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). 

With 16 years of experience in executive roles at Cameco, Grant's responsibilities have spanned almost the entire scope of the business. Grant joined Cameco as senior vice-president, corporate services in July 2009, was appointed to senior vice-president and CFO in July 2011, followed by the appointment to executive vice-president and CFO in February 2023. 

In September 2025, Grant was appointed to president and chief operating officer. 

As president and chief operating officer, Grant will provide executive oversight for all Cameco operations, exploration and corporate development. Grant also continues to provide executive oversight for Cameco's commercial and financial strategy including global marketing, corporate strategy and effectiveness and sustainability and stakeholder relations. 

Prior to joining Cameco, he was a professor at the Edwards School of Business, University of Saskatchewan beginning in 2000 and was appointed as the Dean of the Edwards School of Business in 2006. 

Grant received a BA (economics) and an MA (economics) from the University of Saskatchewan and a PhD from the London School of Economics. 

Marc Isabelle, engineer & PhD in Economics, is the founder and CEO of european economics. Marc is a recognised expert in the public funding of strategic projects. Since 2009, he has helped 210 companies secure €46 billion in public funding for more than 250 major projects. These initiatives tackle key societal challenges - including disruptive innovation, decarbonisation, resilience and infrastructure - across a wide range of industrial sectors including microelectronics, software, telecoms, automotive, energy and environment, batteries, pharmaceuticals and biotech. Through his extensive work with the European Commission and national authorities, Marc has actively contributed to shaping the methodologies and best practices used to assess public funding applications and their compatibility with EU regulations.

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). 

Dr. Lola Infante is Senior Programme Lead, Economics and Finance at the World Nuclear Association.   

Previously, Dr. Infante was Portfolio Director, U.S. DOE Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) at Management Solutions, LLC. where she managed a $192M contract that provided support, guidance, and advice to OCED. Before that, among other roles, she worked in the U.S. at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) as Executive Director, Government and External Affairs and at the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) as Sr. Director, Clean Energy Technology and Policy.  

From 2018 to 2024, Infante was a member of the U.S. DOE Electricity Advisory Committee where she chaired the Energy Storage Subcommittee. During that time, she was also a member of ESIG’s (Energy Systems Integration Group) Board of Directors.  

Dr. Infante holds a PhD with Distinction from the Johns Hopkins University, an MA in Energy, Environment, Science and Technology also from Johns Hopkins University, an MA in International Economics and Finance and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Finance from Sciences Po Paris, France. 

Dr. Lola Infante is Senior Programme Lead, Economics and Finance at the World Nuclear Association.   

Previously, Dr. Infante was Portfolio Director, U.S. DOE Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) at Management Solutions, LLC. where she managed a $192M contract that provided support, guidance, and advice to OCED. Before that, among other roles, she worked in the U.S. at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) as Executive Director, Government and External Affairs and at the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) as Sr. Director, Clean Energy Technology and Policy.  

From 2018 to 2024, Infante was a member of the U.S. DOE Electricity Advisory Committee where she chaired the Energy Storage Subcommittee. During that time, she was also a member of ESIG’s (Energy Systems Integration Group) Board of Directors.  

Dr. Infante holds a PhD with Distinction from the Johns Hopkins University, an MA in Energy, Environment, Science and Technology also from Johns Hopkins University, an MA in International Economics and Finance and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Finance from Sciences Po Paris, France. 

Alejandro López Delgado is a Managing Director, Infrastructure at La Caisse. Based in Paris, he leads the origination and execution of infrastructure investments in Europe in sectors such as energy, transportation, social and digital infrastructure. 

He has over 20 years of experience as a global infrastructure investor and has completed transactions with a combined enterprise value of over $50 billion, including Sizewell C, ATC Europe, VTG, XP Fibre, Port of Melbourne, MapleCo, Exolum, Caruna, Ellevio and Tank & Rast. Before joining La Caisse in 2020, he spent eight years at OMERS Infrastructure where he played a key role in building and developing the organization’s European portfolio. Prior to that, he worked at Mubadala Infrastructure Partners and was an Associate in Goldman Sachs’ Infrastructure Investment Group. He began his career at Ferrovial, and also worked at BCG.  

He earned an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. 

La Caisse (formerly CDPQ) invests constructively to generate sustainable returns over the long term. As a global investment group managing funds for public pension and insurance plans, they work alongside their partners to build enterprises that drive performance and progress. They are active in the major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate and private debt. As at December 31, 2024, CDPQ’s net assets totalled CAD 473 billion. 

Ananya has advised on >US$100 billion of financing advisory assignments during his time at Rothschild & Co, spanning Government funding, export credit agencies, credit ratings, commercial lenders and various pools of private capital. Prior to joining Rothschild & Co, Ananya worked at The Royal Bank of Scotland plc. Ananya graduated from The London School of Economics & Political Science.

Geoff is the Director of Strategy and Business Development in OPG’s New Nuclear Development business unit, responsible for development of OPG’s nuclear strategy and leading business development for SMRs, industrial nuclear, and microreactors. Geoff has had a 20-year career in nuclear fission and fusion, emerging energy technologies and climate technology and decarbonization, with experience in investment strategy, business building, and new market entry. Prior to joining OPG, Geoff was an Associate Partner and Senior Expert in the Sustainability and Electric Power Practices of McKinsey & Company, a global consulting firm. Geoff has a B.Sc (Eng) in Engineering Physics from Queen’s University and a Ph.D in Nuclear Engineering from MIT.

Biography available soon

Claire Maden is Consultant Editor for World Nuclear News, a public information service of World Nuclear Association. She joined the WNN team shortly after the service's launch in 2007 and has written regularly for the publication ever since. Claire joined the Library and Information Service of the Uranium Institute, World Nuclear Association's forerunner organisation, in 1994, serving as head of the Library and Information Service from 1999-2001. She has also worked in academic publishing and as a freelance writer and editor focusing on nuclear energy issues. Claire has a BSc (Hons) degree in environmental chemistry and a PhD in bioinorganic chemistry, both from the University of Edinburgh.

Gaby Poirier is President of Operating Plants at Westinghouse Electric Company. In this role, he is accountable for the delivery of Westinghouse’s core products and services to the global fleet of operating nuclear plants, spanning nuclear fuel, engineered solutions, instrumentation & controls systems, parts and outage & maintenance services. He also leads the strategic deployment of Westinghouse’s capital investment projects in support of the company’s growth portfolio. Originally from Quebec, Mr. Poirier brings extensive international experience from senior leadership roles across Canada, the United States, Europe and Australia where he has developed deep operational and manufacturing expertise in diverse commodities such as aluminum, iron ore and copper. Prior to joining Westinghouse, Mr. Poirier spent four years at Alcoa – serving as Regional Vice President of North America Operations, as well Vice President, Global Transformation and President, Alcoa Canada.

Previously, he worked at Rio Tinto for more than 20 years. Mr. Poirier’s senior leadership positions included Managing Director of the Kennecott copper mining and smelting complex in Salt Lake City, Utah; General Manager of the Greater Hope Downs joint venture in Perth, Australia, part of Rio Tinto’s Iron Ore product group; General Manager of the Dunkerque aluminum smelter in France; and General Manager of the Kitimat smelter in British Columbia.

He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from the Université de Sherbrooke and an MBA in Finance from the Université du Québec à Montréal. Mr. Poirier is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and has also completed the executive education General Management Program at Harvard.

Neil Cooper is the CFO of Great British Energy – Nuclear, (GBE-N) the UK government’s arms-length body responsible for the design, construction, commissioning and operating of new nuclear energy generation projects in the UK. GBE-N has recently contracted with its technology partner, Rolls Royce SMR, and is moving its SMR project forward at its site in Wylfa in North Wales. GBE-N also acts as an expert advisor to HM Government on civil nuclear matters.

As well as overseeing Financial, legal and Risk management systems, processes, and teams to support the development of GBE-N, Neil is overseeing the private financing activities of GBE-N.

Neil has nearly 40 years of experience in Finance roles in UK and overseas public and private companies. Immediately prior to joining GBE-N, he was the Group CFO of the Redpin Group, a private equity backed leader in international payments and FX in the UK and beyond. Prior to that, Neil served as Group CFO of FTSE-listed PLCs, including Barratt Developments PLC, William Hill PLC and Bovis Homes PLC. Neil also worked at senior levels in Finance at Reckitt & Colman PLC, and Whitbread PLC, including several years as CFO of Whitbread’s Premier Inn business. Mr Cooper has also served as an NED with listed UK companies.

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. 

Amir Adnani is the President, Chief Executive Officer, a director and a founder of Uranium Energy Corp (UEC: NYSE American). Under his leadership, the Company has developed into the largest diversified North American focused uranium company with low-cost, environmentally friendly in-situ recovery (“ISR”) uranium projects in the United States and high-grade conventional projects in Canada. Capitalizing on the opportunities offered by the long bear market in uranium, UEC devised a disciplined acquisition strategy and completed over $1 billion of physical, mineral, and mining uranium assets between 2017 and 2022.

In the U.S., UEC controls the largest portfolio of fully permitted ISR projects, anchored by two operational processing plants in Wyoming and Texas. Recently, UEC announced the restart of operations at its Christensen Ranch ISR Mine in Wyoming. In Canada, UEC controls one of the largest portfolios of exploration and development holdings in the prolific Athabasca basin, including the world-class, 100% owned Roughrider Project. 

Mr. Adnani is the founder and Chairman of Uranium Royalty Corp. (UROY: Nasdaq; URC: TSX), the first and only publicly listed royalty company in the uranium sector. By background, he is an entrepreneur, and earlier started and expanded two other private companies.

Mr. Adnani has given a variety of presentations at prominent industry conferences organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency, World Nuclear Fuel Market and the Milken Institute.  He is a frequent contributor to the business media, including CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and Fox Business News.

Fortune magazine distinguished Mr. Adnani on their “40 Under 40, Ones to Watch” list of North American executives. He was selected as one of “Mining’s Future Leaders” by Mining Journal, a UK-based global industry publication. He was also a nominee for Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” distinction. Mr. Adnani holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of British Columbia and was a director of the university’s Alumni Association from 2015 to 2021.

A nuclear physicist and successful entrepreneur, Stefano started his career working for 10 years with Nobel laureate Carlo Rubbia at CERN and CRS4, in the field of Accelerator Driven Systems and nuclear waste transmutation. In 2002, he founded Advanced Accelerator Applications, listed on NASDAQ until its acquisition by Novartis for $3.9 bn. In 2021, Stefano Buono co-founded the nuclear technology company newcleo. With approximately $780 million in private funding and more than 900 highly skilled employees across Europe and the United States, the company has built a network of over 100 industry partnerships and supports its growth through the targeted acquisition and vertical integration of key companies in the nuclear supply chain. At newcleo, Stefano Buono serves as Chief Executive Officer.

Emmanuel Brutin is the Director General of nucleareurope since March 2025. As such, he leads the association's strategic direction and represents the European nuclear industry towards the EU institutions and stakeholders. 

Emmanuel has worked in Brussels on energy and climate policy issues for nearly 20 years. He was previously Public Affairs Director with CEMBUREAU, the association of the European cement industry, where he oversaw the public affairs and communication activities of the association, with a focus on the European Green Deal. Before joining CEMBUREAU in 2019, he headed up the Brussels office of National Grid, the UK energy transmission company (2013-2019). At that time, he also chaired the EU Affairs Group of the European Network of Transmission System Operators  (ENTSO-E). Prior to that, Emmanuel worked in various public affairs position for UNIFE, the Association of the European rail industry (2008-2012), and the lobbying consultancy Grayling (2005-2007).  

A graduate from Sciences-Po Lille, a French Grande Ecole of political sciences, Emmanuel completed a Master in European Public Affairs in Paris. Emmanuel is a lecturer at Sorbonne University, and has regular speaking engagements in various forums.  

Richard Ma is an Executive Director in the Energy, Infrastructure and Transition investment banking group at CIBC Capital Markets. Richard provides strategic, M&A and financing advice to clients in the power and utilities industries. Since joining CIBC in 2016, Richard has advised on over 20 completed M&A transactions with over $40 billion of combined value. 

Richard holds a Bachelor of Mathematics degree (with Distinction, Dean’s Honours List) from the University of Waterloo. 

Chris is a Managing Director and Co-Head of EMEA Natural Resources at J.P. Morgan. He has over 20 years of experience across investment banking and strategic advisory, with a focus on the global energy (renewables, power, oil & gas), infrastructure, and commodities sectors. He has advised on and executed large-scale M&A, equity and debt financings, principal investments, and other complex transactions.

Charles Pybus is a Director in Arup’s Advisory business providing technical, commercial and financial advice on major infrastructure projects. He is currently leading Arup’s advice on nuclear new build projects as Lenders Technical Adviser on Sizewell C and as Technical Specialist for Great British Energy – Nuclear in addition to advising on other UK and international conventional large scale and advanced nuclear new build and LTO projects. Outside of nuclear, Charles is leading Arup’s Technical and Professional Services advice to Great British Energy. Charles was previously Head of Corporate Finance for six years at HS2, having been a senior civil servant in DECC involved in the Electricity Market Reform, and prior to that a financial advisor on major PFI/PPP projects in the UK, Europe, India and Middle East.

Biography coming soon.

Ralph Ibendahl is Co-Head, Power & Utilities Europe and Global Head of Energy Transition, based in London. He has 20+ years of investment banking experience in the power, utilities and energy transition space. During his career, Ralph has advised on M&A transactions with an Enterprise Value of more than GBP60bn and arranged/advised on a number of capital raises and debt transactions across a range of sub-sectors including power generation, battery storage, clean fuels and e-mobility. Ralph has coverage responsibility for a number of corporates operating in the nuclear sector. He is part of RBC’s Global Climate Steerco and the GIB sponsor for RBC’s C$1bn Climate Investment Commitment. Ralph is a CFA Charterholder and holds a Joint Honors MA in Economics and International Relations from the University of Aberdeen. Prior to joining Royal Bank of Canada, Ralph worked at Barclays Investment Bank.

Having joined the EDF Group in 1999, V. Ramany progressively developed a thorough expertise of all techno-economical aspects driving the electricity business through various leading roles in generation mix management, market risk management and customer portfolio management. Having worked notably as advisor to the EDF Group CFO on international affairs and then as M&A and Investments Director in the UK arm of EDF, he currently leads the international new nuclear development activities for the EDF Group. V. Ramany graduated from the Engineering School of Aeronautics and Space, Toulouse, France, and holds an MBA from INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France.

Patrick Boultinghouse is Head of Energy, Power and Renewables Corporate Banking at BofA Securities, the institutional broker-dealer business at Bank of America. In this capacity, he leads a team of professionals covering over 100 of the largest Energy, Power and Renewables clients in the US. Corporate Banking delivers credit, cash management, debt and equity capital markets, tax equity, leasing and risk management solutions to clients.

Previously, Patrick covered US Energy, Power and Renewables clients for over 25 years. Patrick joined the Global Corporate and Investment Bank in 2015, and prior to joining Bank of America, he spent 5 years at Credit Suisse as Head of Energy Debt Capital Markets and 12 years at Citigroup in Capital Markets Origination, specializing in debt capital markets, leveraged finance and derivatives.

Over the span of his career, Patrick has worked on hundreds of transactions across corporate, project and structured finance, capital markets, financial advisory and arrangement, and risk management. Some of his more recent engagements have included the PG&E bankruptcy, ONE Gas (OGS) Winter Storm Uri financing, LNG financing and renewable energy financing.

Patrick graduated with a BA in Economics from Harvard and an MBA in Finance from New York University Stern School of Business.

Luba Kotzeva is an NED at NTR plc, a clean energy and transition fund manager and investor and the Founder and CEO of Etara Partners, an advisory firm focused on the power, utilities and infrastructure sector. Luba was previously EMEA Head of Power, Utilities and Energy Transition and EMEA co-head of Infrastructure & Utilities for Deutsche Bank and before that was in leadership roles at Lazard (3 years) and Rothschild (22 years).

Luba has over 27 years of M&A, capital raising and sovereign advisory experience and a long legacy of advisory experience across all forms of power generation, transmission, distribution, water and waste utilities and particular niche in sovereign nuclear advisory.

Notable advisory credentials in the nuclear space include investor role on the Sizewell C capital raise process (2021-2024), advised the Belgian Government on negotiations with Engie regarding the life extension of two existing nuclear power plants and transfer of provisions for back end nuclear liabilities (2021-2024), advised the Czech Government on the design of the Dykovany II support scheme (2019-20), Hungarian Government on Paks II including all EC approvals (2016-2021), advised Hitachi on Wylfa (2015-2019), advised CGNPC on HPC (2014-2016), Lithuanian government on Visaginas NPP (2010-2012) and on sale of British Energy for £12.5bn to EDF (2008-2009).

Other notable sector experience includes advising Ofwat and UKGI in relation to Thames Water (2024), on sale of West Burton CCGT and operating BESS to TotalEnergies (2024), on sale of Shell’s home retail business to Octopus Energy (2023), on sale out of administration of Bulb customer book (2022), on Vattenfall’s €10.3bn acquisition of Nuon PLB (2007-9) and National Grid on its £5.9bn sale of four gas distribution networks (2003-2005). Luba educational background is as an Economist and Lawyer (Durham University joint honours).

Taylor Childress serves as Senior Advisor for Energy and European Affairs at the Export Import Bank of the United States (EXIM), where she advances the Administration's energy agenda and supports international energy financing strategies. She previously served as Chief of Staff of the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council, streamlining federal permitting for major infrastructure projects, and as Government Affairs Manager at ClearPath, where she focused on nuclear policy and energy innovation. Her career in public service began on Capitol Hill, where she spent 4 years advising Members of Congress on legislative issues, specializing in science, space, technology, and energy policy. Childress holds a Master of Science in Energy Engineering from Northwestern University and a bachelor's degree from Sewanee: The University of the South.

Tushar Handiekar joined the Structured & Project Finance (S&PF) team at Export Development Canada in 2006. Tushar is currently the Vice President and group head of the S&PF team overseeing a group of 50 structured financing specialists in Ottawa and Singapore offices as well as EDC’s presence worldwide in London, Mumbai and Sydney. Tushar is also co-leading the Sustainable Finance initiative across the organization as well as co-leading EDC’s effort to managing the LIBOR transition. The S&PF group is critical to serving EDC’s large and medium segment customers in cleantech and sectors of the future to increase their trade opportunities and competitiveness. Over the years, the group has amassed a sizable portfolio and expertise in a variety of industries, including mining and metals, infrastructure, telecommunications, energy, renewables, and clean technology. Prior to joining EDC, Tushar was an entrepreneur, and 
has held various positions in Investment Banking across Canada and India. Tushar holds an MBA degree from Ivey Business School in London, Ontario, a Masters in Finance from University of Mumbai, and a Bachelor of Engineering degree from BAM University in India. 

Yvon joined ENEC from ENGIE Solutions Middle East, where he was Chief Growth Officer in charge of developing energy and new technology projects.  

Prior to that he worked with ENGIE in a variety of roles across business development in the renewables space, he also worked with Masdar in 2013-2014. Yvon brings more than 23 years’ of experience in various sectors including energy, biotechnology and investment banking. 

Business Development and Investment are key enablers for growth at ENEC and will play a central role in defining how our Enterprise will expand in the  future. In recent months we have seen a considerable increase in interest from potential future partners as well as foreign governments in our expertise. Yvon and the team’s role in maintaining that momentum and continuing to position ENEC as a valued partner in the nuclear industry will be instrumental in supporting ENEC’s position globally. 

Raquel Heredia is Senior Programme Lead for Strategic Partnerships at World Nuclear Association, where she leads engagement across end energy users, the nuclear industry, and multilateral organisations to translate energy demand into nuclear deployment strategies and inform policy development. 

Her work sits at the intersection of policy, strategy, and stakeholder engagement, focusing on how nuclear technologies can enable equitable and practical low-carbon transitions across the global economy. 

Raquel holds a degree in Sustainable Development Engineering with a specialisation in Nuclear Energy from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, and a Master's in Development Studies from the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex, where she focused on the socio-political dimensions of energy transitions. 

She is also an active advocate for diversity in the energy sector and for encouraging women and girls into STEAM careers. 

Lucia Tian leads Google’s Advanced Energy Technologies team, focused on unlocking and scaling technologies such as next generation geothermal, nuclear, CCS, long duration energy storage, and grid technologies. The team develops innovative partnerships through pilots, strategic investments, and offtake, to meet Google’s AI & data center energy needs while accelerating the deployment of advanced energy technologies across power grids worldwide. Prior to Google, Lucia served as Senior Advisor to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Chief Commercialization Officer, and as Chief Strategist for the Loan Programs Office, driving commercial strategy & diligence to inform DOE’s IIJA and IRA investments and the Liftoff reports. Lucia previously served infrastructure, transportation, and aerospace clients at McKinsey & Co., and has built strategy and analytics functions across public, private, and non-profit organizations. She holds a dual B.S. in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science and B.S. in Economics from MIT, and an M.A. in Economics from Harvard.

Chad Eaton is Director of Government Affairs & Energy Policy at Nucor Corporation. Chad joined Nucor in February 2017 as Nucor’s State Government Affairs Manager, advocating for the corporation’s interests in state and local policies and legislation impacting Nucor’s teammates and the communities where we live and work. In November 2020, Chad was promoted to Director of Government Affairs and subsequently took on the added responsibilities of Director of Energy Policy. In his position, Chad oversees implementation of Nucor’s public affairs policies and leads the company’s energy and environmental public policy efforts as the largest recycler in North America. Chad also manages Nucor Corporation’s relationship with multiple State Legislative Associations, as well as its third-party business and industry associations at the state level. Prior to joining Nucor, Chad was Manager of Federal Government Affairs at Duke Energy Corporation. He also previously served as Director of Public Affairs in the Office of U.S. Representative Heath Shuler, and has held associate pastor positions in Baptist churches in North and South Carolina, and Alabama. Chad earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Samford University. Chad is married to Kim and they have a son, Cole.

Dr. Lola Infante is Senior Programme Lead, Economics and Finance at the World Nuclear Association.   

Previously, Dr. Infante was Portfolio Director, U.S. DOE Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) at Management Solutions, LLC. where she managed a $192M contract that provided support, guidance, and advice to OCED. Before that, among other roles, she worked in the U.S. at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) as Executive Director, Government and External Affairs and at the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) as Sr. Director, Clean Energy Technology and Policy.  

From 2018 to 2024, Infante was a member of the U.S. DOE Electricity Advisory Committee where she chaired the Energy Storage Subcommittee. During that time, she was also a member of ESIG’s (Energy Systems Integration Group) Board of Directors.  

Dr. Infante holds a PhD with Distinction from the Johns Hopkins University, an MA in Energy, Environment, Science and Technology also from Johns Hopkins University, an MA in International Economics and Finance and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Finance from Sciences Po Paris, France. 

Karen Pak Oppenheimer is Co-Executive Director of the Oppenheimer Project, advancing the peaceful use of nuclear energy through convening and dialogue, strategic bridge-building, and narrative change. She recently co-authored the Field Guide for Nuclear Philanthropy, co-developed the Global Coalition for Nuclear Philanthropy (GCNP), and serves as an Advisor for Nuclear for Good. Trained as an engineer and scientist, she has built her career over two decades bridging scientific, policy, and community stakeholders at the intersection of health, population, and climate, primarily in rural India and East Africa. She currently serves on the boards of OASIS Sahel, DKT International, and the Institute for Transformative Technologies, organizations expanding access to reproductive healthcare, empowering women and girls, and deploying solutions for sustainable development. 

David Stearns is World Nuclear Association's senior advisor for finance, helping set and deliver the industry’s financing agenda with members and stakeholders. Through his Board role with the International Bank for Nuclear Infrastructure NGO (IBNI), he is working with philanthropy to deliver the flagship International Nuclear Financing Initiative (INFInity).

As a financier, David’s first nuclear newbuild transaction was the TVO Olkiluoto 3 limited-recourse deal in Finland which initiated in 2002. As HSBC’s head of European Power Project Finance and Advisory, he established a Nuclear Working Group and built capability to lead pathfinding transactions for owners/developers in Slovakia (Mochovce 3 & 4), Bulgaria (Belene 1 & 2), UAE (Barakah 1-4), Romania (Cernavoda 3 & 4), the US (Calvert Cliffs 3) and the UK (Wylfa 1-4 and Oldbury 1-2).

Since then he has held multiple senior industry roles, acting directly over the past 20 years for projects and programs as developer/sponsor (UK, Saudi Arabia, US, Canada and Finland), commercial advisor (Bulgaria, Netherlands, Sweden, Romania, South Africa) and IAEA expert for newcomer markets (Ghana, Kenya, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Jordan, Poland, Malaysia, Indonesia).

David graduated from Amherst College and received an MSc in international business-government affairs from Georgetown University. He lives in Paris with his wife and four children.

Georgios is part of the HSBC Infrastructure Finance team based in London and has more than 10 years’ of experience across the power & renewables sector, focusing on debt advisory, M&A and financing in the offshore wind, new technologies and the energy transition sector, including nuclear power & SMRs. Georgios was leading the structuring within HSBC on the world’s first multibillion commercial debt financing for nuclear, Sizewell C. He has worked in more than 10GW of power projects as adviser and lender. Prior to joining HSBC, Georgios worked at a Japanese bank, where he worked on the nuclear project Horizon and he started his career at EDF in the new nuclear business, working with the Investment Case team for Hinkley Point C. Georgios holds a master’s degree in Management & Strategy from London School of Economics, a Master in Civil & Nuclear Engineering from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and he is a Charter Financial Analyst (CFA).

Serge EKUE has been the President of the West African Development Bank (BOAD) since August 2020. Prior to this, he was Natixis' Country Manager for the UK, Africa and Russia, also heading Global Markets for EMEA. He previously led Natixis’ emerging market and Asia Pacific markets activities for nearly six years before managing the Bank in Hong Kong from 2016.   

A financial and capital markets expert with almost 30 years of international experience, Serge Ekué holds degrees from HEC Paris (Executive MBA), Paris V University and Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Bordeaux.  

Lucia Tian leads Google’s Advanced Energy Technologies team, focused on unlocking and scaling technologies such as next generation geothermal, nuclear, CCS, long duration energy storage, and grid technologies. The team develops innovative partnerships through pilots, strategic investments, and offtake, to meet Google’s AI & data center energy needs while accelerating the deployment of advanced energy technologies across power grids worldwide. Prior to Google, Lucia served as Senior Advisor to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Chief Commercialization Officer, and as Chief Strategist for the Loan Programs Office, driving commercial strategy & diligence to inform DOE’s IIJA and IRA investments and the Liftoff reports. Lucia previously served infrastructure, transportation, and aerospace clients at McKinsey & Co., and has built strategy and analytics functions across public, private, and non-profit organizations. She holds a dual B.S. in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science and B.S. in Economics from MIT, and an M.A. in Economics from Harvard.

Dr. Lola Infante is Senior Programme Lead, Economics and Finance at the World Nuclear Association.   

Previously, Dr. Infante was Portfolio Director, U.S. DOE Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) at Management Solutions, LLC. where she managed a $192M contract that provided support, guidance, and advice to OCED. Before that, among other roles, she worked in the U.S. at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) as Executive Director, Government and External Affairs and at the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) as Sr. Director, Clean Energy Technology and Policy.  

From 2018 to 2024, Infante was a member of the U.S. DOE Electricity Advisory Committee where she chaired the Energy Storage Subcommittee. During that time, she was also a member of ESIG’s (Energy Systems Integration Group) Board of Directors.  

Dr. Infante holds a PhD with Distinction from the Johns Hopkins University, an MA in Energy, Environment, Science and Technology also from Johns Hopkins University, an MA in International Economics and Finance and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Finance from Sciences Po Paris, France. 

Amir Adnani is the President, Chief Executive Officer, a director and a founder of Uranium Energy Corp (UEC: NYSE American). Under his leadership, the Company has developed into the largest diversified North American focused uranium company with low-cost, environmentally friendly in-situ recovery (“ISR”) uranium projects in the United States and high-grade conventional projects in Canada. Capitalizing on the opportunities offered by the long bear market in uranium, UEC devised a disciplined acquisition strategy and completed over $1 billion of physical, mineral, and mining uranium assets between 2017 and 2022.

In the U.S., UEC controls the largest portfolio of fully permitted ISR projects, anchored by two operational processing plants in Wyoming and Texas. Recently, UEC announced the restart of operations at its Christensen Ranch ISR Mine in Wyoming. In Canada, UEC controls one of the largest portfolios of exploration and development holdings in the prolific Athabasca basin, including the world-class, 100% owned Roughrider Project. 

Mr. Adnani is the founder and Chairman of Uranium Royalty Corp. (UROY: Nasdaq; URC: TSX), the first and only publicly listed royalty company in the uranium sector. By background, he is an entrepreneur, and earlier started and expanded two other private companies.

Mr. Adnani has given a variety of presentations at prominent industry conferences organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency, World Nuclear Fuel Market and the Milken Institute.  He is a frequent contributor to the business media, including CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and Fox Business News.

Fortune magazine distinguished Mr. Adnani on their “40 Under 40, Ones to Watch” list of North American executives. He was selected as one of “Mining’s Future Leaders” by Mining Journal, a UK-based global industry publication. He was also a nominee for Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” distinction. Mr. Adnani holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of British Columbia and was a director of the university’s Alumni Association from 2015 to 2021.