Sama Bilbao y León is Director General of World Nuclear Association and also President of World Nuclear University.  She has more than 20 years of diverse experience in nuclear engineering and energy policy; having worked with distinction in industry, academia and having held high level positions at OECD/NEA and IAEA.

Sama holds a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering,  a master’s degree in Energy Technologies, as well as a  master's degree and a PhD in Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics and an MBA . Sama is one of founders of the North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NA-YGN).

Since 2008, Mohamed Al Hammadi has led ENEC in delivering the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in Abu Dhabi, UAE, one of the world’s latest nuclear new build plants, generating 40TWh per annum.  

Al Hammadi has led a 50-nationality team to deliver the plant and human infrastructure as part of the wider UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program and is now focused on overseeing operational excellence in addition to exploring new opportunities across advanced reactors, new plants in the UAE and overseas, investments and global advocacy of the nuclear sector.  

Al Hammadi is the Chairman of the World Nuclear Association (WNA) since April 2024 and is a board member of WANO Atlanta Center. He is also a Board Observer of the SMR developer Terrapower and a member of the American Nuclear Society, and the Project Management Institute (USA). In the UAE, he sits on the Boards of the National Marine Dredging Company (NMDC) and Abu Dhabi Ports.  He is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (USA), the International Council on Large Electric Systems, and the Engineers Association of the UAE.  

Al Hammadi was President of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) for the 2022 – 2024 period. 

Sama Bilbao y León is Director General of World Nuclear Association and also President of World Nuclear University.  She has more than 20 years of diverse experience in nuclear engineering and energy policy; having worked with distinction in industry, academia and having held high level positions at OECD/NEA and IAEA.

Sama holds a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering,  a master’s degree in Energy Technologies, as well as a  master's degree and a PhD in Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics and an MBA . Sama is one of founders of the North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NA-YGN).

Biography available soon

Sama Bilbao y León is Director General of World Nuclear Association and also President of World Nuclear University.  She has more than 20 years of diverse experience in nuclear engineering and energy policy; having worked with distinction in industry, academia and having held high level positions at OECD/NEA and IAEA.

Sama holds a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering,  a master’s degree in Energy Technologies, as well as a  master's degree and a PhD in Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics and an MBA . Sama is one of founders of the North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NA-YGN).

Lassina Zerbo is a distinguished diplomat and geophysicist specializing in the nuclear field, advocating for Africa’s role in addressing global challenges. As Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, he led initiatives to make energy safer, more affordable, and more accessible, laying the groundwork for an advanced nuclear reactor project.

Currently Chairman of the Board of the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board (RAEB) and Energy Advisor and member of the Strategic and Policy Council in the Office of the President, Pr. Zerbo continues to promote nuclear energy innovation across the continent.

A United Nations International Gender Champion, he is also Executive Secretary Emeritus of the CTBTO, which he led from 2013 to 2021 (two terms). Under his transformational and innovative leadership, CTBTO established itself as a global center of excellence for nuclear test monitoring. In this role, Dr. Zerbo was accredited by ambassadors and permanent representatives from the organization’s 185 member states.

He is the President of the SScID Foundation, an independent “Think & Do Tank” contributing to research and debate on issues of Security, Science, Innovation, and Diplomacy, serving Africa’s transformation and the well-being of its populations.

As Chairman of the Executive Advisory Council for Africa at the American company Nano Nuclear Energy Inc., he works on identifying opportunities that Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) can bring to Africa’s transformation, and on defining winning deployment strategies for African countries.

He initiated the Science and Technology Conference cycle and scientific diplomacy forums, which, since 2011, have brought together more than 1,000 scientists, experts, academics, and civil society representatives from around 100 countries in Vienna every two years to discuss scientific and diplomatic issues related to nuclear test prohibition.

He co-chaired the Global Agenda Council (GAC) on Nuclear Security at the World Economic Forum, created to stimulate dialogue between international institutions and the private sector. Dr. Zerbo, a national of Burkina Faso, is fluent in English, French, and several African languages.

Biography available soon

Germán Guido Lavalle
Ph.D. in Engineering and Nuclear Engineer, Instituto Balseiro.

Currently:
President of the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA)
Vice President of INVAP
Vice President of Nucleoeléctrica Argentina S.A.
Professor at Universidad de San Andrés
Founder and Director of CANDOIT (2007), an engineering and software development company.

Has led over 40 technology development projects in the fields of modeling, computer simulation, and artificial intelligence.
Notable academic and institutional positions:
Rector of ITBA
Rector of UADE
Dean of the School of Engineering (UADE)
Head of International Relations at the National Atomic Energy Commission
Researcher at Instituto Balseiro
Professor at: Universidad Austral, ITBA, UADE, Universidad Técnica 
Federico Santa María (Chile), and Universidad Nacional de Cuyo
Author of 20 international publications, conference presentations, and co-author of two books.
Awards:
Technology Transfer Initiatives Award, Ministry of Culture and Education “Ernesto E. Galloni” Award, National Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Science

Stephen Lecce was recently appointed Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Mines, with an expanded mandate focused on accelerating resource development.

In his mission to position Ontario as an energy superpower, by expanding electricity generation–anchored by nuclear power—along with transmission and storage. To deliver on this urgent imperative, Stephen announced the largest public energy procurement in Canadian history, along with the plan to build the largest nuclear generator on earth.

With his expanded mandate, he will work to aggressively unlock one of the largest untapped critical minerals and rare earth metals on the planet—vital to Canada’s future prosperity and security. This includes accelerating permitting to get shovels in the ground, while working to diversify export markets—from minerals to nuclear energy.

Stephen's first experience in politics came in his hometown of Vaughan where he was involved in the 1999 election of the late MPP Al Palladini. Since then, he has served as Chief Spokesperson to Canada’s 22^nd Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper. Upon his election in 2018, he served as Deputy Government House Leader, the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Infrastructure, Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier, and then served as Ontario’s longest-serving Minister of Education in modern history.

Biography available soon

Biography available soon

As Chief Technology Officer at Westinghouse, Lou Martinez Sancho leads the company’s global research and development portfolio and advances the company’s innovative product and services technology strategy. She also serves as Acting President of eVinci™ Microreactor – leading Westinghouse’s standalone, global business for our innovative microreactor technology, with a focus on advanced design, commercialization, manufacturing and deployment. Lou brings more than 20 years of experience to this role – having worked in senior leadership positions in the energy, biotech, automotive and architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industries. Most recently, Lou was Executive Vice President of Strategy and Innovation at Kairos Power, with additional oversight of the Supply & Procurement and Marketing & Communications teams. Previously, she served as the Chief Innovation Officer of Spie Batignolles and Vice President of Global Innovation at Framatome. Lou graduated from Ramon Llull University in Barcelona, Spain, and obtained Master of Science degrees in Physiology and Biomechanics from Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris VI University, as well as in Human Factors from René Descartes-Paris V University in France. Additionally, Lou holds a doctoral degree in Public Heath, Environment and Sustainability from Côte d'Azur University. Lou is also Master Black Belt Lean Six Sigma certified by The Ohio State University in the United States.

Dr. Kris Singh is the Founder and CEO of Holtec International, a multi-national energy technologycompany with its business footprint in 18 countries on five continents. Holtec’s major business concentration is in the development of clean power generation technologies which includes its flagship small modular reactor (SMR-300™). The Company has six overseas operation centers based in the UK, Ukraine, India, Brazil, South Africa, and Spain, and four major centers in the US, located in Camden (NJ), Pittsburgh (PA), Jupiter (FL) and Orrville (Ohio). Holtec is America’s largest exporter of capital nuclear equipment, mainly in nuclear fuel storage and transport where Holtec is a globally dominant player. Under his leadership, Holtec pioneered the restart of a shuttered nuclear plant (Palisades), became the largest decommissioning company, and diversified into developing innovative long-duration energy storage and solar energy capture technologies.
A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (Ph.D.,1972), Dr. Singh is a widely published author (74 archival technical papers, one textbook and numerous symposia volumes) and a prolific inventor (216 granted and numerous pending patents). He has been elected to the world’s most elite academies (National Academy of Engineering, National Academy of Inventors, and others) and is recipient of numerous awards and citations.

Ian L. Edwards is the President and CEO of AtkinsRéalis, a world-leading professional services and project management company with offices around the world. In his role, he is responsible for the strategic direction of the company, developing a growth plan for sustainable success and pursuing the company’s purpose to “Engineer a better future for the planet and its people”. 

For over 30 years, Ian L. Edwards has been delivering complex infrastructure projects and leading businesses in the engineering and construction industry in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. As a global executive with multidisciplinary expertise, Mr. Edwards has redirected vision with a focus on creating value by simplifying business, delivering high-quality global services locally and executing a roadmap for growth that ensures financial resiliency, accelerates organic and inorganic growth, and creates value for shareholders. 

Grégoire Ponchon is a Civil Engineer of the “Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées” and has 25 years of experience in the industry. He began his career in the Renault Group’s Audit Department before joining the AREVA Group’s Audit Department in 2002. 
From 2007 to 2016, he was Chief Financial Officer of the Hague plant, then of the Recycling BU and of the Installed Base and Control BU. 
In June 2020, he was appointed Managing Director and member of the Management Board of the Framatome Group while, since July 2017, he has also held the position of Group Chief Financial Officer. 
Since June 2025 he is Chief Executive Officer of Framatome as well.

Sama Bilbao y León is Director General of World Nuclear Association and also President of World Nuclear University.  She has more than 20 years of diverse experience in nuclear engineering and energy policy; having worked with distinction in industry, academia and having held high level positions at OECD/NEA and IAEA.

Sama holds a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering,  a master’s degree in Energy Technologies, as well as a  master's degree and a PhD in Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics and an MBA . Sama is one of founders of the North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NA-YGN).

Tim Gitzel was appointed chief executive officer of Cameco on July 1, 2011. 

Tim joined Cameco in January 2007 as senior vice-president and chief operating officer. He was subsequently appointed president on May 14, 2010. 

Tim has extensive experience in Canadian and international uranium mining activities through more than 30 years of senior management and legal experience. Prior to joining Cameco, he was executive vice-president, mining business unit for Orano, based in Paris, France with responsibility for global uranium, gold, exploration and decommissioning operations in 11 countries. He also served as president and chief executive officer for Orano's Canadian subsidiary. 

Tim was born and raised in Saskatchewan, graduated from the College of Arts & Science and the College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan in 1990. He served as a lawyer with the firm MacPherson, Leslie and Tyerman in Saskatoon. 

Tim currently serves on the boards of the World Nuclear Association, Washington-based Nuclear Energy Institute, the Business Council of Canada and The Mosaic Company. He is a member of the IAEA’s Standing Advisory Group on Nuclear Energy, as well as the advisory councils for the Canada-India Business Council, the University of Saskatchewan College of Law and a Saskatchewan Polytechnic President’s Circle member. As well, Tim serves as Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan to Saskatchewan and is Co-Chair of the Kazakhstan Canada Business Council. 

He is past chair of the World Nuclear Association, past president of the Saskatchewan Mining Association, and has served on the boards of Mining Association of Canada, the Canadian Nuclear Association, Sask Energy and the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce as well as a former member of the Edwards School of Business advisory council. Tim was co-chair of the Royal Care campaign raising funds for the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon and served as vice-president, communications for the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championships. 

Tim is recipient of the 2024 Saskatchewan Polytechnic Honorary Degree.  He was named 2023 Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce Business Leader of the Year, 2023 Northern Miner Person of the Year and is recipient of the 2023 International Juran Medal from the American Society of Quality. He was named one of the 100 Alumni of Influence from the University of Saskatchewan in 2007, is a recipient of the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal and of both the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond and Platinum Jubilee Medals. 

Bernard Fontana holds a degree in engineering from the École Polytechnique and the École Nationale Supérieure des Techniques Avancées in Paris. 

He has begun his career in the chemicals (SNPE), steel (ArecelorMittal and APERAM) and construction materials sectors (Holcim). He was CEO of APERAM before being appointed CEO of Holcim on 1 February 2012.  

On 1 September 2015, Bernard Fontana has been appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer of AREVA NP. He was appointed Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Framatome (formerly AREVA NP) on 1 July 2016. 

He is also a Board member at Thales, SSAB, and at GIFEN Services after serving as its Chairman and CEO for 4 years, and has been a member of the Council of the French Nuclear Energy Industry Group GIFEN since its creation in 2018. He is a member of the High Committee for Transparency and Information on Nuclear Safety in France. On 1 April 2024, Bernard Fontana has been appointed Group Executive Vice-President in charge of the Industry and Services Division of EDF and in October 2024, Chairman of Arabelle Solutions. 

As of 5 May 2025 Bernard Fontana is Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of EDF. 

Sama Bilbao y León is Director General of World Nuclear Association and also President of World Nuclear University.  She has more than 20 years of diverse experience in nuclear engineering and energy policy; having worked with distinction in industry, academia and having held high level positions at OECD/NEA and IAEA.

Sama holds a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering,  a master’s degree in Energy Technologies, as well as a  master's degree and a PhD in Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics and an MBA . Sama is one of founders of the North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NA-YGN).

Nicolle Butcher was appointed OPG’s President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in January 2025. 

Among her priorities as President and CEO, Nicolle is focused on ensuring the safe, on-time, on-budget completion of the Darlington Refurbishment, executing the development of the continent’s first fleet of Small Modular Reactors, advancing the Pickering Refurbishment and fleet-wide program of hydroelectric refurbishments, and advancing opportunities for new generation development to meet the province’s quickly growing demand for electricity.  Nicolle is a champion for Indigenous economic Reconciliation and working with Indigenous communities, companies, and businesses to achieve OPG’s Reconciliation Action Plan commitments. 

Previously, as OPG’s Chief Operations Officer, Nicolle was responsible for overseeing one of the largest, most diverse generating portfolios in North America. Over her 25-plus years with OPG, she has held a range of roles throughout the company as well as senior level positions in Corporate Business Development and Strategy, Renewable Generation, and the energy-related commercial business functions such as energy trading, commercial contracting, and market affairs. 

Nicolle specializes in creating an inclusive business culture—one that embraces safety, performance, and operational excellence, while fostering innovation. Under her leadership, OPG successfully delivered a strategic plan that included executing $5 billion worth of acquisitions and building an electrification strategy. 

In 2021, Nicolle was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women and Women of the Year by WIRE (Women in Renewable Energy) and APPRO (Association of Power Producers of Ontario). She is Chair of the Board for both Eagle Creek Renewable Energy, OPG’s U.S. subsidiary, and Atura Power, its gas generating subsidiary. She also sits on the board of Interfor Corporation. Nicolle holds an MBA from McGill University, is a Chartered Business Valuator, and has earned an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. 

As a wife and mother of two boys, and Jasper the Labradoodle, Nicolle enjoys hiking and family time at the cottage. 

Nicolas Maes is a graduate of the École Polytechnique (class of 1995) and the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées.  

He began his career in 1999 with the Lafarge group. In 2006, he was appointed Director of the Cauldon cement plant in the UK. In 2009, he became Marketing Director Central Europe & CIS.  In April 2011, Nicolas Maes joined the Areva group as Director of Operations for the Mining Business Unit. On June 1, 2014, he was appointed Director of Areva's Installed Base Business Unit (now part of Framatome). From February to October 2018, he headed Framatome's Operational Excellence and digital transformation program. In these roles, he was also a member of the Executive Committee.   

He joined Orano in November 2018 as Senior Executive Vice President of the Mining Business Unit and member of the Executive Committee. He had held the position of Chief Operating Officer of the group since May 2023 before being appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Orano group in November 2023. 

Biography available soon

Since 2008, Mohamed Al Hammadi has led ENEC in delivering the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in Abu Dhabi, UAE, one of the world’s latest nuclear new build plants, generating 40TWh per annum.  

Al Hammadi has led a 50-nationality team to deliver the plant and human infrastructure as part of the wider UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program and is now focused on overseeing operational excellence in addition to exploring new opportunities across advanced reactors, new plants in the UAE and overseas, investments and global advocacy of the nuclear sector.  

Al Hammadi is the Chairman of the World Nuclear Association (WNA) since April 2024 and is a board member of WANO Atlanta Center. He is also a Board Observer of the SMR developer Terrapower and a member of the American Nuclear Society, and the Project Management Institute (USA). In the UAE, he sits on the Boards of the National Marine Dredging Company (NMDC) and Abu Dhabi Ports.  He is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (USA), the International Council on Large Electric Systems, and the Engineers Association of the UAE.  

Al Hammadi was President of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) for the 2022 – 2024 period. 

Sama Bilbao y León is Director General of World Nuclear Association and also President of World Nuclear University.  She has more than 20 years of diverse experience in nuclear engineering and energy policy; having worked with distinction in industry, academia and having held high level positions at OECD/NEA and IAEA.

Sama holds a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering,  a master’s degree in Energy Technologies, as well as a  master's degree and a PhD in Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics and an MBA . Sama is one of founders of the North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NA-YGN).

Biography available soon

Biography available soon

Barrón serves as chief strategy and growth officer for Constellation, the nation’s largest producer of carbon-free energy and the leading competitive retail supplier of energy products and services for 2 million homes and businesses across the United States. In this role, Barrón is responsible for corporate strategy, corporate development, sustainability, communications, corporate relations, and philanthropy, as well as for co-leading Constellation’s data economy business development initiatives, working to ensure that our clean energy centers are poised to power this essential industry moving forward. She also leads the company’s work to identify new opportunities to bring new reliable, clean energy sources to the grid. 

Dr. Mike Laufer is the Co-Founder & CEO of Kairos Power. In this role, Dr. Laufer is responsible for all business and technical operations within the company as well as government affairs for Kairos Power’s design, development, and commercialization of the Kairos Power Fluoride Salt Cooled High-Temperature Reactor (KP-FHR).
Prior to co-founding Kairos Power, Dr. Laufer was a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California, Berkeley where his research included work in reactor safety, design, licensing, and code validation for advanced non-light-water reactors. His technical expertise includes experimental and discrete-element simulation methods for granular flows 
relevant to pebble-bed nuclear reactors.
Dr. Laufer graduated from Stanford University with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with Honors in International Security Studies. He received his Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley

Biography available soon

Biography available soon

King Lee is the Head of Policy and Industry Engagement at World Nuclear Association. Mr Lee lead the policy and strategic outreach activities of the Association, promoting nuclear energy by working with the nuclear community to engage with key policy makers and stakeholders on the important role of nuclear energy as part of the clean energy system for sustainable development. Mr Lee oversee the Association’s Working Groups to support industry to share, collaborate and define collective industry positions. He also represents the Association at international forums including leading cooperation with key international institutions, such as United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Clean Energy Ministerial and World Energy Council.

Previously, Mr Lee was Head of Nuclear Development at Lloyd’s Register, where he led strategic business development and provided technical and commercial oversight major nuclear projects in UK, China, Korea and UAE.

Mr Lee is the Chair of UNECE Nuclear Fuel Working Group and Vice Chair of UNECE Group of Experts on Cleaner Electricity Systems. Mr Lee was the Vice-Chair of the Energy Institute Process Safety Committee. He is a member of the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) Nuclear Innovation 2050 Advisory Panel and Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) Flexible Nuclear Campaign Working Group.

Masanori Ijichi is a Division Director of Nuclear Power Plant Projects of IHI Corporation. 

IHI is a Japanese conglomerate of heavy industry having expertise in nuclear field for engineering, fabrication & installation of NPP components, Radioactive waste treatment facility and Decommissioning. 

He serves over 30 years in nuclear industry and has experiences of plant engineering, R&D for Radioactive waste treatment/Hydrogen production and Project/Program management for EPC & nuclear components supply. 

He is now leading NPP business in IHI, such as for “Restart of Japanese reactors”, and business & technology development, project planning for “engineering & major component supply for both Large Reactors and SMRs” for overseas.  

He is a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, and Master of Technology Management

Ruth is a well-known and internationally respected major programmes professional with an impressive track record in leadership and delivery and more than 35 years’ experience in senior roles within supply chain, procurement, operations and consultancy in a variety of private and public sector businesses and latterly in leading major programmes. 

Ruth was a member of both the HS2 Executive Team and Board, as Chief Commercial Officer. She joined HS2 from the Covid-19 Vaccine Task Force where she led the programme to deliver coronavirus vaccines for the UK. Prior to this, she worked in defence for both the Submarine Delivery Agency and Babcock International.  

Much of her career has been delivering transformation; leading teams through change. Ruth has a B Eng (Hons) in Manufacturing Engineering, is a Six Sigma Black Belt and a Fellow of the Institute of Purchasing and Supply. 

Currently serves as a Senior Manager in the NewEnergy Future Strategy Team at Hyundai Engineering and Construction (HDEC), where he is responsible for technical sales of innovative energy technologies. Leveraging his extensive background in nuclear engineering, he contributes to establishing HDEC's future energy strategy and identifying new business opportunities. 

Previously at HDEC, he played a key role in conceptualizing a molten salt reactor design and managed the comprehensive safety evaluation system for high-level nuclear waste disposal in South Korea, focusing on his expertise in nuclear physics. 

Before joining HDEC, he spent over a decade at KEPCO Nuclear Fuel Company (KNF) in Daejeon, South Korea. As a Senior Researcher in the Core Engineering Department, he led various projects encompassing in-core fuel management, nuclear safety analysis, and fuel product management, gaining valuable experience in the nuclear fuel cycle and product lifecycle. 

He holds a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering from Seoul National University. During his Master's program, he developed a convolutional neural network for predicting two-dimensional core power distributions in PWRs, demonstrating strong research and analytical capabilities. 

With this wealth of experience and expertise, he is committed to achieving successful outcomes as a technical sales professional within the NewEnergy Future Strategy Team. 

Biography available soon 

M. Zhang Junxin is the vice president of State Nuclear Uranium Resource Development Company Ltd. (SNURDC) mainly in charge of the General Management dpt.,  Nuclear Fuel dpt. and Nuclear environment Protection dpt of the company. 

M. Zhang worked in CAEA (China Atomic Energy Authority) from 1998 to 2014, and then joined SNPTC (State Nuclear Power Technology Company) in 2014, worked in the international cooperation dpt. In July 2020, M. Zhang Junxin joined SNURDC, as the Vice President in charge of Nuclear fuel Business. He has more than 20 years working experience in the nuclear field, particularly in the front-end of nuclear fuel cycle

Biography available soon 

Sama Bilbao y León is Director General of World Nuclear Association and also President of World Nuclear University.  She has more than 20 years of diverse experience in nuclear engineering and energy policy; having worked with distinction in industry, academia and having held high level positions at OECD/NEA and IAEA.

Sama holds a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering,  a master’s degree in Energy Technologies, as well as a  master's degree and a PhD in Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics and an MBA . Sama is one of founders of the North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NA-YGN).

Maynard Holt is the founder & CEO of Veriten. Built off the momentum created by the “Close of Business Tuesday” podcast, Veriten is an energy-focused knowledge platform that brings diverse perspectives to the energy transition discussion, improving the ability of industry leaders, policy makers, and investors to make investment and strategic choices. Maynard previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. from 2016 to 2021 and has over 27 years of experience in energy investment banking and strategic advice. A co-founder of TPH, Maynard functioned as Co-President from 2007 to 2016 and prior to joining TPH, Maynard worked at Goldman Sachs & Co. At Goldman from 1994 to 2007, Maynard worked in Leveraged / Structured Finance and was last a Managing Director in and Energy & Power / Natural Resources. 

With 25+ years of experience in banking and consulting, Matt is an economist and finance practitioner advising on strategy, regulation and financing of utilities and infrastructure. Matt leads KPMG practice in Water, Power & Utilities and is the KPMG nuclear sector lead globally. 

Matt advises on corporate strategy, financing, regulation, and market design in energy, water and transport. His clients include water and energy networks in the UK as well as large suppliers such as Centrica, Engie, EDF, CEZ, SSE and Fortum. Matt also advised on many major infrastructure projects such as Sizewell C, Thames Tideway, Hinkley Point C, SESRO, Dukovany or Heathrow expansion. He works for governments and regulators and has led projects for Ofwat, Ofgem, CAA, ORR, Ofcom, FSA, the EC and the UK Government. On occasions he acts as an expert witness providing evidence to courts, regulators, and competition authorities, including at the High Court, CMA, CAT and HMRC. Matt began his career at Rothschild and Citigroup; he is an expert on structured finance and the author of several studies on the subject. Prior to KPMG, Matt spent 8 years at Oxera Consulting. He has extensive training in finance and economics having studied and taught courses at Oxford and Harvard.