Are We Nearly There Yet?

Gary Hosey, the founder of EI Company, a Master Coach, and speaker. He is passionate about people achieving their full potential both personally and professionally and a major part of his work is in the field of emotional intelligence. Gary's speaker profile says that he has been on a "colourful journey from being emotionally dysfunctional to a leading expert in the field of emotional intelligence". Find out more about Gary on LinkedIn and EI Company here.

Gemma Muckle works as a learning and development professional and coach at The University of Manchester. In this career moment, Gemma discusses how she found the right balance between her professional career and her personal life with a growing family. By taking a bold step, Gemma has been able to flex this balance over time as her work, her personal wellbeing, and the needs of her family have developed.

Giorgio Locatelli is Full Professor of Complex Projects Business at the Politecnico di Milano – the largest technical university in Italy with 42,000 students. Giorgio describes a time in his life when he had to take a big step outside his comfort zone; flying for the first time outside his native Italy to complete a 6-month work placement in Pittsburgh, USA. This placement set a new course for his life and led to a successful academic career.

Adrian Bull, Professor of Nuclear Energy and Society at the University of Manchester, discusses a defining career moment when family circumstances meant he had to focus on the core of his job, managing a large team at BNFL, and exclude all the peripheral activities of engaging with other people inside and outside the business. But Adrian discovered that he was motivated more by engaging others than by the core of his job. So, he focused on this and developed a distinguished career in communications and policy for nuclear energy. Adrian was awarded an MBE in 2018 in recognition of his work on the development of public understanding in nuclear research.

What advice would you give your younger self? It’s a questions Professor Andrew Sherry asks of all guests on the podcast series ‘Are We Nearly There Yet?’ As season one draws to close, we thought we’d put all this advice into a few special episodes. We hope you enjoy listening and we encourage you on your career journey! If you’d like to listen to any of these episodes in full, you can do so on the AWNTY Podbean channel.

What advice would you give your younger self? It’s a questions Professor Andrew Sherry asks of all guests on the podcast series ‘Are We Nearly There Yet?’ As season one draws to close, we thought we’d put all this advice into a few special episodes. We hope you enjoy listening and we encourage you on your career journey! If you’d like to listen to any of these episodes in full, you can do so on the AWNTY Podbean channel. Look out for season three!

What advice would you give your younger self? It’s a questions Professor Andrew Sherry asks of all guests on the podcast series ‘Are We Nearly There Yet?’ As season one draws to close, we thought we’d put all this advice into a few special episodes. We hope you enjoy listening and we encourage you on your career journey! If you’d like to listen to any of these episodes in full, you can do so on the AWNTY Podbean channel. Look out for season two!

Tom Scott is a Professor of Materials at Bristol University and also leads two spin out companies from the university: ImiTec, which specializes in the development and manufacture of novel methods for detecting, characterising and mapping radiation and Arkenlight, the Diamond Battery company which develops and manufactures micro-power sources based on radiovoltaic technology. To lives in Bristol with his wife Nikki and their two children Imogen and Joe. Tom grew up In Dorset and went to the Thomas Hardye school in Dorchester. Tom always enjoyed sports and played tennis, rugby and football. Tom studied Maths Geography and Art with Architecture at A-levels whilst also studying Geology GCSE. Tom went to study Geology at Bristol University and then went on to do a PhD researching Uranium Geochemistry. Tom then went on to become a Lecturer at Bristol in the School of Earth Sciences. Tom became the Executive Co-Director of Bristol-Oxford nuclear Research Centre and it was during this time that Tom then got the opportunity to become the Executive C-Director, then Executive Director of ImiTec. In 2016, Tom became the Special Advisor to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee on Nuclear leading to report: Nuclear research and technology: Breaking the cycle of indecision. Tom was then also promoted and became Professor Tom Scott and won a Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship to develop new technologies to detect and observe materials containing uranium and plutonium.

Sarah Beacock is the CEO of the Nuclear Institute. She lives in South East London and in her spare time enjoys wildlife in the garden and birdwatching. Sarah grew up in South London and really enjoyed school as a child. She also enjoyed ballet and gymnastics and joined the school hockey team. After school, Sarah went to study Environmental Science at Plymouth Polytechnic. After graduating, Sarah then went travelling around Australia, New Zealand and Papa New Guinea where she worked as a school assistant. Sarah struggled to find jobs in the Environment, so decided to go to South East London College to do a graduate course to learn typing and shorthand, which then led her to getting a job as a Scheme Manager for the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) Examinations Board. Next Sarah took a role as a Senior Examiner for Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) where she worked for nine years. Sarah then took a job as an International and Professional Affairs Director in the Energy Institute. Sarah was promoted to the Skills and Capability Director and ended up working for the Energy Institute for fifteen years. Sarah then became acting CEO Energy Institute which then enabled her to take on the role as the CEO for the Nuclear Institute. For more information, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbeacock/

Jean Llewellyn is a non-executive director for the Office for Nuclear Regulations (ONR) and for the World Institute for Nuclear Security. Jean is active in her free time and likes travelling, mountaineering and cycling and is partial to wining and dining too with her husband. Jean grew up in Stockport with her two older brothers. After sixth from Jean went to study Geography at Nottingham University. The style of studying didn’t suit Jean’s personality and she ended up finishing at the end of the first year. She took time to reflect on what she wanted to do, which was to work in hospitality. Jean successfully secured a place at Hollins College on a three-year programme in hospitality management. Jean began work in the hospitality industry before successfully getting a promotion to be a hotel inspector for the AA where she remained for five years, primarily working in Cumbria. Following an enjoyable five years, Jean moved on to become a lecturer in Hospitality and Tourism Management and Marketing at High Peak College in Buxton before moving to Manchester Metropolitan University. Jean then moved to become regional manager for the north-west tourist board before being asked to become Head of Skills Policy Development for the Northwest Regional Development Agency looking after 18 sectors, including nuclear. Overtime, nuclear took over and that’s where her link to nuclear developed. Jean then transitioned to the role of Chief Executive for the National Skills Academy for Nuclear prior to being a non-executive director for the World Institute for Nuclear Security, and for the ONR. For further information: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jean-llewellyn-obe-19ab7313

Stacy Snook is a Nuclear Security Professional specialising in Insider Threat Mitigation at Sellafield Ltd and an Ambassador to the World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS). Stacy was born and grew up in Johannesburg, where she felt she lived in an international community which she described as good fun. After six years, Stacy and her family then moved back to the UK before then moving to Ethiopia due to her dad’s work. Whilst in Ethiopia, Stacy started an apprenticeship to help fundraise and build classrooms in schools. When Stacy returned to the UK, she was asked to do an apprenticeship which sponsored her school on top of doing her university studies. After completing her apprenticeship when she was 21, Stacy then went to study Nuclear Science and Materials at the University of Birmingham. Stacy continued on at University of Birmingham after graduating to do her Masters in Physics and Technology of Nuclear Reactors. Whilst doing her Masters, Stacy also did a placement with EDF (Heysham) and then did a group project with Rolls-Royce, which took her into their laboratory. After her placement at EDF, Stacy decided to take a gap year out where she went back to South Africa, before taking a graduate scheme in Cumbria with Sellafield. From here, Stacy moved more into working in the Nuclear Security and Strategic Security side at Sellafield Ltd. She also secured a second placement working in corporate Safety and Security, working as special assistant to the Director. Stacy is also involved in the Nuclear Institute’s Young Generation Network. For more information, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacy-snook/

Claire Flint is a Senior Business Leader and a Non-Executive Director for a number of organisations including the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL), Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Claire lives in Oxford and enjoys walking in the countryside and grows vegetables in her garden. Claire’s favourite subject was History whilst she was at school, so after school she went to study History at Queen Mary London University. After she graduated, Claire went to B&Q as part of the Graduate management scheme before moving to Natwest Bank where she did her training alongside in Diploma in Labour Studies. After three years, Claire took an opportunity at the Bass Group, where she developed and delivered a structured management training programme and succession planning process. She then later moved to Diageo plc where she was responsible for HR and Organisation Development for Head office. Claire then joined Oxford Instruments as Human Resources Manager on the executive. Claire was the first HR lead on the executive team of a division of the business and Introduced performance management, and performance related pay. Claire became an industrial member of the campaign board for the Institute of Physics and then through the women in boards joined NNL. For more information please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-flint-9707a34/

Jon Salthouse is currently the Content Director for Owl Live, which is a Brand Experience Agency specialising in employee engagement, training and events. Jon has had over 10 years of experience of working in engagement with companies such as Google, EY and Toyota. Outside of his career Jon has an interest in classic cars, cycling and photography. Jon grew up in Birmingham and lived there until he was about 19 years old. Jon went on the theatre school after doing a year at sixth form where he got a triple distinction. He then went on to study musical theatre for three years at Stella Mann College. After college, Jon went to work on cruise chips in the entertainment team, travelling the world for a year. After suffering an injury during one of his performances, Jon decided to look into the management side of the entertainment industry. From here, Jon started to work as a freelance Event Manager for a huge range of agencies. He also did his Level 5 Award in Behavioural Economics Jon then went to become a freelance Senior Producer for psLIVE where he lead on pitches and briefs and worked on the digital content for large companies. Jon then on to become the Creative Producer for The Smarty Train. This then led Jon to work for Owl Live where he leads the strategic communications and content direction for all pitches. For more information, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-salthouse-36640b26/

Sara Huntingdon is the Head of Innovation in the Operations and Performance Improvement Directorate at the NDA Corporate Centre. She lives in Cricklade near Cirencester and has been building a house with her husband Mike. In her spare time, Sara loves baking. Sara grew up in Lindley, Huddersfield with her parents and sister. During her A-level, Sara focused on Maths and the Sciences. Sara then went to Loughborough to study Physics. She decided to pick Physics combined with Engineering modules in her final year which she really enjoyed and was engaged with. After university, Sara joined BNFL’s Grad scheme where she was appointed at Berkley in Reactor and Analysis. Although she initially struggled with the department she was put in, she really enjoyed the project management side of the scheme. After a few years in the post, Sara took a role in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) in Bristol working as an Assistant Programme Manager. She developed through various roles during the 12 years she was at MOD, including Engagement Manager and Senior Project Manager. Sara then progressed into a role at the UK Space Agency leading an Innovation Programme where she had to liaise with Government. The innovation theme then took Sara to her current role as Head of Innovation at NDA. For more information, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-huntingdon-25ba3227/

Beccy Pleasant is Head of Nuclear Skills at the Nuclear Skills Strategy Group (NSSG). Beccy lives in Anglesey in North Wales. She enjoys her countryside walks and runs which offsets her love of cooking. Beccy also finds time to runs a small holding, aiming for self-sufficiency in meat and vegetables. She is also Vice-Chair of Governors of Llangefni Secondary School, Anglesey. Beccy grew up in Harlow on the Hartforshire/ Essex border. She went to school in Bishop’s Stortford, a historic market town about 30 miles Northeast of central London. After completing her A-Levels, Beccy join the Accelerated Training Programme at Barclay’s Bank with training from the Chartered Institute of Bankers where she achieved a Foundation in Law, Economics, Finance. Beccy then joined Lloyds Register of Shipping, London, as a Training Administrator, before joining Unilever, first in graduate recruitment and then as Personnel Services Manager. During this time, she completed an Open University degree in Psychology. Beccy spent a few months as a Ski Resort Manager for Inghams in Switzerland, before studying for a PhD at Bangor University. Beccy then started at Nelson Thornes Ltd - an educational publisher producing books and digital resources for the UK, as well as international schools and colleges. It is now part of Oxford University Press, in Cheltenham. Beccy then joined Magnox at their Wylfa site in Anglesey in Learning and Development and continued her own learning and development with a Post Graduate Certificate in Leadership – at Manchester Metropolitan. Beccy was then seconded to NDA as Head of Skills and Talent and then she most recently joined the Nuclear Strategy Skills Group as Head of Nuclear Skills Strategy. For more information, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beccypleasant/

Rebecca Weston is the Chief Operating Officer at Sellafield Limited and is accountable for programme delivery and performance of the nuclear site. Rebecca grew up in Skegness and now lives in West Cumbria with her wife Tanya and toddler Max. Rebecca went to Oxford University to study Physics. Rebecca enjoyed every moment of her time at Oxford University and made the most of being able to play a variety of different sports by joining the women’s football, cricket and hockey teams. She also enjoyed rowing. After graduating, Rebecca then took a role as a Design Engineer at the Bonas Machine Company in Gateshead. She then did a PhD at Newcastle in Electro and mechanical engineering. From there, she then went to work for BNFL. Rebecca then took a role as an Operations Support Manager, and then progressed through a number of various roles at Sellafield Limited, from a Contract Officer in commercial and a number of roles as an Executive. For more information, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-weston-1b52512b/

Tom Samson is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rolls-Royce SMR Limited. He has over 30 years of experience in the power industry in various senior level executive positions in the UK and internationally. Tom began his career as a Chartered Engineer at GEC Alstom designing combined cycle gas fired power plants before joining Marubeni Corporation where he helped them grow their global power portfolio and undertook a number of CEO and Board level assignments across that portfolio in the UAE and USA. Tom’s first major role in the nuclear industry came when he joined ENEC in the UAE as the Chief Operating Officer where he helped establish Nawah Energy as the operator of Barakah, the first nuclear power plant in the region before returning to the UK as CEO and Board member at NuGeneration Ltd, which was responsible for developing a new nuclear power station at Moorside in Cumbria. In early 2020 Tom joined Rolls-Royce to lead their SMR Consortium and is the CEO and Board Member of Rolls-Royce SMR Limited. For more information, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tsamson/

Melanie Brownridge is the Technology and Innovation Director at the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). Melanie lives in West Cumbria with her husband, Martin, and two teenage girls. In her spare time she likes to walk in the glorious countryside of the Lake District and to play her cello, piano and double base. Melanie was born in Chester but moved to High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire when she was one. Melanie went to Wycombe High School which she really enjoyed and after getting good grades at Maths and Sciences, she decided to study Maths, Chemistry and Biology at Sixth Form and then went on to study Chemistry at Imperial College London with a year in Hanover, Germany. After completing her degree, Melanie went on to do a PhD in Chemistry at Imperial College London. She then moved up to Cumbria to work for British Nuclear Fuels on a Research Associate Scheme. Melanie then moved into managing the programme for waste characterisation of legacy ponds and silos. Melanie continued her career journey and began work as Head of Technology Services at Nexia Solutions where she was more actively involved in technology development, commercialisation, and innovation. From here, she then took the decision to move to the NDA as Head of Research and Development and progressed to her current role as Technology and Innovation Director. For more information, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-brownridge-26592028/

Dr Tim Stone is Chairman of the Nuclear Industry Association, the trade association for the civil nuclear industry in the UK, and Chairman of Nuclear Risk Insurers, a leader in nuclear insurance supporting over 300 nuclear sites around the world. Tim was awarded a CBE in 2010 for services to the Energy industry. In his free time Tim likes to play classical music. Tim grew up in Catcliffe, close to Orgreave pit where his Grandfather worked which incidentally happens to be where Nuclear AMRC is now based. He studied at Maltby Grammar and then went on to study Chemistry at St Catherine’s College, Oxford. After University, Tim then joined the management consultancy division of Arthur Andersen & Co.’s where he designed and installed large, complex computer systems in government, insurance and the financing industry. Tim then made the big move to New York to work for Chase Manhattan Bank to run the software business and progressed through the organisation to Managing Director. From here Tim then moved to S. G. Warburg, where he got more involved in projects. Next, Tim founded and was chairman of KPMG’s Global Infrastructure and Projects Group and also held positions as the Senior Adviser to five successive Secretaries of State responsible for energy and as Expert Chair of the Office for Nuclear Development in the Department of Energy & Climate Change. For more information please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-stone-cbe-53b3364/

Georgina Hines is a Policy Analyst at the Nuclear Industry Association (NIA). Georgina is also Secretary of the Next Generation Nuclear Industry Council, the Shadow Theme Lead for the NSSG in its delivery of the nuclear skills agenda, and a representative of the Nuclear Delivery Group, which is working on a vision for nuclear activity for the next parliamentary period. Georgina grew up in Telford and went to William Brookes School in Telford where she particularly enjoyed Science and Maths. After school, Georgina went to study Neuroscience at the University of Manchester and then a Master’s in Science Communication. Whilst at University, Georgina also wrote for the Science & Technology section of The Mancunian newspaper which was what lead her after her Master’s to work for SCI as a Digital Media & Policy Officer. It was here that she realised she wanted to pursue the Policy side and got a job at NIA as a Policy Analyst. For more information please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgina-hines-1734a210a/