Julianne den Decker has spent more than 25 years turning nuclear ambition into delivered infrastructure. As Senior Vice-President, Candu Technical Professional Organization at Candu Energy Inc., an AtkinsRéalis company, she leads the technical backbone of Candu with responsibility for 2000+ staff across engineering, supply chain and project controls. 
Her leadership has strengthened reactor design, refurbishment and new-build EPC projects, bringing the capability, discipline and delivery confidence needed to advance safe, reliable nuclear energy.However, Julianne’s impact on the nuclear industry extends well beyond her technical leadership.
As Chair of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Nuclear Association, Julianne is a recognized voice for nuclear’s role in Canada’s energy strategy and Net-Zero transition. She also invests deeply in the sector’s future talent pipeline through Women in Nuclear and as executive sponsor of Candu Energy’s local North American Young Generation Nuclear chapter. Her leadership was also instrumental in AtkinsRéalis joining the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme, helping expand opportunities for women pursuing careers in nuclear science and technology.
Julianne exemplifies an everyday hero: a leader whose technical excellence, steady professionalism and commitment to people are strengthening the nuclear industry Canada — and the world — will rely on for the future.

Urenco’s Scott Taylor ensures enriched uranium gets to where it needs to, to provide low carbon nuclear energy globally, and the by-product is responsibly dealt with. Quite simply, without his work, many homes and businesses world-wide would not have the reliable energy supply they need. 

He is an experienced nuclear industry professional with 17 years’ experience and currently serves as Urenco’s Group Planning Manager, Production & Tails, based in the UK.  

Group Planning works in partnership with the local operational and logistics teams across Urenco’s enrichment facilities, to plan the successful delivery of Urenco’s orders.  

To ensure Urenco can provide an agile, customer‑focused service, Scott has to proactively manage supply chain, market and geopolitical risks. His leadership has been instrumental in maintaining Urenco’s 100% on‑time delivery record amid increasing operational and logistical complexity. 

Systems improvement has been important to this, and Scott has developed robust planning and reporting systems that enhance data‑driven decision making and efficiency across the group. 

Scott is also responsible for the management of the safe and secure storage of the by-product of uranium enrichment, known as tails, including deconversion to uranium oxide through the Tails Management Facility (TMF) at Urenco’s UK Capenhurst site. This demonstrates Urenco’s, and the nuclear industry’s, commitment to responsible nuclear stewardship and closing the nuclear fuel cycle. 

At Urenco, we talk about three main behaviours, which are self-explanatory: One Urenco, Act today for Tomorrow and Own our Results. Scott shows these consistently and as a result there is  better collaboration, accountability and a more inclusive work environment. He does this every day and that’s what a hero is to us! 

A true orchestrator, Jean-Michel and his team streamline and facilitate front-end nuclear fuel cycle flows for utility customers and the entire sector, ensuring security of supply while reducing carbon footprint and strengthening geopolitical resilience. 

British-born son of first-generation immigrants from Pakistan, Dr Ahmed Aslam turned a childhood fascination with nuclear physics into a distinguished career, progressing from reading every book he could find in local libraries to earning a doctorate from the University of Birmingham. He is now Chief Technologist and leader of Amentum's Physics & Digital group, with more than 36 years' experience delivering complex nuclear engineering solutions across new build, fission, fusion and decommissioning programmes. He has led technical work on some of the world's most challenging nuclear projects, including serving as Nuclear Physics Lead for TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi decommissioning programme, developing the physics basis for safe fuel debris retrieval. He previously led the Dounreay exotics project, enabling the safe transfer of highly enriched nuclear fuel, carried out pioneering radiation transport and mapping work for ITER, and led the UK Government-funded Nuclear Virtual Engineering Capability project. He currently leads pioneering work on Physics-Informed Artificial Intelligence and serves on the Nuclear Institute's AI4Nuclear Steering Board, supporting safe AI adoption across the sector. Alongside his industrial leadership, he is a visiting lecturer on nuclear technology at the University of Manchester, helping develop the next generation of nuclear specialists through teaching and research.

For nearly 20 years, Victor Fern Jr. has helped ensure Cameco's uranium operations run safely, reliably and efficiently.  

Since getting his start at the Rabbit Lake mill in 2007, and now as maintenance general supervisor at the Cigar Lake mine, Victor’s commitment to asset health and operational excellence has played an important role in Cameco's ability to consistently deliver the fuel that powers secure nuclear energy around the world. 

What makes Victor an everyday hero is not only what he delivers, but how he leads. Known for his humility, integrity and compassion, he develops others, builds strong teams and empowers future leaders to succeed in their own way- and his impact can be seen across the Cigar Lake operation. 

Victor's influence also extends beyond the workplace. Born and raised in the remote northern Saskatchewan Indigenous community of Fond du Lac, he is part of a remarkable three-generation Cameco family. Following in the footsteps of his father, Victor Fern Sr., he has helped inspire the next generation, including his daughter Cessa, who worked at Cigar Lake in a student position. He’s also joined at Cigar Lake by his brother, Marty, a process general supervisor.  

Through his dedication, leadership and commitment to people and his community, along with his ability to drive progress at Cameco, Victor represents the best of the nuclear industry and the lasting impact of everyday excellence.  

Since joining World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS) in 2022 after relocating to Austria from Ukraine, Polina Nechytailo has grown from WINS Academy Assistant to a Project Assistant. Her work now supports learners, members and programme delivery across the nuclear security community. In her Academy role, she helps nuclear security professionals navigate certification, access trusted learning programmes and stay motivated to continue their professional development. That learner-focused contribution has a multiplier effect: Each professional she supports is better equipped to strengthen security culture, protect materials and apply best practices in their own organisation and country. As Project Assistant, Polina now extends this impact through workshops, training programmes and support for the WINS Member network, helping connect practitioners, promote knowledge sharing and strengthen international collaboration. Her assistance with WINS’ projects in Ukraine is particularly valuable at this critical time. She also continues to invest in her own expertise through graduate study in nuclear security, bringing growing technical insight to her work. Polina exemplifies an everyday hero because she turns resilience, reliability and empathy into practical, behind-the-scenes support that enables others to do essential work with a lasting impact in the nuclear sector. 

Yoshiyuki Takayama is a nuclear power plant operations professional who has dedicated his career to ensuring the safe and reliable operation of Takahama Nuclear Power Station. Through his operational expertise, sound judgement and unwavering commitment to nuclear safety, he has played a pivotal role in maintaining the reliable operation of one of Japan's largest nuclear power stations. He believes that lasting nuclear safety depends not only on technology, but on the people who operate it.

As Head of the Operation Section, Yoshiyuki has developed the next generation of operators, preserved operational knowledge and strengthened safety culture. He has been a driving force behind "Goi-katsu", a workplace initiative that encourages operators to recognize each other's great work while taking ownership of their own growth and striving for excellence. By fostering mutual respect, professional pride and continuous improvement, the initiative has strengthened teamwork and reinforced a culture where every individual contributes to nuclear safety.

Though his contributions are rarely visible to the public, they are reflected every day in the people and culture he has helped build. By inspiring others to take ownership of nuclear safety and pursue excellence together, he truly embodies the spirit of the "25 Everyday Heroes of Nuclear."

Brian J. Goedken, VP Operations at CB&I, has delivered sustained leadership in the execution of some of the nuclear industry’s most complex projects, most notably contributing nearly a decade to the successful construction of Vogtle Units 3 and 4—the first new U.S. nuclear reactors in over 35 years. His work helped establish critical engineering, safety, and construction best practices for first-of-a-kind projects, directly advancing the industry’s ability to deliver large-scale and next-generation nuclear facilities more efficiently and reliably. The tangible impact of his contributions lies in both the operational reactors now providing long-term, carbon-free energy and the transferable lessons that are shaping future deployments of advanced reactors and SMRs worldwide. As the industry prepares a new generation of nuclear technologies, he is focused on applying the lessons learned from Vogtle to help safely and efficiently deliver the next wave of nuclear projects such as Watts Bar. His commitment exemplifies an “everyday hero” through consistent, people-focused leadership. For Brian, the most rewarding part of his work isn’t simply completing another milestone—it’s standing alongside the team at the finish line, knowing years of dedication have resulted in infrastructure that will provide safe, reliable, carbon-free energy for decades to come. 

For 27 years, Warwick Pipe has helped keep the global nuclear community informed through accurate, timely and trusted journalism. From his early days with World Nuclear Association to helping establish World Nuclear News in 2007, his exceptional fact-checking, editorial excellence and unfailing good humour have made him an invaluable voice for the industry.

Faced with one of nuclear’s most complex life-extension challenges, Nagesh Basarkar inspired his team to do what many thought impossible - open-heart surgery on a live reactor: the drywell intensely radioactive, the heart left in place, only its ageing arteries, the primary recirculation piping, cut out and replaced. At TAPS 1 & 2 - the world’s oldest operating reactors - this was the first such work in the Asian sub-continent, and the first by an Indian private engineering firm. 

Where convention favoured overseas expertise, he chose to build indigenous capability -  India owning its critical nuclear competencies. Where refurbishment usually means replacing entire components, here only the piping was replaced, leaving the surrounding critical systems undisturbed: more sparing, far more exacting. To micron tolerances, CORE built the processes and tooling it demanded, proving every move on a digital twin before a single live cut. 

Throughout, one line held above all - uncompromising safety: no deadline ever outweighed the people making it happen. Across 2.6 years in a live radioactive environment: zero accidents, doses well below budgeted limits, and both units returned to the national grid, cleared at every stage by the AERB and NPCIL. 

He quietly took on what none had attempted. The methods and expertise developed here form an indigenised LTO capability that, at far lower cost, gives the world’s ageing fleet new life -  generating clean power for decades. Heroism measured not by noise but by lives kept safe. 

Feyza Ercengiz is a pioneer in global nuclear logistics who has delivered a specialized international platform for Class 7 radioactive material transportation, complex project cargo, and high-compliance energy logistics. She is building ATA Energy Logistics into a differentiated nuclear logistics company while also opening new international markets and developing practical nuclear logistics capability across the USA, Europe, North Africa, India, China, and Kazakhstan.

Her impact extends beyond corporate growth. Feyza has helped build field-level expertise, train new talent, and strengthen the specialized workforce needed to support nuclear-related logistics in emerging and established energy markets. One of her most significant contributions has been arranging for the acquisition, deployment, and commercial positioning of the company-owned Class 7 cargo ship, giving the nuclear industry a rare and critical transportation capability.

By recruiting experienced leaders and developing new logistics talent, she has created a global platform that supports safe, secure, and compliant movement of regulated nuclear materials across borders. Feyza is also an active member of Women in Nuclear and a member of the WiN transportation group, helping elevate logistics and supply chain readiness within the nuclear industry. Her commitment exemplifies an everyday hero: someone building the essential, often unseen infrastructure that allows nuclear energy projects to move forward globally.

For more than 30 years, Simon Emeny has helped strengthen confidence in the global nuclear industry by ensuring the highest standards of quality, safety
and independent assurance. His work spans some of the world’s most significant nuclear programmes, from supporting Sizewell B for over three decades to leading independent third-party inspection assurance on Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C. His expertise has also supported international projects including Barakah in the UAE and Hanbit in South Korea, helping deliver safe, reliable and trusted nuclear infrastructure.
Beyond project delivery, Simon has made a significant contribution to the wider industry through collaboration, technical leadership and knowledge sharing.  He contributes to the IAEA Technical Working Group on Nuclear Power Plant Supply Chains (TG2), supports World Nuclear Association and OECD Nuclear Energy Agency supply chain initiatives, and helps shape engineering best practice as Vice Chair of both IMechE Technical Strategy Board and Pressure Systems Group.
Simon is recognised as a trusted voice on nuclear quality and supply chain assurance, helping organisations worldwide strengthen safety, resilience and capability. Through his dedication and leadership, he has enabled safer projects, stronger collaboration and greater confidence in nuclear energy, leaving a lasting legacy across the industry.
 

As the only nuclear specialist in the UK office of a Japanese electric utility, Hara connects the Japanese and European nuclear industries. He works with utilities, vendors, international organisations and research institutes across Europe, sharing operating experience, technical knowledge and lessons learned between Europe and Japan so that experience gained in one country can be applied in another.

As the contact person for several international technical networks, Hara supports regular dialogue between European organisations and Japanese nuclear operators. During the past two years, he has participated in more than 50 technical meetings, where operators have exchanged operating experience, discussed common technical and safety challenges, and strengthened cooperation that continues beyond the meetings themselves.

Hara has also presented Japan's experience to the international nuclear community through keynote presentations at two IAEA events and a major conference in the Czech Republic. His presentations have focused on nuclear safety, nuclear security and the lessons learned from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, encouraging practical discussion among operators, regulators and researchers.

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in 2011 led Hara to enter the nuclear field. He changed his academic direction and began graduate studies in nuclear engineering in 2012. In 2014, he joined TEPCO as one of the first graduate recruits hired after recruitment resumed following the accident. While working full-time, he completed a PhD on the nuclear security and physical protection of floating nuclear power plants and published five peer-reviewed papers. His research has supported discussion on security approaches for advanced reactor technologies before their deployment.

Most of Hara's work is not highly visible. It is built on regular communication, trust and the steady exchange of knowledge between people working in different countries. The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident led him into the nuclear field, and it continues to shape his work today. By bringing together people from different organisations and countries, he helps ensure that operating experience and lessons learned are shared where they can improve nuclear safety and security.

As Director of Investor Relations at Kazatomprom, Botagoz Muldagaliyeva bridges the gap between the global nuclear fuel supply and international financial markets. She delivered the transparent corporate framework that guided the world’s largest uranium producer through its historic IPO at the Astana International Exchange and London Stock Exchange in 2018, setting a blueprint for how the nuclear sector can mobilize global capital. Since its IPO in 2018, Kazatomprom’s market cap has grown more than fivefold. Her work directly advances the nuclear industry by building the market confidence and financial credibility required to fund long-term uranium production. Botagoz exemplifies an "everyday hero" by driving the vital, behind-the-scenes communication that demystifies the front end of the fuel cycle. Her unwavering commitment ensures that the economic foundation of the global nuclear renaissance remains secure, proving that strategic market transparency is just as essential to keeping nuclear energy flowing as technical engineering.

Leigh Curyer has dedicated his career to advancing nuclear energy by transforming one of the world's most significant uranium discoveries into a project capable of reshaping the future of global clean energy. As Founder and CEO of NexGen Energy, he has led the discovery, development and permitting of the Rook I Project in Saskatchewan, home to the Arrow Deposit—widely recognized as the largest high-grade uranium development project in the world. 

Beyond building a world-class company, Leigh has consistently championed responsible resource development, setting new benchmarks for environmental stewardship, Indigenous partnership and technical excellence. Under his leadership, Rook I has become a model for how major mining projects can advance through meaningful collaboration with local communities while maintaining the highest standards of sustainability and safety. 

Leigh has also been a tireless advocate for nuclear energy's essential role in decarbonization and energy security. Through engagement with governments, utilities, investors and industry organizations around the world, he has helped strengthen understanding of uranium's critical role in powering a low-carbon future. 

His vision, perseverance and unwavering commitment have created lasting impact—not only for NexGen, but for the broader nuclear industry—making him an outstanding example of an Everyday Hero of Nuclear. 

Cecilia is an everyday hero in the nuclear industry. For approximately 17 years, she has dedicated her career to advancing the nuclear field through her extensive expertise. 

As a Senior Engineer at Westinghouse, Cecilia is a recognized expert in water chemistry and plays a pivotal role in contributing to projects involving reactor water chemistry. Cecilia also provides feedback to the Westinghouse board by being an employee representative. She has made a lasting impact on ensuring the safety of projects involving the fuel factory at the Westinghouse site in Västerås along with global analysis and design projects. She is based at the Westinghouse site in Västerås, Sweden. 

Mike Leech has had a  positive impact on the Namibian uranium mining sector for more than 40 years, contributing  meaningfully to Namibia becoming one of the world’s most environmentally and socially responsible sources of long term uranium supply. 

In 2004 Mike was the first Namibian to be appointed by British company Rio Tinto as Managing Director of the Rossing Uranium Mine, after starting with the mine as Mining Accountant in 1982.  During his tenure, he was instrumental in establishing the Namibian Uranium Association, which remains a leader in promoting sustainable practices in the mining sector.  The NUA played an important role during the 2007 “uranium rush” in ensuring that new uranium explorers and developers adhered to the strict, best practice standards expected by incumbent uranium mines in Namibia.  After retiring from Rossing, Mike was made the inaugural honorary life member of the NUA in recognition of his contribution. 

Mike then played a crucial role in guiding Bannerman Energy in its development of the Etango mine, both as a director of ASX-listed Bannerman Energy Ltd and as a director of Namibian operating subsidiary Bannerman Mining Resources (Namibia).   

Mike is well known and liked in Namibia and is very down to earth.  His broader contribution to Namibia has included President of the Namibian Chamber of Mines,  Trustee of the Rossing Foundation and Trustee of renowned NGO, Save the Rhino Trust. 

Jérôme Schwartz has spent nearly 20 years working for EDF’s nuclear fleet operations, particularly in the field of nuclear fuel. 

Drawing on this experience, Jérôme has succeeded in turning a complex regulatory challenge into a major innovation for the sector. In response to a requirement from the French Regulator (ASNR) to strengthen fuel reliability at Flamanville 3 EPR, he led the creation of MEDUSA, an innovative inspection tool developed from concept to deployment in record time. 

Working with a highly engaged multidisciplinary team, Jérôme spearheaded a solution that transforms the visual inspection of fuel assemblies during unloading operations. By combining cutting-edge digital technologies with operational expertise, MEDUSA delivers faster, more reliable inspections while reducing worker radiation exposure. 

Initially developed for the Flamanville 3 EPR, the solution is now applicable across France’s entire fleet of 57 reactors, multiplying its impact on nuclear operations. 

Jérôme’s contribution will help support the successful commissioning and operation of one of Europe’s most significant nuclear projects. The benefits are clear: enhanced nuclear safety, improved inspection quality, lower radiological risk for operators, reduced outage duration, and lower operational costs. 

His work demonstrates how innovation, teamwork, and determination can deliver tangible benefits for the future of nuclear energy. 

Trevor Orth combines deep operational experience, project management discipline and a strong team-first culture, leading the restart of Three Mile Island Unit 1 as the Crane Clean Energy Center. His journey has spanned every phase of the plant’s recent history – from helping cease commercial operations, to managing decommissioning and a shrinking workforce, to leading early inspections that confirmed the unit’s restart feasibility, to now overseeing hundreds of new hires and welcoming back former colleagues. Throughout that transition, Trevor has led with steadiness, humility and credibility – giving employees confidence in the path forward while building the disciplined, safety-focused culture required to return a nuclear plant to service. Through his hard work and steady leadership, Trevor is helping transform a site long associated with the U.S. retreat from nuclear growth into a symbol of nuclear energy’s resurgence – and one of the world’s first restarted reactors. 

Atsushi Fujioka has contributed to Japan’s nuclear power industry for over 30 years through his work at Marubeni Corporation and Marubeni’s wholly owned subsidiary, Marubeni Utility Services (MUS). For more than 50 years, Marubeni Group has offered total solutions across the nuclear fuel cycle and MUS has served as a bridge between international partners and Japan’s nuclear power industry, connecting suppliers worldwide with Japanese utilities. At MUS, Fujioka has introduced world-class, often only-one technologies to Japan. One of his most notable achievements was leading a landmark project to introduce high-performance overseas turbines into nuclear plants built by Japanese manufacturers. This complex installation and commissioning effort, completed in close cooperation with all parties, resulted in turbines that remain in operation today, significantly improving power generation efficiency. Throughout his career, Fujioka has brought advanced technologies, expertise, and operational experience to Japanese utilities, strengthening Japan’s technical capabilities and contributing to the long-term growth of its nuclear power industry. Beyond the machinery area, Fujioka has also been active in the nuclear fuel cycle area. Today, as the Director and Managing Executive officer of MUS, Fujioka exemplifies an “Everyday Hero of Nuclear,” quietly yet decisively supporting the industry’s progress.

Mattias Stenlund is an everyday hero in the nuclear industry. For approximately 16 years he has served in the nuclear field as a trusted expert in equipment qualification for nuclear applications, helping to enhance the safety, reliability, and long-term performance of critical nuclear facilities.

Throughout his career, Mattias has shared his expertise by mentoring colleagues and guiding both internal teams and customers through the complex requirements of component and cable qualification. His deep technical knowledge and commitment to excellence have helped ensure that nuclear systems meet the rigorous standards required for safe operation.

Mattias is currently a Senior Engineer at Westinghouse in Västerås, Sweden. In this role, he supports the fuel manufacturing facility at the site while also providing expertise in component and cable qualification for existing nuclear power plants as well as new nuclear projects being developed around the world.

Through his technical leadership, mentorship, and unwavering dedication to nuclear safety, Mattias continues to make a lasting impact on the industry and the people who work within it.

Michaël Descostes is an expert in hydrogeochemistry, holding a PhD in Geosciences and an Habilitation to Supervise Research (HDR). He leads the Environment R&D Department at Orano Mining and serves as an Associate Researcher at the University of Poitiers and Mines Paris – PSL.

He develops multi-scale approaches combining field observations, laboratory experiments, and reactive transport modelling to understand, quantify, and predict the behaviour of contaminants and radionuclides in both natural and human-impacted environments. His work takes a long-term perspective, aiming to anticipate the evolution of environmental systems over timescales ranging from a few years to several centuries.

His career began at the CEA, with an initial experience in the defence sector focused on environmental monitoring, before moving into civil activities between 1998 and 2009 as a Research Engineer at the Laboratory for Measurement and Modelling of Radionuclide Migration. There, he contributed to landmark studies on deep geological disposal of nuclear waste, radionuclide migration in clayey media, radiolabelled soils, and environmental monitoring systems for contaminated sites. This research was grounded in an integrated approach combining experimentation, in-situ observation, and modelling, addressing core issues of nuclear safety and long-term waste management.

Since 2009, at Orano Mining, he has led environmental R&D activities spanning the entire mining cycle, from exploration to site rehabilitation. His work covers the environmental footprint of uranium mines, the long-term reactivity of mining residues and waste rock, water management in mining contexts, and the development of innovative remediation solutions. His approach integrates multiple scales — from micro-level reaction processes to site and watershed levels — to better understand the complex interactions between the geosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.

At the interface between academic research, industry, and societal challenges, he plays an active role in building international scientific collaborations and co-leads the joint M-Cube laboratory (CNRS – University of Poitiers – Orano), dedicated to understanding and predicting contaminant mobility in mining environments.

His work contributes to the production and dissemination of shared scientific knowledge, drawn upon by the scientific community, industrial stakeholders, and regulatory authorities. Through his publications, expert contributions, and engagement with safety authorities, he helps develop frameworks for understanding and decision-making in the sustainable management of impacted environments.

The author of over 100 international scientific publications and several patents, he actively advances knowledge in environmental geochemistry and its translation into real-world applications. His work reflects a commitment to combining scientific excellence, industrial performance, and responsible environmental stewardship — in a context shaped by the challenges of energy transition and environmental accountability.

Across 34 years in the nuclear industry, Esther Barratt has spent more than two decades helping create the conditions for nuclear to succeed by building trusted partnerships, developing engineering capability and bringing organisations together to solve complex challenges. Her collaborative leadership has strengthened today’s operating nuclear fleet while helping enable the next generation of nuclear technologies.

Working closely with EDF and the UK’s operating reactors, Esther has contributed to life extension programmes that have enabled reactors to operate for an average of around seven years beyond their original design lives, strengthening energy security and maximising nationally important infrastructure.

Today, Esther leads over 600 engineers, scientists and technical specialists at Amentum. She is recognised for forging trusted partnerships across utilities, reactor developers, government, regulators, academia and industry, helping accelerate major programmes from operation and life extension through to the design, licensing and deployment of advanced nuclear technologies in the UK and internationally.

Awarded an MBE for services to nuclear power engineering, Esther champions the profession through the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and support to the Royal Academy of Engineering, mentors future engineers and exemplifies the quiet leadership, technical excellence and commitment that strengthen the global nuclear industry.

Michael Gallagher has made a significant contribution to the nuclear industry by helping ensure that existing nuclear plants remain safe, reliable, and capable of long-term operation while also advancing the licensing efforts needed for the next generation of nuclear energy. Over a forty-five-year career, including senior leadership roles at Exelon (Constellation) and ongoing Independent Engineer support for the Palisades Nuclear Plant and Crane Clean Energy Center restart efforts, he has led and advised on license renewal and subsequent license renewal programs across multiple nuclear sites, including industry leading efforts at Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station. His work has extended the life of critical carbon-free generating assets, strengthened aging management strategies, enhanced regulatory readiness and contributed to modern licensing approaches that will support deployment of advanced reactors and next-generation nuclear projects. The lasting impact of his contributions is seen in preserved generating capacity, enhanced operational resilience, and sustained confidence in long-term nuclear energy. Michael exemplifies an everyday hero through deep expertise, steady leadership, and a career long commitment to ensuring that nuclear power continues to operate safely and reliably for the benefit of future generations.

Dr. James Conca has spent more than 40 years working on the problem the nuclear industry is most often judged by - what happens to the waste? By using demonstrated, defensible science and an eye towards what the public really wants to know, Conca dramatically lowers the fear-factor surrounding nuclear power. As a geochemist and planetary scientist, trained at Caltech and Brown University, he led actinide chemistry and repository science at Los Alamos National Laboratory, coordinated the unsaturated zone transport analysis underpinning the Yucca Mountain license application, developed engineered barrier systems for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, and directed environmental monitoring programs in Carlsbad that gave regulators and the public independent, verifiable data on the only operating deep geologic repository in the United States. He holds a U.S. patent for phosphate-induced metal stabilization, still used in contaminated soil and water remediation. 

Alongside the technical work, he has written for years as a science contributor to Forbes.com and Nuclear News, patiently explaining radiation, waste and energy trade-offs to a general audience, reaching millions of readers who will never attend a conference. He mentors students at Washington State University where he is a Trustee of the Herbert M. Parker Foundation for the rational communication of nuclear and radiation issues. Now Conca serves as Vice President of Nuclear Safety at First American Nuclear, applying repository-grade safety thinking to a new fast-spectrum SMR. 

He is an everyday hero because he does the unglamorous work, the data, the modelling, the patient public explanation that earns nuclear its license to operate. 

Khaled AlShehhi is the Senior Fuel Quality and Transportation Manager at Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC), bringing more than 10 years of experience across nuclear fuel engineering, fuel performance, thermal hydraulics, licensing, supplier oversight, quality assurance, procurement, and nuclear fuel transportation.

In his current role, Khaled leads strategic initiatives that support the long-term security and reliability of fuel supply for the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant. His experience includes reload licensing, supplier qualification, transportation readiness, regulatory engagement, and collaboration with national and international stakeholders.

Khaled combines strong technical expertise in nuclear fuel management with proven leadership in risk management, commercial strategy, and cross-functional project execution. He holds an M.Sc. in Nuclear Engineering from Khalifa University, as well as dual Bachelor's degrees in Nuclear Engineering and Mechanical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University.

Ryan Hannink has delivered the analytical foundation that allows complex nuclear projects to move from concept to credible execution, leveraging his background in nuclear engineering and policy. Through his work on the Palisades Restart Project and for SMR developers, he has rigorously evaluated cost structures, operating assumptions, contracts, and financial models across a wide range of nuclear projects, supporting high-stakes investment and DOE backed restart decisions. He has conducted studies evaluating the technical and economic feasibility of advanced nuclear applications. His expertise ensures that investments are technically sound and commercially viable while translating complex data into clear insights for lenders, owners, and public stakeholders. By strengthening the credibility of projects that preserve and expand reliable carbon free generation, he plays a key role in advancing the nuclear industry. The lasting impact of his contributions is reflected in stronger investment discipline, improved risk transparency, and better alignment between ambition and execution. Ryan exemplifies an everyday hero through precision, consistency, and a steadfast commitment to ensuring that critical nuclear projects are grounded in rigorous analysis and practical reality.

Amie’s geological expertise is instrumental to identifying and developing Wyoming’s uranium resources, advancing Uranium Energy Corp’s operations and strengthening the U.S. domestic nuclear fuel supply.  

Kerrianne has played a key role in delivering complex heavy lifting projects at Sellafield, making sure the right people, skills, and equipment are in place to get the job done safely. Her leadership has helped support the UK’s nuclear clean-up mission, and her dedication, resilience, and commitment make her a true everyday hero.