing, customer engagement, and commercial development for nuclear power projects worldwide.
Prior to his current responsibilities, Wagner served as Chief of Staff to Brendan Bechtel (2020–2023), supporting executive priorities and cross-company coordination at the enterprise level. He has also held project-commercial leadership roles outside the nuclear sector, including serving as Commercial Manager and Change Control Manager for a greenfield semiconductor fab project in Ohio, giving him direct experience in cost/schedule governance and complex project delivery environments.
Wagner is an active participant in industry discussions on nuclear new build execution and supply chain development, including roles on public conference agendas where he has represented Bechtel’s nuclear business development perspective. He has also appeared in policy/industry forums discussing industrial reshoring and supply-chain themes relevant to large-scale infrastructure delivery.
Hon. Brandon Williams
Under Secretary for Nuclear Security, U.S. Department of Energy;
Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration
Brandon M. Williams is the Under Secretary for Nuclear Security at the Department of Energy and Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration. A former U.S. Congressman, Navy veteran, and entrepreneur, Mr. Williams joins NNSA with a distinguished career in national security, technology, and economic development.
In 1989, Williams witnessed the Tiananmen Square student protests firsthand, which inspired his lifetime commitment to service. Fifteen months later, he joined the U.S. Navy and served for six years as a nuclear submarine officer.
Williams is a graduate of Pepperdine University and the Navy Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, and completed training at the prestigious Naval Nuclear Power School. During his military service, Williams completed six strategic deterrent patrols in the Pacific aboard the USS Georgia (SSBN 729), where he served as Electrical Officer and Strategic Missile Officer. He qualified on two separate naval reactor designs (S5W and S8G) and was responsible for the safety, security, and operational readiness of 24 Trident I C4 missiles, nuclear weapons security, radiological controls, and command codes.
Following his naval service, Williams earned an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he double majored in Operations & Information Management and Finance. His career in both the military and private sector has taken him across the country, ultimately settling in Central New York in 2010. He and his wife, Stephanie McRee—daughter of Col. Marshall McRee, a decorated Vietnam War veteran (having earned three Bronze Stars with Valor)—established an agribusiness in the Finger Lakes region, contributing to local economic development and tourism. There, he was elected to represent the people of Central New York in the U.S. House of Representatives and chaired the Energy Subcommittee for the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee.
Williams is also an innovator in industrial technology and cybersecurity. As the founder of a software company, he has led efforts to modernize large-scale manufacturing operations, enhance critical infrastructure security, and advance efficiency through cutting-edge solutions.
Emily Williams
Chief Executive Officer
Geenex
As the CEO of Geenex, Emily Williams leads the company’s strategic growth and operational excellence across its portfolio of energy projects. With over 15 years in the electric generation industry, including a decade at a leading utility, Emily has deep knowledge of project development and regulatory dynamics, which has led to a proven record of driving successful energy initiatives. Prior to becoming CEO, Emily served as Geenex’s Chief Development Officer, guiding major project developments and fostering partnerships across the industry. Emily holds a Juris Doctor from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, an MBA from the Kelley School of Business, and a Bachelor’s degree from Miami University.
James Wyble, III
Vice President, APX Project Development – North America
Westinghouse
James Wyble, III is Vice President, APX Project Development – North America at Westinghouse Electric Company, where he supports commercial and project-development efforts for Westinghouse’s large light-water reactor offerings—centered on the AP1000® and related derivative technologies.
In this role, Wyble works with utilities, partners, and stakeholders to advance new nuclear opportunities from early engagement into execution-ready development—helping align customer objectives, project structures, and delivery pathways as Westinghouse scales deployment in the United States and Canada. His work sits within Westinghouse’s broader APX (APx) delivery and project-development organization that is designed to drive repeatable execution and commercial readiness for AP1000 deployments.
Wyble has been featured on industry agendas discussing North American new-build activity and Westinghouse’s approach to moving projects forward using lessons learned from recent AP1000 construction and operational experience.
Ali Zbib
Manager, Nuclear Industry Programs
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
As the Nuclear Industry Program Manager at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Ali Zbib connects industry partners with PNNL experts to identify capabilities and develop innovative solutions. Mr. Zbib builds strategic partnerships that support reactor and fuel developers with their technology deployment efforts. He also manages the Reactor Materials group, where researchers advance the development of materials for fission and fusion reactors, and he leads a team specializing in techno-economic assessments for energy systems.
Prior to joining PNNL in 2018, Mr. Zbib held nuclear industry leadership positions at Framatome and Energy Northwest. He led cross-functional teams in the U.S. and Europe that developed next-generation nuclear fuel designs, formulated strategies to address fuel performance challenges in boiling water reactors, managed a product development test facility, built high performing teams and strategic partnerships, and led the mechanical design group in charge of capital projects at Columbia Generating Station. Mr. Zbib was a member of Electric Power Research Institute-sponsored industry committees that addressed challenges with nuclear fuel performance and developed accident tolerant fuel.
Mr. Zbib holds an MBA, an MS, and a BS in mechanical engineering from Washington State University. He is a professional engineer in the state of Washington and has completed advanced certifications in technology management, nuclear systems design, and advanced leadership programs.
