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.

Mr. Mason Baker
CEO & General Manager
Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems
Mason Baker was appointed chief executive officer and general manager of Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS) on January 1, 2023. Baker joined UAMPS in 2011 as Chief Legal Office & General Counsel and has spent the last 11 years involved in every aspect of UAMPS’ operations and its electric generation projects. Besides overseeing all UAMPS legal functions, including oversight of outside attorneys, Baker has played a key role in development of UAMPS’ Carbon Free Power Project (CFPP), which is on track to become the first small modular nuclear reactor project in the country.
He has overseen government affairs and regulatory activities, managed the compliance department, managed permitting of new UAMPS energy resources, performed oversight of information technology and human resources functions, led negotiations in securing a federal cost share award for $1.355 billion for the CFPP, overseen ownership restructuring and upcoming closure of the San Juan Coal Plant, and was a key team member in bringing the Horse Butte Wind project and Veyo Waste Heat project into production.
Baker earned a Juris Doctorate with a certificate in environmental and natural resources law from the University of Utah and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Colorado College.

Hon. Rita Baranwal
Senior Vice President, AP300™ Small Modular Reactor
Westinghouse Electric Company
As Senior Vice President, Dr. Rita Baranwal leads the technical development and global deployment of the AP300™ Small Modular Reactor (SMR). She has over 27 years of nuclear industry experience and has held this role since May 2023.
Prior to this role, Dr. Baranwal was Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President of Digital and Innovation at Westinghouse where she led the clean energy company’s global research and development investments and spearheaded a technology strategy to advance the company’s innovative nuclear solutions.
Previously, Dr. Baranwal served as Chief Nuclear Officer and Vice President of Nuclear at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). She had overall management and technical responsibility for the research and development (R&D) activities conducted by EPRI with its global membership related to nuclear generation, providing support to more than 80 percent of the world’s existing and advanced commercial nuclear fleet.
Before joining EPRI, Baranwal served as Assistant Secretary for the Office of Nuclear Energy in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in a U.S. President-appointed and Senate-confirmed role. She led efforts to promote R&D on existing and advanced nuclear technologies that sustain the U.S. fleet of nuclear reactors and enable the deployment of advanced nuclear energy systems.
Prior to the DOE, Dr. Baranwal directed the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) initiative at Idaho National Laboratory. She was responsible for providing the nuclear industry and other stakeholders access to DOE's state-of-the-art R&D expertise, capabilities, and infrastructure to achieve faster and cost- effective development, demonstration, and ultimate deployment of innovative nuclear energy technologies. Under her leadership, GAIN positively impacted over 120 organizations.
Before joining the Idaho National Laboratory, Dr. Baranwal served as Director of Technology Development & Application at Westinghouse. There, she led the creation and development of game-changing technologies, including the eVinci™ microreactor, and managed characterization and hot cell laboratories. Her previous positions at Westinghouse included director of Core Engineering and manager of Materials and Fuel Rod Design. Prior to joining Westinghouse, she was a manager in Materials Technology at Bechtel Bettis, Inc. where she led and conducted R&D in advanced nuclear fuel materials for U.S. Naval Reactors.
Dr. Baranwal is a Fellow of the American Nuclear Society (ANS). She serves on the Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD-NEA)’s High-level Group on Stakeholder Engagement, Trust, Transparency and Social Sciences (HLG-SET), the inaugural Board of Directors for the U.S. DOE’s Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation (FESI), and as a Commissioner on the Council on Strategic Risks (CSR) High Level Commission on Nuclear Energy and Climate Security. She also serves on Advisory Boards for the US Nuclear Industry Council (US NIC) and the Nuclear Engineering departments of the University of Michigan and North Carolina State University.
Dr. Baranwal has a bachelor’s degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in materials science and
engineering and a master’s degree and Ph.D. in the same discipline from the University of Michigan.

Mr. Greg Boerschig
Vice President, Clinch River Project
Tennessee Valley Authority
Greg Boerschig has a diverse work experience in the energy industry. Greg is currently serving as the Vice President of the Clinch River Project at Tennessee Valley Authority since January 2022. Prior to this, they worked at INPO as a Loaned Executive from TVA from July 2019 to March 2022. Greg held the role of VP of Nuclear Oversight at Tennessee Valley Authority from May 2014 to March 2022. Additionally, from 2012 to 2013, they served as a Senior Advisor to the CNO at Tennessee Valley Authority. Before joining TVA, they worked at Exelon, where they held several roles including VP of Special Projects, Plant Manager, Work Management Director, and Engineering Director, from 1999 to 2008. Greg also worked at PSEG as a Design Electrical Manager from 1996 to 1998.
Greg Boerschig received their Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Chemical Engineering from Clarkson University in 1982. Greg then pursued a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Mechanical Engineering from New York University - Polytechnic School of Engineering, which they completed in 1988. Prior to their graduate studies, in 1979, they attended State University of New York College at Potsdam for Chemistry.

Hon. Annie Caputo
Commissioner
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
The Honorable Annie Caputo was sworn in as a Commissioner of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Aug. 9, 2022, and is serving the remainder of a five-year term ending June 30, 2026. Commissioner Caputo previously served on the NRC Commission from 2018 to 2021.
Commissioner Caputo has over two decades of government and private- sector experience in nuclear energy and security policy. Caputo has a distinguished career as a nuclear engineer and, policy advisor, and has made significant contributions related to federal nuclear energy policy.
Prior to her most recent appointment as an NRC Commissioner, she consulted for the Department of Energy Idaho National Laboratory, promoting international collaboration on advanced nuclear reactors. Prior to her work at INL, she served a short-term assignment with the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, where she assisted with the National Nuclear Security Administration’s portfolio.
Prior to joining the NRC, she spent over 13 years as a staff member in the U.S. Congress advancing key policies and initiatives related to nuclear regulation, science and technology, energy, and the environment. She served as senior policy advisor for Sen. John Barrasso and former Sen. James Inhofe when each were chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Notably, she supported the Senators’ work on nuclear energy policy and NRC oversight.
From 2005-2006 and 2012-2015, she worked for the House Committee on Energy & Commerce, overseeing a variety of nuclear energy issues. She supported then-Chairman Joe Barton and Fred Upton with oversight of DOE and NRC. Prior to her positions on Capitol Hill, she worked for Exelon Corporation in a variety of positions of increasing responsibility in both nuclear generation and governmental affairs.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Wisconsin- Madison, with an emphasis in communications. She previously studied Chemical Engineering at Michigan Technological University.
Early in her career she worked as a ski instructor and patroller, and served as a volunteer firefighter/emergency medical technician. In addition to her many accomplishments, she brings ingenuity to her hobbies as an avid quilter and crafter.

Mr. Chris Colbert
CEO & Chairman
Elementl Power
Chris Colbert is the Chairman and CEO of Elementl Power Inc. Previously, he was CFO, COO and Chief Strategy Officer at NuScale Power as well as Senior Vice President at UniStar Nuclear Energy, where he led U.S. EPR deployment. With more than 15 years of experience in developing and financing 6,500 MW of fossil-fueled projects, Chris began his career as an engineer at GE Aircraft Engines. He holds a B.S. in electrical engineering from MIT and an MBA from UC Berkeley.

Ms. Cindy Crane
Chief Executive Officer
PacifiCorp
Cindy Crane is CEO of PacifiCorp, overseeing the delivery of electricity service to 2 million customers and presiding over the company’s two retail divisions: Pacific Power in Oregon, Washington and California and Rocky Mountain Power in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho.
Cindy began her career at PacifiCorp in 1990, conducting due diligence and advising on mergers and acquisitions. Cindy was at the center of further mergers, acquisitions and restructuring in the years that followed, helping guide the company as it became the largest grid operator in the West.
Cindy’s firsthand experience provides her with in depth knowledge of the functions of the enterprise, from running coal mining operations to serving as managing director of the company’s regional transmission project to serving as president and CEO of the Rocky Mountain Power division. As head of Rocky Mountain Power, she worked closely with state and local governments and private companies to develop greater renewable energy resources for customers, helping shape the future of energy in the western U.S.
Under Cindy, Rocky Mountain Power led the way in improving air quality by investing in emissions control infrastructure at thermal facilities, well before they were required by federal regulations. Additionally, during her tenure, the company developed its first five utility-owned wind projects in the state of Wyoming.
Cindy retired from Rocky Mountain Power in 2018 before becoming CEO of Enchant Energy Corporation, an emerging environmental services company focused on decarbonization for industries and communities. She remains Executive Board Chair of Enchant Energy Corporation.
Also in 2018, Cindy was tapped by Utah Governor Gary Herbert as Founding Chair of the Salt Lake City, Utah, Committee for the Games. This organization, where she still serves on the governing board, is working to bring the Winter Olympics back to Utah in the coming decade.
Cindy was honored with the ATHENA International Leadership Award in 2018 and with a lifetime achievement award in Utah Business Magazine’s 2019 Woman of the Year issue.
Cindy also serves as the Chair of the University of Wyoming’s School of Energy Resources, which is dedicated to energy-driven economic development for the state of Wyoming. The institution is developing innovative new uses for coal in manufacturing and is home to the Nuclear Energy Research Center. The organization is also advancing programs related to carbon capture and storage, wind and hydrogen energy resources.
In 2023, as the electric power industry continued to face emerging challenges related to supply chains, shifting economic trends and growing extreme weather threats, Cindy returned to PacifiCorp as its CEO and has undertaken a wide-ranging program to help the company deliver results for its customers and communities while adapting to an evolving operational environment.

Mr. Larry Cutlip
Senior Vice President
Centrus Energy Corporation
Larry B. Cutlip is senior vice president, field operations, for Centrus Energy Corp and president, American Centrifuge Operating, LLC. In these roles, Mr. Cutlip has P&L responsibility for ACO and leads Centrus’ activities at its Tennessee and Ohio sites, including centrifuge and plant design, and operations.
Mr. Cutlip has more than 42 years of nuclear experience and has served in several senior operations, engineering, plant management and executive positions at Centrus. Previously, he was president of American Centrifuge Manufacturing, LLC where he led the teams charged with developing the AC-100M centrifuge manufacturing supply chain, including establishing Centrus’ Technology and Manufacturing Center for production of classified centrifuge parts and subassemblies.
In addition to establishing Centrus’ manufacturing base for the American Centrifuge program, Mr. Cutlip has a long history of successfully leading critical programs for the company, including execution of major contract work for the Department of Energy in Oak Ridge and at the Portsmouth and Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plants. He has received numerous corporate awards for his accomplishments.
Mr. Cutlip holds a Bachelor of Science degree in physics and mathematics from Muskingum College. He completed Advanced Management Training School as well as numerous other technical and management training programs.

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.

Mr. Mark Foy
Chief Executive & Chief Nuclear Inspector
UK Office of Nuclear Regulation (ORN)
Mark was appointed Chief Executive and Chief Nuclear Inspector of the United Kingdom’s Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) from 1 June 2021 having been ONR’s Chief Nuclear Inspector since 2017.
He is an Executive Board member of the ONR and acts as Regulatory Head to provide independent authoritative expert advice on nuclear safety, security and safeguards to the ONR Board, Ministers and Parliament.
During the last 20 years he has successfully led ONR’s regulation across various sectors of the nuclear industry, securing improvements in safety and security performance.
Mark has 35 years’ experience of the UK’s civil and defence nuclear industry, combined with extensive international experience, having undertaken various senior roles within the international regulatory community. He provides authoritative leadership and insight on nuclear safety and its regulation.
Mark is a Chartered Fellow of the UK’s Nuclear Institute and has an honours degree in Mechanical Engineering.

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.

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.

Mr. Patrick Gibbons
Partner
Orizontas Group
Patrick is a former diplomat, policy advisor and business consultant with specialist expertise in climate change, energy, resources, environmental, investment and public policy issues. He understands the connections between these real-world commercial issues and politics.
For almost 20 years he has been at the forefront of Australian climate policy development, advising both sides of politics as a senior member of staff in Federal and State ministerial offices, working for major international energy and resource firms, and the financial sector.
He helped establish key parts of Australia’s current climate policy framework including the Emissions Reduction Fund and Safeguards mechanism. Patrick commenced his career in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and represented Australia in the Middle East and at international climate change negotiations.He has a MBA in Energy Finance from the University of Texas at Austin, a MA International Relations and Bachelor of Economics (Hons) from Monash University.

Mr. Mihai Gioara
Director of Development & Portfolio Management
Nuclearelectrica
Mr. Mihai Gioara has over 10 years of experience in the energy sector, during which time he has held management positions such as General Manager and Deputy General Manager, as well as advisory roles as advisor and expert in leading companies in Romania: Electrocentrale Bucharest, Compania Municipală Energetica București, Nuclearelectrica Serv. and Societatea Națională Nuclearelectrica S.A.
He is a graduate of the "Reactor Technology Course for Utility Executives" at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, and of the leadership programs organized by the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO). He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Bucharest, Faculty of Political Science, continuing with a Master's degree in National and European Politics, followed by a second Master's degree in Leadership and Human Resources Management in Construction Projects.
In the nuclear field, he founded and consolidated the largest service provider company for the nuclear sector in Romania, holding the position of CEO.
Currently, Mr. Mihai Gioara holds the position of Director of Development and Portfolio Management at Societatea Națională Nuclearelectrica S.A., coordinating the company's major strategic investment projects.

Ms. Bristol Hartlage
Senior Director of Business Development
Numerical Advisory Solutions (a Zachry Group Company
Bristol Hartlage is the Sr Director of Business Development and Operations for Numerical Advisory Solutions, a Zachry Group company. In 2024 she was appointed by the Secretary of Commerce to serve on the ninth Charter of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee (CINTAC).
Prior to NAS, she served five years in the United States Navy as a Nuclear Engineer in the Surface Warfare Officer community and has worked at various companies supporting the nuclear energy industry since 2009.
Bristol has two Bachelors of Science in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, a Global EMBA from Purdue University, and a Master’s in Accounting from Purdue Global. She resides in Raleigh, NC, and her current marathon count is 69, including all 50 US states, 13 countries, and all 7 continents!

Hon. Laura Holgate
Former U.S. Ambassador
International Atomic Energy Agency
As the U.S. Ambassador to the Vienna Office of the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency, H.E. Ms Ambassador Laura Holgate help advance multilateral cooperation in nuclear nonproliferation; nuclear security, safety, and safeguards; the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, science, and technology; nuclear testing; counterterrorism; anticorruption; drug policy; cybercrime; and export control. She previously held the position from July 2016 to January 2017.
From 2018 to 2021, Ambassador Holgate was vice president for materials risk management at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI). In this capacity, she designed and executed activities to prevent nuclear terrorism, enhancing global nuclear and radiological materials security. Ambassador Holgate also co‐led the establishment of Gender Champions in Nuclear Policy in 2018, promoting women's presence and impact in related fields. Her career includes serving as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism and Threat Reduction on the U.S. National Security Council from 2009 to 2016, where she played a key role in shaping national policies to address global threats. Holgate has a B.A. in politics from Princeton University and a M.S. in political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Mr. Jake Jurewicz
Chief Executive Officer
Blue Energy Global, Inc.
Jake is the cofounder and CEO of Blue Energy, which is leveraging manufacturing techniques from offshore oil and wind to reduce the overnight capital cost for nuclear power from >$10k/kW to <$3/kW and the deployment time from >10 years to 2 years. Jake has over 10 years of experience building, investing in, and advising companies in the energy, climate, security, and construction sectors. He previously co-founded Entropy Power, a developer of behind-the-meter co-located industrial loads at wholesale generators and served on the corporate strategy team at Exelon Corporation, leading projects in R&D, strategic planning, and venture capital. Jake holds a Masters in Nuclear Science & Engineering as well as a dual bachelors in physics and nuclear science & engineering from MIT where he did his thesis on shipyard construction of offshore nuclear power plants.

Mr. Steven Kiser
Senior Vice President / Global Energy Sector Lead
WSP
Rafał Kasprów is the CEO of ORLEN Synthos Green Energy, a company dedicated to the deployment of a fleet of BWRX-300 reactors in Poland and Central and Eastern Europe. He is also a member of the BWRX Europe board (a joint venture between Synthos Green Energy and GE Hitachi Nuclear) and BWRX Ltd in the UK. Previously, Rafał served as the CEO of Synthos Green Energy, a company responsible for the decarbonization of the largest privately-owned industrial group in Poland, controlled by Michał Sołowow.
With nearly two decades he was a Managing Partner at a strategic consulting firm, advising numerous companies in the energy, oil, telecommunications, and commodities sectors. His notable clients included PKN ORLEN, Synthos, Mercuria Energy Trading, Orange, Polkomtel, GE Capital, GE International, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, KGHM Polish Copper, and others. Additionally, Rafał has worked as a gas and oil consultant for the Ministry of the Treasury, the World Bank, and the largest crude oil supplier to Poland. From 2000 to 2002, Rafał was a member of the Supervisory Board of the Polish National Gas and Oil.
In the 1990s, Rafał worked in media, covering economics and politics from 1994 to 2000.
He graduated with a degree in Political Science from the University of Warsaw in 1998 and from the Warsaw School of Economics in 2002. Rafał also earned an MBA from the University of Quebec, Montreal, in 2004 and completed PhD studies in Artificial Intelligence at the Polish Academy of Sciences (without obtaining a title).
He has been a recipient of scholarships from the Reuters Foundation, the U.S. Department of State (twice), the German Marshall Fund of the United States, the Howard Gilman Foundation, and US Freedom House.

Mr. Scott Kopple
Senior Director, Government Relations
BWX Technologies, Inc.
Scott Kopple is the senior director of government relations at BWX Technologies,Inc. (BWXT). Mr. Kopple represents the Company’s interests on Capitol Hill andwithin the administration with a focus on the Department of Energy’s national security programs and contracts, fuel cycle programs and commercial nuclear energy issues. He is also deeply engaged in BWXT’s Naval Reactors business and the Department of Defense’s shipbuilding programs.
Mr. Kopple has extensive experience on Capitol Hill and within the nation’s nuclear weapons complex. Prior to joining BWXT in 2012, he served as a congressional liaison for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), representing the laboratory’s interests before Congress. He was also responsible for facilitating meetings and briefings between members of Congress and LLNL leadership on issues including stockpile stewardship, conventional munitions, greenhouse gas verification and fusion energy.
Before joining LLNL, Mr. Kopple was appointed by President George W. Bush as director of congressional affairs for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) from 2006 until he joined LLNL in 2009. In this role, he served as the senior advisor to the organization’s executive leadership on legislative and political strategy to meet the agency’s goals. He served as NNSA’s primary liaison to the Appropriations and Armed Services Committees.
Mr. Kopple also brings congressional experience to BWXT. He served as a professional staff member and as deputy communications director for the U.S. House Government Reform Committee. He also served in the office of U.S. Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA) as a legislative assistant.
Mr. Kopple also served as the Iowa executive director for President George W. Bush’s 2004 re-election campaign. He successfully led the Iowa campaign to a victory, which had not been accomplished by the Republican nominee since 1984.
Mr. Kopple earned a bachelor’s degree in government and politics from George Mason University. In 2019, the Governor of Virginia appointed Mr. Kopple to serve on the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium Authority. He also serves on the U.S. Nuclear Industry Council board of directors.

Mr. Mike Kramer
Vice President of Data Economy Strategy
Constellation Energy
Mike Kramer is Vice President of Data Economy Strategy at Constellation, responsible for providing strategic thought leadership and driving coordination of the company’s effort to support our data economy customers with their power needs. Prior to his current role, Mike was responsible for governance and oversight for all of Constellation’s financial valuation work on growth projects including modeling of clean energy business development, nuclear asset valuations and capital investment decisions, M&A activity support and other strategic initiatives. Mike has been with Constellation (and Exelon prior to the company’s separation) in the energy industry for 20 years in a variety of finance roles including over 10 years of Nuclear Finance experience. Mike is a Certified Public Accountant, has a Bachelor’s of Science in Accountancy from University of Illinois and a Masters of Business Administration in Finance and Strategic Management from University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Mr. Herbert Lam
Regional Manager, USA (Nuclear)
HATCH
Herbert has worked for owners, lenders, utilities, system operators, and investors for nuclear and thermal power projects in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Jordan, Chile, Japan, Ghana, and Malaysia. His experience encompasses a wide range of roles including engineering and technical advisory services for power facilities during the design, construction, and operating phases of a project. He brings a strong technical background in mechanical engineering for power projects coupled with a strong business acumen to help clients succeed with their projects.

Mr. Zach Larkin
Managing Director
The Cynosure Group
Zach Larkin approaches investments from a calculated perspective, knowing how to mitigate the downside while intuiting the amount of risk that’s acceptable to take on without going too far. His interest in working closely with great thinkers fits well with Cynosure’s belief that the greatest ideas emerge from collaborative environments.
Zach joined The Cynosure Group in 2020 after spending the previous 20 years in high-performing companies across the globe, at both well-established investment shops and start-ups. Among them was Grandeur Peak Global Advisors, where he invested in and partnered with top executives in 56 countries across all industries, particularly in technology, healthcare, and industrials.
From extreme skiing to mountaineering to MMA, Zach knows about pushing the envelope. He loves learning about new businesses, operational models, people, cultures, and anything that feeds his passion for markets, industry, and the world at large.
Zach sits on the boards of Dirty Dogs, Liberty Currency Reserve and ShareMy.Health. He is a Board Observer for Fresh Consulting and Avail.

Ms. Emy Lesofski
Energy Advisor & Office of Energy Development Director
Utah Department of Natural Resources
Emy Lesofski was appointed director of the Utah Office of Energy Development in October 2023. She also serves as energy advisor to Gov. Cox. Lesofski brings extensive experience in federal appropriations and natural resources and environmental policy. She oversees the policy and program staff at the state energy office, including the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab. Lesofski worked in Washington, D.C., for 24 years as a senior staffer in both houses of Congress and was the Republican staff director of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. Lesofski is an alumna of Brigham Young University and lives in Utah County with her husband and son.

Mr. Chris Levesque
Chief Executive Officer
Terrapower
Chris Levesque is president and chief executive officer of TerraPower, and also 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 also 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, Levesque 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. Christo Liebenberg
Co-Founder, CEO & COO
LIS Technologies, Inc. (LIST)
Christo J. Liebenberg is an accomplished professional with 30 years of diverse technical & management experience in state-of-the-art laser & optical systems and applications. Most of this experience is in the field of Laser Isotope Separation of UF6, and he was involved in several classified laser enrichment processes on three different continents.
Mr Liebenberg started his career in the 1980’s at the Atomic Energy Corporation of South Africa where he later spearheaded the optimization of enrichment parameters of the Molecular Laser Isotope Separation (MLIS) process. By the end of the 1990’s his journey led him to Australia where he later joined Silex Systems Ltd as their Laser Manager, and continued this role at Global Laser Enrichment (GLE) in Wilmington, NC where he played a key role in the architecture of the Test Loop Facility. In 2012 he joined the research team at ASML where he was intricately involved with the R&D of state-of-the-art CO2 laser systems to generate EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet), used today to manufacture modern semiconductor chips.
Championing CRISLA’s Revival: Mr Liebenberg has long been convinced that an alternative laser enrichment architecture was needed to make laser enrichment viable on a commercial scale. As such, he always kept a close eye on developments of Dr. Eerkens’s CRISLA process. In 2016, he did a critical risk analysis of CRISLA-3G, which included developing a scaling model of the process. Enthralled by impressive enrichment results, favorable techno-economics, seismic geo-political events, the advent of SMR’s and the DOE quest for a US-origin enrichment technology, he recognized the need to resurrect the CRISLA process. He co-founded CRISLA, Inc with Dr Eerkens in June 2020, and later co-founded LIS Technologies in August 2023.
Liebenberg obtained his MS degree in Physics from Stellenbosch University (1991) in South Africa. He (co-)authored at least 10 patents and published many technical papers and reports, mostly in the classified space. He received Australian citizenship in 2004 and US citizenship in 2021. He is married and the father of two children.

Mr. Ryan Lighty
Partner
Morgan Lewis
yan K. Lighty represents and advises domestic and international businesses regarding litigation, transactions, and regulatory matters related to the ownership and use of nuclear reactors and nuclear materials. He serves as co-leader of the firm’s Nuclear Working Group and regularly guides clients on complex issues associated with US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensing, adjudication, and regulatory compliance. His practice is focused primarily on new reactor deployments, operating license renewals, and regulatory consents for transactions involving nuclear assets. In the last decade, Ryan has represented and defended applicants in more contested adjudicatory proceedings before the NRC than any other lawyer in the United States.

Ms. Melissa Mann
Associate Assistant Deputy Administrator
Office of Nonproliferation and Arms Control
National Nuclear Security Administration
Melissa C. Mann is currently serving as the Associate Assistant Deputy Administrator for the Office of Nonproliferation and Arms Control at the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). In this capacity, she is responsible for implementing programs to close proliferation pathways to the acquisition of nuclear weapons and WMD-related materials, technology, and expertise by executing programs across the breadth of international nuclear safeguards, nuclear export controls, arms control verification, and nonproliferation policy.
Melissa brings a wealth of leadership and nuclear industry experience. She previously served as President of URENCO USA Inc., the holding company for Louisiana Energy Services (LES) and its Urenco USA enrichment facility, and concurrently as the Executive Director of Urenco’s global Strategic and Government Affairs Departments. Prior to joining Urenco, Melissa spent nearly two decades managing the international movement of radioactive materials, specializing in non-proliferation policy, export controls and transportation regulations related to such movements, and consulting on nuclear fuel cycle issues.

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.

Mr. Niko McMurray
Managing Director – International & Nuclear Policy
ClearPath
Niko McMurray is the Managing Director of International and Nuclear Policy at ClearPath. In this role, he leads the development and execution of ClearPath’s international and nuclear policy portfolios to advance the organization’s mission and vision.
Niko serves as a member of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee (CINTAC), the Keystone Energy Board, the E4 Carolinas Southeast Nuclear Industry Advisory Council, and represents ClearPath before multiple other industry groups.
Before joining ClearPath, Niko was a Materials Engineer at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). While at the NRC, he developed and provided technical guidance on materials, component integrity, and licensing topics for new and advanced nuclear reactors.

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.

Dr. Magnus Mori
Head of Market Development & Technical Sales
Urenco
Dr. Magnus Mori joined Urenco’s Commercial team in 2017 and is now leading the company’s commercial strategy to deliver products and services for advanced fuels, serving as Head of Market Development and Technical Sales at Urenco.
Magnus has over 25 years of experience in the nuclear sector, where he has held a wide variety of roles ranging from regulations and licensing to new build and operations, from research and development to leadership and management. Magnus holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering from the University of Stuttgart in Germany.

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.

Dr. Laura Nelson
Regional Engagement Lead - Utah
Idaho National Laboratory
With 20+ years’ experience in energy and natural resources, working on energy policy, regulations and development, Laura S. Nelson, Ph.D., is a visionary leader and economist. An industry thought leader, she has testified before state legislatures and US Congress, served as energy advisor to UT Governors Huntsman and Herbert, and advised public and private corporations, nonprofits and government agencies on energy initiatives, clean energy innovation, and solutions across energy resources.
Laura has developed innovative energy plans, including driving deployment for UT’s clean energy system—facilitating $200M+ in US DOE grants for clean energy development, forging the 1st-ever energy education program (~$100K in energy scholarships in <3 years), and growing clean energy development 14X+ in <5 years.
She created the platform for UT’s unique, 1st-ever Energy Infrastructure Authority Board, realizing $2B+ in new infrastructure project opportunities. A forward-thinking, agile strategist, Laura is skilled at integrating political, regulatory, operational, technical & competitive trends with business goals, while leading regulatory and stakeholder management.
Laura has deep board experience: she chaired the Utah Energy Infrastructure Board, Governor’s Energy Advisory Council, Western Interstate Energy Board, and Utah Transmission Task Force; served as Vice Chair for the National Association of Energy Officers, Co-Chair of NARUC-NASEO Task Force, Electricity Planning, and serves on the INL Strategic Advisory Committee. She has advised on environmental matters, social programs, and governance to advance state goals and commercial activities.
Laura earned a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Utah.

Dr. Keyes Niemer
Senior Vice President, Global Nuclear
Worley
Dr. Niemer is an accomplished power and energy executive with a history of increasing responsibility and extensive innovative experience in leadership, engineering, project management, operations, and business management for several multi-billion dollar companies, including EPC megaprojects, equipment design and fabrication, and first-of-a-kind (FOAK) engineering. Wide ranging experience in engineering and project management; proven ability to lead multi-cultural and multi-discipline technical and support staff; and the ability to lead organizational and cultural changes necessary to increase efficiency and productivity in the pursuit of realizing organizational goals. Has successfully worked in both the government and commercial segments of the power and energy industry, including utilities, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), architect/engineers (AEs), constructors, national laboratories, and within the U.S. Department of Energy complex.

Mr. Robert Nussmeier
Vice President, Strategic Clients
Baker Concrete Construction
As the Vice President of Strategic Clients for Baker, Robert provides expert relationship support to ensure Baker executes faster, smarter, safer, and better. With more than 32 years of experience in the construction industry, Robert offers the knowledge and expertise to anticipate clients’ needs and ensure he exceeds expectations.
Robert’s areas of market expertise include LNG and oil and gas terminals; nuclear fuels and power plants; fossil fuel power plant upgrades; green industrial gas plants; alternative and renewable power; renewable biofuel plants; federal, public, and private heavy construction; carbon capture and carbon sequestration; water and wastewater treatment construction; EPCM projects; data centers; microchip plants; and carbon emissions reduction with concrete technologies. In addition, his industry expertise and involvement extend to Construction Industry Institute, Board of Advisors, Executive Committee; Carbon Management and Energy Sustainability Board, University of Houston; CM, GC, EPC, EPCM, design build, and construction project needs analysis early in FEED; Public speaking and mentoring; Nuclear projects.

Mr. Jeffrey Olson
Vice President of Business Development & Finance
Kairos Power
Jeffrey Olson is the Vice President of Business Development & Finance for Kairos Power, and has over 10 years of experience managing strategic growth initiatives for energy technology companies to develop, scale and manage their businesses. Prior to his direct engagement in the early stage energy sector, Mr. Olson spent the first half of his career in management consulting advising Fortune 500 companies on business growth and systems development.
Prior to joining Kairos Power, Mr. Olson led strategic partnership development and commercial operations at the artificial intelligence energy storage provider, Stem, Inc., as the company’s Vice President of Partner Operations. Mr. Olson joined Stem from the fuel cell sector in his roles in corporate finance and international business development with Bloom Energy. Mr. Olson also served as an executive with Accenture’s Strategy Group where he was a founding member of Accenture’s Global Sustainability Practice.
Mr. Olson graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with an MBA and a Certificate in Engineering & Business for Sustainability. He received his B.A. in Economics from St. Olaf College.

Mr. John Portillo
Vice President, Global New Nuclear
Paragon Energy Solutions
John’s core competencies are as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Paragon’s variety of product offerings. John has held several positions over his 24 years with the company, including Director of International Sales and currently the Senior Director for Nuclear Sales Operations. In his current role, John is responsible for the inside sales team and all outgoing proposals. John still plays an active role in International and DOE/DOD business development activities. John received his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Distribution from Texas A&M University where he graduated Sigma Delta, the Industrial Distribution Honor Society. He received his Master of Engineering Technical Management also from Texas A&M University with an emphasis on Leadership and Data Driven Decision Making. John lives in Hurst, TX with his wife and 2 daughters. He loves martial arts and is an American Karate Blackbelt and instructor. He enjoys traveling with his wife and Texas A&M football with his friends.

Dr. Benjamin Reinke
Vice President, Global Business Development
Advisor to the CEO
X-energy
As Vice President of Global Business Development, Dr. Reinke leads the Business Development organization at X-energy and is responsible for end-to-end commercial reactor business development and sales – strategy and marketing, analytics, organizational management, customer relationship development, contract negotiations, capture management, and early-phase project management.
Dr. Reinke is an energy executive with expertise in science and innovation, clean energy technology development, industries of the future, nuclear systems, critical minerals and materials, space science and technology, and the nexus of energy security and national security. His policy development and implementation experience spans both the legislative and executive branches.
Dr. Reinke originally joined X-energy as the Senior Director for Corporate Strategy and Advisor to the CEO, leading long-term strategic planning for the company and supporting key functions ranging from business planning to business development, and strategic partnerships to strategic supplier relations. He also oversaw that corporate communications organization and supported X-energy’s capital planning and government engagement.
Prior to joining X-energy, Dr. Reinke served as the Executive Director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Policy of the Department of Energy (DOE). As the senior policy advisor to the Secretary, he spearheaded high-priority energy initiatives and led an interdisciplinary team of experts in crafting long-term, cross-cutting DOE strategies. Before moving to DOE, Dr. Reinke served as majority professional staff on the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, where he led departmental oversight and development of law spanning a range of energy issues including technology development, batteries and grid storage, workforce, microgrids and integrated energy systems, nuclear energy, and university R&D. He first joined the ENR team as the 2016 American Nuclear Society Glenn T. Seaborg Congressional Fellow. As the chief architect of legislation and strategies in these roles, Dr. Reinke has worked with researchers and innovators across economic sectors.
Dr. Reinke holds his Ph.D. and M.S. in nuclear engineering, as well as his B.S. in physics and French from the Ohio State University, where he was a NASA Space Technology Research Fellow and a Nuclear Regulatory Commission Fellow. His graduate studies included radiation damage in advanced materials for space applications and the development and characterization of high-temperature radiation detectors for nuclear safeguards in molten salt reprocessing environments. His research experiences also include studying the cultural and political context of the development of the French nuclear program and serving as a research assistant in a High Energy-Density Physics laser research group.

Mr. Mike Rencheck
Executive Vice-Chair
(Retired President & CEO)
Bruce Power
Michael W. Rencheck is Executive Vice-Chair of Bruce Power, serving as a senior advisor to Bruce Power and the industry following his tenure as President and Chief Executive Officer of Bruce Power between 2016-2024.
Mike has served in a number of senior roles over his 40-year career and prior to joining Bruce Power in 2016, he served as the Deputy Chief Operating Officer for AREVA Group, overseeing its extensive global capital portfolio of nuclear and renewable projects.
Mike has been recognized by the National Safety Council for his leadership demonstrating a personal commitment to worker health and safety, and was designated by the US Department of Energy as a STEM ambassador.
In 2020, he was named the CEO of the Year by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce as part of the Ontario Business Achievement Awards and in 2022 named Leader of the Year by Electricity Human Resources Canada. He also has demonstrated a commitment to many organizations that make a difference in people’s lives, including Habitat for Humanity and United Way.
Mike is a Professional Engineer and certified senior reactor operator and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the World Association of Nuclear Operations Atlanta Center and the Ontario Tech Governing Board.

Dr. Marian Rice
Associate Director, Energy Futures Research Engine
University of Utah
Rice brings extensive administrative experience to both EMA and her leadership role with the Energy Futures Research Engine at the University of Utah. With a background in public utilities, she has served in pivotal roles such as the Deputy Director of the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities and the Water Quality & Treatment Administrator for the same department. Her expertise in the energy-water nexus and environmental justice will directly benefit EMA analysis and initiatives and has been instrumental in addressing the pressing energy challenges of our time.
Dr. Rice leads the University of Utah’s Energy Futures Research Engine, which is dedicated to identifying and cultivating reliable and cost-efficient energy sources. With a focus on facilitating technologies that will shape the future of energy, the initiative aims to address the growing energy needs of our society.
She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Utah, with a focus on the energy-water nexus and environmental justice. She also possesses a Master of Public Administration with a concentration on renewable energy implementation. Additionally, she completed the Environmental Dispute Resolution Program at the S.J. Quinney College of Law and earned her undergraduate degree in Biology from Portland State University.

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.

Mr. Douglass Robison
Founder & President
Natura Resources
Douglass Robison is the founder and president of Natura Resources. Formerly, Robison was partner, co-founder, president, and executive chair of ExL Petroleum, a Permian-based oil and gas exploration and production company.
Additionally, Robison has earned a national reputation as an expert in the analysis and communication of issues impacting the independent oil and gas community.
Among many industry accomplishments, he was appointed in 2004 by former Texas Gov. Rick Perry to serve on the Texas Energy Planning Council. Moreover, Robison co-chaired the Energy Supply Committee with Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson.
Under Robison’s leadership, ExL assembled and developed over 76,000 acres in the Permian Basin, resulting in sales over $2 billion and an average return on capital of 3.6X.

VADM Fritz Roegge, USN (Ret.)
President, Holtec Government Services;
Senior Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer
Holtec International
Fritz Roegge became President of Holtec Government Services in 2021 following a 30+ year Navy career. He also serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of the corporate parent, Holtec International – a billion-dollar technology and manufacturing innovation company supporting the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, and clean energy industries that has been “A Generation Ahead by Design” since 1986.
A career submarine officer, Fritz led organizations of progressively increasing size, budget, and complexity ranging from command of a single nuclear-powered submarine to command of the entire US Pacific Submarine Force – an enterprise of 40 submarines, 12,000 people, $160B capital assets, and $560M budget distributed across six states/territories, partner nations, and twelve time zones. His military career culminated as a three-star Admiral as President of the National Defense University in Washington, DC.
Fritz is an honors graduate of the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering; he earned a Master of Science in Engineering Management from the Catholic University of America and a Master of Arts with highest distinction in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. He was a fellow of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI program for national security leaders and of the Harvard University Kennedy School National Security Executive Program.

Mr. Sean Sexstone
Executive Vice President, Advanced Nuclear
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy
Sean joined GEH in February 2022 from Aecon, where he led Aecon’s nuclear group focused on life extension projects, plant life maintenance projects, decommissioning, and nuclear fabrication.
Sean is responsible for furthering the design progress of the BWRX-300 and Natrium projects, supporting customers, meeting product cost targets to ensure market competitiveness, and developing key partnerships for global small modular reactor (SMR) deployment.

Mr. Michael Sharpe
Chief Executive Officer
AUKUS Forum
Michael is involved in a wide range of organisations across engineering, infrastructure, agriculture, energy, environmental sustainability, the space industry, academia, and the nuclear industry.
He is extremely well connected with Australia’s manufacturing, industrial and political leaders, as well as the country’s top universities, including activities in the nuclear and AUKUS spheres.
He is the Chief Executive Officer of the AUKUS Forum and has a personal contact base of over 100,000 people across Australian industry, with more than 34,000 members of the AUKUS Forum and 35,000 LinkedIn connections, with many more built over his time on projects for infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and research activities. He has an extensive range of industry networks assembled over the last four decades.
Widely regarded as one of the most connected people in Australian industry, with a strong focus on business transactions, Michael is focussed on transformation – helping countless businesses to access new export opportunities and enter adjacent markets such as traditional engineering firms entering the space and defence industries.
This gives him an unrivalled ability to connect with key decision makers, to facilitate contacts between Australian and overseas manufacturers, establish joint ventures and establish supply chains. Several major US corporations have reached out to him recently to find local suppliers.
Michael has vast experience in politics, industry and manufacturing, having served as the National Director for Industry at the Australian Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre; and Chairman of the HunterNet Co-operative, a very successful industry cluster based in the Newcastle area of New South Wales.
Michael is a Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders; a Fellow of The Royal Society for the Arts, Manufactures & Commerce; and has completed courses in Leadership at the Harvard Business School.

Mr. Chris Sheryn
Co-Founder & Chief Development Officer
Community Nuclear Power (CNP),
Chris is Co-Founder and Chief Development Officer of Community Nuclear Power (CNP), the UK’s leading independent nuclear deployment company.
Currently, CNP is deploying the UK’s first privately funded fleet of small modular reactors, in the north-east of England. Four Westinghouse AP300s will provide the energy for a new and cutting-edge power-to-liquids campus, which will manufacture green chemicals and fuels such as sustainable aviation fuel and biodiesel.
Chris places innovative solutions and operational excellence firmly at the heart of CNP.
For the past 15 years, Chris has supported operational transformation for a variety of organisations in both defence and civil nuclear markets around the globe. He has also previously held a number of senior in-house roles, leading commercial, IT and supply chain teams.
Chris is internationally highly regarded as the go-to person to find solutions and embed high performance into even the most fluid and complex projects. He brings great insight into better ways of doing things, empirical evidence to underpin those solutions, and the tenacity to get even the most challenging outcomes over the line.

Mr. Mateusz Sikora
Director of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs
ORLEN Synthos Green Energy
Mateusz Sikora is a leading expert in nuclear energy licensing, regulatory affairs, and strategic energy policy. As Director of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs at ORLEN Synthos Green Energy, he plays a pivotal role in the deployment of BWRX-300 Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), ensuring regulatory compliance and effective engagement with policymakers to drive Poland’s clean energy transition. His work supports industrial decarbonization and the integration of zero-emission nuclear power into the country’s energy mix.
Prior to his current role, Mateusz served as Head of Strategic Planning and International Affairs at the National Atomic Energy Agency of Poland, where he led international cooperation initiatives, including Poland’s engagement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He also held key positions at The Energy Studies Institute of Poland, INDAR ENERGY, and EDF, where he contributed to energy market analysis, nuclear strategy development, and regulatory frameworks for emerging technologies.
With deep expertise in nuclear policy, international collaboration, and energy market dynamics, Mateusz continues to be a driving force in Poland’s shift toward a stable, decarbonized energy future.

Mr. Caleb Strother
General Manager Commercial
Nucor Corporation
Caleb Strother has extensive experience in the steel industry, currently serving as Commercial Director for Plate & Structural at Nucor Corporation since December 2010. Previous roles at Nucor include Regional Sales Manager, Sales Manager for NSTX, and District Sales Manager for Engineered Bar and Wire Rod, along with responsibilities as District Sales Manager and Inside Sales Representative. Prior to Nucor, Caleb held the position of Outside Sales at Dillon Supply Company from 2005 to 2007. Academically, Caleb holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Limestone University.

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).

Ms. Cristina Talacko
Chief Executive Officer
Coalition for Conservation – Australia
Cristina Talacko is a Brazilian-Australian entrepreneur, energy advocate, and environmental leader with a diverse career spanning business, law, and sustainability. She is the CEO of the Coalition for Conservation (C4C), where she drives bipartisan engagement on pragmatic climate and energy policies. Cristina has been at the forefront of efforts to educate policymakers, industry leaders, and the public on the role of nuclear energy in Australia, advocating for the removal of legislative barriers to its development as part of a balanced clean energy transition.
Cristina has worked extensively with government, international experts, and industry stakeholders to advance sensible decarbonization strategies, emphasizing energy security, affordability, and environmental responsibility. She has participated in high-level delegations, policy discussions, and global forums to bring international nuclear expertise into the Australian energy debate.
Beyond her policy work, Cristina is a successful entrepreneur and the founder of SalDoce Fine Foods, a company specializing in allergen-sensitive foods, which has expanded to export its products to over 20 countries. Under her leadership, the company won the NSW Export Awards in 2016 and 2018. She has served on executive boards, including Beyond Zero Emissions and Viridios Capital, contributing her expertise in sustainable finance and energy transition strategies.
Cristina holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of London and a Graduate Diploma in Corporate Law and Governance from the University of Sydney. She has also completed an executive leadership program at the Harvard Kennedy School. Committed to philanthropy, she serves on the board of the charity One Meal – It Makes a Difference and is a benefactor of the Art Gallery of NSW.

Ms. Elina Teplinsky
Partner
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP
Elina Teplinsky, Pillsbury’s Global Energy Industry Leader and a leading member of the firm’s International Nuclear Projects and Hydrogen teams, focuses on international nuclear energy matters, including advice to U.S. and global clients on transactional and regulatory issues.
Elina is a trusted advisor to nuclear owner-operators, reactor and equipment suppliers, investors, architect-engineering companies and technical consulting firms on complex nuclear transactional and regulatory matters. She frequently serves as lead outside counsel on new build projects, equipment and fuel procurements, M&A transactions and joint ventures in the nuclear sector. She has worked on transactions for more than 30 countries in North and South America, Europe, Turkey and the Middle East, Russia and the former CIS, Asia and Africa.

Mr. Pierre Tremblay
President & CEO
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Pierre Tremblay began his term as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) on August 12, 2024.
Mr. Tremblay is an accomplished leader with over 40 years of experience in nuclear engineering, security, operations, maintenance and management, including most recently as President of AECOM Canada Nuclear Services Inc.
He served as Chair of the CNSC’s Departmental Audit Committee from 2017 to 2023, providing advice and recommendations on our organization’s internal audit functions, frameworks and processes for risk management, control and governance. This role underscored his proven commitment to regulatory excellence and his support of our mandate to regulate the use of nuclear energy and materials to protect health, safety, security and the environment.
Mr. Tremblay began his career as a trainee engineer with Ontario Hydro (now Ontario Power Generation), where he rose through the ranks to become Chief Nuclear Operating Officer, responsible for the operation and maintenance of the nuclear fleet, achieving significant safety improvements.
He subsequently served as President of Canadian Nuclear Partners (now Laurentis Energy Partners Inc.), where he led trade missions to China, South Korea and India to create new opportunities for Canadian nuclear companies and their supply chains.
His international experience as a nuclear advisor, instructor and peer evaluator demonstrates his commitment to sharing knowledge and fostering global collaboration.
Mr. Tremblay is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering and was an active member of the Canadian Nuclear Society, the Canadian Nuclear Association, and the American Nuclear Society, where he held the prestigious position of Chair of the Education and Training Division.
He was also the former Governor of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (now Ontario Tech University), Chairman of the Board of Governors of Durham College, and President of the Canadian Red Cross, North York Branch.
He holds a Master of Business Administration from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Chemical Engineering from Queen’s University.

Mr. Alexei Viarruel
Vice President, Power & Renewables Investment Banking
J.P. Morgan
Alexei Viarruel, based in New York, NY, US, is currently a Vice President, Power and Renewables Investment Banking at J.P. Morgan. Alexei Viarruel brings experience from previous roles at J.P. Morgan, Cornell Johnson MBA and BP. Alexei Viarruel holds a 2017 - 2019 Master of Business Administration - MBA in Business Administration and Management, General @ Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management. With a robust skill set that includes Sovereign Debt, Equity Valuation, Economics, Financial Forecasting, Corporate Finance and more.