Nuclear Innovation: How do we innovate in our industry?

John Brotherhood: Principal Robotics Specialist, Jacobs Ltd

John Brotherhood is a Principal Consultant who represents Jacobs internally and externally as the Subject Matter Expert for robotics and digital integration. In his role, he provides support and oversight to nuclear robotics remote handling and system integration projects across the nuclear lifecycle. John is a degree qualified engineer with over 20 years’ experience in the nuclear industry. This experience spans the full design lifecycle from conceptual design studies, research and development, management of test and performance trials through to successful implementation on customers’ sites.

Ravindra Chunilal: Head of Robotics & Artificial Intelligence, Sellafield Ltd

Rav’s focus is on leveraging RAI capability to accelerate the delivery of opportunities presented by the nuclear decommissioning challenges across the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) Groupl Rav champions innovation, technology and engineering and has also pushed novel process engineering toolkits into Sellafield. His input to national and international governments and agencies on environmental topics has allowed future strategic options to remain open and allow opportunities to progress.

Barry Lennox: Professor of Applied Control, University of Manchester

Barry Lennox is Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, holds a Royal Academy Chair in Emerging Technologies and is the Director of the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence for Nuclear (RAIN) Research Hub that received £15M of funding through the ISCF Robotics for a Safer World programme. RAIN has led to many first-of-a-kind robotic deployments, including CARMA, which became the first fully autonomous robot to be deployed into an active facility on the Sellafield site. Professor Lennox also leads the £5M EPSRC Programme Grant: Robotics for Nuclear Environments and the robotics work within various other projects including the EPSRC ALACANDRA project

David Smeatham: Principal Nuclear Inspector – Safety Innovation, Office for Nuclear Regulation

Daniel Robinson: Lead Mechanical Engineer for the Cooling Water Island, Assystem

Daniel has worked in the UK Nuclear Industry for 11 years and has worked across operating nuclear plants and in design consultancy. He has worked across decommissioning, operating sites and defence sectors and is currently engaged as the Lead Mechanical Engineer for Cooling Water Island for the RR-SMR project. He is responsible for the delivery of the mechanical elements of the structures and components that delivery the primary cooling services to the RR-SMR.

Jonathan Hart: Systems Engineering Capability Manager, Rolls-Royce SMR Ltd

Jonathan is a chartered mechanical engineer who has worked across nuclear new build, research, and decommissioning over the past 10 years. In his current role as Systems Engineering Capability Manager within Rolls-Royce SMR Ltd he is focussed on helping design teams to implement a systems engineering approach to design. Jonathan is a passionate advocate for nuclear power being a key part of the future clean energy mix.

Tom Dixon: Lead crane & lifting engineer, Sellafield Ltd

Aaron Turnock: Graduate Mechanical Engineer, Assystem

Aaron is a graduate mechanical engineer working on cooling water island within Rolls-Royce SMR. He joined Assystem in September 2020 after completing my degree in mechanical engineering from Staffordshire university in the summer. His first 12 months in the industry was spent working at Rolls-Royce Submarines as a mechanical engineer before he was rotated to Rolls-Royce SMR in October last year.

Adam Towse: Head of Discipline (Stress), Assystem

Adam is the Head of Discipline for stress calculations for Assystem. He has worked in the nuclear industry for 14 years leading teams performing structural integrity assessments across a range of industries. He has a particular interest in the use of computational integrity models to enhance knowledge of operational plant and equipment. Prior to joining Assystem he worked in the automotive industry, gained a PhD in composites and adhesives from Bristol University, and has worked in the offshore oil and gas sector. He started his career as an engineering officer in the Royal Navy.

Andrew  Paton-Crockett: Principal CWI Engineer, Assystem

Nigel Hart: Head of Digital – Small Modular Reactor Programme, Rolls-Royce

Carl Holroyd: Senior Project Manager, Reactor Operations Design and Engineering, Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd

Carl Holroyd is a chartered mechanical engineer and chartered project professional. Carl is the Senior Project Manager for Reactor Operations Design and Engineering at Dounreay. He has 35 years engineering experience of which 11 years have been spent in nuclear industries. He relishes engineering challenges that more often that not require bespoke solutions. His manufacturing and commercial experience has allowed him to turn engineering innovation into reliable, maintainable and durable products.