Norman Harrison, Strategic Development Director for Babcock's
Support Services Division, has been appointed as the President of
the Nuclear Institute.
Norman took over the role from Paul Thomas who has been the
President of the NI since 2008.
The NI Trustees have expressed their happiness that Norman had
agreed to fill the role and said that they believed it would help
the Nuclear Institute to continue to be relevant and important to
the industry at a time of significant change and great
development.
The current President Paul Thomas said; "We are at a key point
for the industry, with clean-up, decommissioning and new build all
posing both opportunities and challenges. Norman has a wealth of
experience and I believe there is no one better positioned to lead
the industry at such a crucial time."
"With Norman as President, the NI can continue to deliver its
charitable objectives to an ever growing audience, with a special
emphasis on developing and delivering key initiatives into the area
of skills and training."
Commenting on his appointment, the incoming President said: "I
am both honoured and delighted to be taking over as President at
this crucial time for the UK nuclear industry. I am looking forward
to meeting the Institute's staff and key industry players at our
regional branches. Skills and training will play a major part in
the Institute's future agenda."
Norman was previously Chief Executive Officer of the UK Atomic
Energy Authority, a role he was appointed to in February 2007.
Following Government endorsement of a new business strategy for
UKAEA, Norman successfully led UKAEA's transformation into a
vibrant new British company winning work in the public and private
sectors. In 2009 Norman led the sale of UKAEA to Babcock which,
following the acquisition of VT Group later the same year, now
employs over 6,000 highly qualified and experienced personnel in
the defence and civil nuclear sectors.
Norman was appointed UKAEA's Director of Dounreay Division on
1st November 2003. He had a major transformational role to carry
out at Dounreay which he completed in producing project focused
organisation at Dounreay. Dounreay is now seen as the top
performing site within the NDA portfolio of decommissioning
sites.
Norman's career before joining UKAEA was in the nuclear power
generation sector. With British Energy he was Station Director at
Heysham 1 in Lancashire before being appointed Director of Sizewell
B which was British Energy's flagship power plant, the post he held
prior to joining UKAEA.
A native of Manchester and chemist by profession, he achieved a
top national award when qualifying as a Graduate of the Royal
Society of Chemistry. He is the industry expert of the Nuclear
Liabilities Financing Assurance Board (NLFAB), which advises the
Secretary of State on the adequacy of funding provisions for waste
management and decommissioning of proposed new nuclear plant, and
is also an Independent Governor at the Manchester Metropolitan
University.
More information regarding the Nuclear Institute can be found at
www.nuclearinst.com