KEYNOTE WEBINAR | People Power: Building Britain’s Nuclear Energy Future
Date, Time and Venue:
Wednesday 14 October 2026, 12:00 – 12:50 BST.
Online only conference. Back Nuclear Energy would like to take this opportunity to thank Wood, our Principal Sponsor.
** BOOK YOUR FREE TICKET TO ATTEND HERE **
Synopsis:
Join three leading voices from Britain’s nuclear energy, skills, science and academic communities for a keynote panel exploring how the UK can attract, develop and inspire the diverse talent needed to deliver its nuclear ambitions.
The UK’s nuclear energy programme will require tens of thousands of skilled people across a remarkably broad range of roles. Professor Adrian Bull, Associate Director at the Dalton Nuclear Institute, will explore the scale and breadth of this challenge, highlighting the opportunities and specific skills the sector will need.
Mark Rouse, Skills Director at DESNZ’s Nuclear Sector Skills Team, will discuss how collaboration, talent development and the Nuclear Skills Plan can help build a diverse workforce for an industry central to national security, energy security, net zero and high-quality jobs.
Science communicator and author Zion Lights will consider whether the industry is reaching young people in the right places, and how social media, science communication and new role models could inspire future nuclear careers.
Biographies:
Professor Adrian Bull, Associate Director at the Dalton Institute, and President, Nuclear Institute
Adrian is Associate Director at the Dalton Nuclear Institute, part of The University of Manchester. His focus is on Government policy around nuclear and energy, and on stakeholder and community engagement on nuclear issues. Prior to academia Adrian worked for four decades in the UK nuclear industry.
Adrian is also the President of the UK’s Nuclear Institute for the years 2026 and 2027, and, in addition, a Senior Advisor at US-based nuclear communications consultancy Full On Communications.
Mark Rouse, Skills Director, Nuclear Skills Team, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Mark began his nuclear career building Royal Navy submarines at Vickers Shipbuilding in Barrow and then maintaining them at Devonport Royal Dockyard with DML/Babcock. In 2013, he moved into the civil nuclear sector, becoming Managing Director of Dounreay for Cavendish Nuclear, before spending four years establishing the company’s business in Japan. Returning to Dounreay as Managing Director in 2020, he then joined the Nuclear Skills Plan on secondment to the NDA in 2024 as Skills Director and co-chair of the Nuclear Skills Delivery Board, bringing extensive cross-sector experience and a strong commitment to developing future nuclear talent.
Zion Lights, Science Communicator and Author
Zion Lights is an award‑winning science communicator and environmental advocate specialising in energy, climate and public engagement. She regularly delivers keynote lectures and contributes to major media outlets. A former Extinction Rebellion spokesperson, Zion combines storytelling with science to shift global narratives toward a high‑energy, low‑carbon future. Her latest book, Energy Is Life: Why Environmentalism Went Nuclear, explores why abundant clean energy must be part of climate solutions.
