Great British Nuclear

Great British Nuclear (GBN) will be the vehicle for realising the Government's ambition of reaching up to 24GW of nuclear power by 2050. Over the summer of 2022, a team was assembled within the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to build its foundations. WiN UK and GBN have collaborated to celebrate this team's diversity and the rich future for nuclear by role profiling the individuals seconded into the team from industry and civil service.

Meet the team...

Peter Welch

Nuclear Waste Services: Business Development Director
GBN Role: industry secondee (form of organisation)
WiNUK: ally

‘The best thing about working in nuclear is the ability to make a difference to the UK economy.’

How have mentors influenced your career progression?

I’ve always sought out mentors who are from other organisations and who hold other roles… it is the best way to get a different insight and a different perspective.

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Arti Bareja

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial

Strategy: Great British Nuclear team

‘I never thought I’d work in nuclear. Yet here I am, after 15 years of a profession in finance, talking to you about nuclear.’

What was your dream profession when you were young?

I wanted to be a doctor like my grandmother, to get an MBA like my mother and in the end I pursued neither of these, in reality it was a lot more unplanned and impromptu. I have not had a vanilla career path, I have taken risks and done new things, learned a lot and continued to follow that path as I find it very rewarding.

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Mike Roberts

Atkins: Principal Nuclear Safety Consultant
GBN Role: Workstream lead (technology selection)
WiN UK: Ally

‘There has been a strong degree of diversity within Great British Nuclear from its setup. GBN has the opportunity to be a role model for the what the future of our industry looks like.’

What are the best things about working in the nuclear sector?

Knowing that what I do is strategically important for the UK, and supports world-wide net zero efforts.

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Alys Gardner

Cavendish Nuclear: Principal Consultant
GBN: Industry Secondee

‘We are an industry that has real purpose.’

What are the best things about working in the nuclear sector?

Nuclear has a huge role to play in fighting climate change and bringing energy security to the UK. It offers a purpose to coming to work each day that really tangibly contributes to making the world a better place.

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Saralyn Thomas

Abbott Risk Consulting (ARC) Ltd: Senior Consultant
GBN role: Industry Secondee (form of organisation)

‘There’s something for everyone in the nuclear industry; there are so many opportunities out there!’

How have mentors influenced your career progression?

My mentors encouraged and guided me to assess what’s possible in my career. For example, my mentors gave me the support I needed to say yes to a fantastic opportunity at GBN by giving me a ‘push’ to realise what I can achieve. I nearly said no to GBN based on other commitments and would have missed an opportunity of a lifetime.

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Leanne Cowie

Atkins: Project Manager
GBN Role: industry secondee (technology selection)
WiN UK: Strategy Director

‘Great British Nuclear is really looking to do things differently – to be more inventive, to incentivise more innovation – we need change to meet the net zero 2050 challenge.’

What are the best things about working in the nuclear sector?

I love how dynamic the industry is, how many challenges there are and the opportunities to problem solve. Plus, being part of the solution for net zero, and knowing we’re making a difference for future generations is really rewarding.

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Maria Kolodnytska

EDF Energy: Supply Chain Inspection Manager
GBN Role: industry secondee (operating model)
WiNUK: Company Secretary and board member

‘I was born in the north of Ukraine, where part of my home county was affected by outfall from Chernobyl, so in some ways I joined the industry very young!’

What was your dream profession when you were young?

An astronaut, a Nobel prize winning scientist and a president!

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Simon Bowen

Nuclear industry advisor to UK government: set up of GBN
WiNUK: ally

‘The bulk of the people in the nuclear industry are more committed to the success of the industry than they are of their own individual companies…’

Do you have a well-being tip you can share with us?

I don’t believe in a work life balance, it’s one life. I integrate fitness and wellbeing into my daily routine. If I’ve got two hours off in the middle of the day and the surf is working, I go in the water, I get an enormous sense of calm and it’s great exercise.  It’s all part of an integrated way of being.

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Get in touch

If you’d like to find out more or raise a matter of concern, fill in the form below, and a member of our team will contact you.








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