The Changing UK Nuclear Landscape and Role of Nuclear Power in the Transition to Net-Zero

Dr Fiona Robinson FIMMM

Principal Metallurgy, ENODA Ltd

Dr Fiona Robinson FIMMM is Chair of the Energy Materials Group (EMG), Vice Chair of WIM3, and the 2025 recipient of the T B Marsden Professional Medal. 

Fiona is Principal Metallurgist at ENODA Ltd., bringing over 30 years’ experience in electrical steels, metals and materials R&D, and materials processing technologies to their Materials team. She has industrial, research, academic and consulting experience of non-oriented and grain oriented electrical steels, process and product development, data analytics and problem solving. Fiona actively participates in activities related to widening participation in STEM and supporting women to enter and sustain careers in materials.

Fiona has a degree in Metallurgy and Materials Science from Imperial College, a PhD from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Liverpool, and a specialist Technology Management MBA from the Open University. Fiona is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA).

Dr Martin Lamb

Principal Inspector - Nuclear Safety, Office for Nuclear Regulation

Since 2009 Martin has worked for ONR where he is responsible for the safety of steel structures and components in new build. Martin is the lead inspector for Hinkley Point C structural integrity and contributes to ONR work on other designs including high temperature gas cooled reactors. Before joining ONR, Martin worked in the electricity supply industry where he provided comprehensive and consistent recommendations on materials behaviour for use in integrity assessments and carried out root cause analyses to understand and resolve plant problems. Martin's early career was at Rolls-Royce where he worked on the outsourced manufacture of gas turbine disks. Martin was awarded his PhD for research on laser welding by Imperial College and his BSc in Metallurgy and Materials Science from the University of Nottingham.

Mr Reuben Bouchard Saunders

Operations Graduate, Nuclear Transport Solutions

Reuben Bouchard Saunders is an Operations Graduate at Nuclear Transport Solutions as part of the NDA Group graduate scheme. He is in his second year of placement. Prior to this, he studied Aerospace Engineering at the University of Bristol.

Reuben's work at NTS includes stakeholder engagement, data visualisation and change management, and he supports teams across NTS in process management and business improvement. He is passionate about the complex emotional responses the public have to nuclear power, and what government and the nuclear estate can do to understand and support them. 

In his free time, Reuben is a Naval Reservist, as well as a keen hiker and runner.

Titot Prayoga

EDF Energy Science & Engineering Graduate Scheme

Titot graduated from Loughborough University with a degree in Automotive Materials Engineering and joined the EDF Energy Science & Engineering Graduate Scheme, after having spent a year at Torness Nuclear Power Station as part of my industrial placement.

Since his early career, Titot has been heavily involved in the design and manufacturing of the nuclear primary circuit of the EPR reactors for Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C, developing a strong technical understanding for UK structural integrity demonstration, particularly for high integrity components.

During that time, he has been influential in developing and implementing the Fracture Toughness Testing programmes for the aforementioned systems and components, to feed into the structural integrity safety case. Titot is also chair the Irradiation Surveillance Programme and Materials Degradation working group, which looks at through-life structural integrity demonstration and long term operation. 

As the programme continues to evolve from Generic Design Assessment to site installation and commissioning, he maintains a high level technical oversight on HICs and provide regular interaction with stakeholders from the supply chain to the nuclear regulator (ONR).

Outside of work, Titot tries to test his understanding of fracture toughness on my body by engaging in downhill mountain biking and the odd motorcycle track day. True to being a metallurgist, he is quite partial to the occasional metal gig. 

Eric Hanus

Manager, ‘Jules Horowitz Reactor’ Consortium

Eric Hanus is currently manager of the ‘Jules Horowitz Reactor’ consortium, a materials testing reactor under construction at CEA Cadarache.

Eric holds a degree in materials engineering, supplemented by a PhD in materials science and mechanics. He began his career in industry, where he held various positions in R&D.

He then joined the fuel research department of CEA, where he initially worked on the development of new fuels. Eric then moved to the Leca-Star facility to head a laboratory dedicated to experimental testing of irradiated fuels. He subsequently joined the reactor research department, where he took on the role of project manager for innovation in the field of light-water reactors. In this field, Eric launched a new project on small modular reactors (SMR) intended for heat production, as well as for cogeneration applications and hydrogen production. Eric also coordinated the contribution from CEA to the Nuward SMR project.

In 2024, Eric joined the Jules Horowitz reactor project to manage relations with consortium members.