Creating meaningful conversations with our stakeholders
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) held its annual stakeholder summit virtually to engage on its nationally important mission.
One of the panels at the recent NDA group stakeholder summit
Over 160 delegates registered for the virtual event on Tuesday 12 December, hearing directly from key spokespeople from the NDA group leadership team, including David Peattie, NDA CEO, Euan Hutton, Sellafield CEO, Corhyn Parr, Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) CEO, and Rob Fletcher, Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) CEO.
The event, ‘Creating meaningful conversations’, allowed attendees to submit questions in advance for those speaking, ensuring that all the panel sessions were tailored to what the NDA’s valued stakeholders wanted to hear about. Delegates attending reflected the mix of local, regional, and national stakeholders from across the UK, and most importantly, the NDA groups’ workforce.
Dr Samantha Harris, Director of Shareholder and Stakeholder Relations, NDA, said:
As the NDA group advances its mission, it’s crucial we continue to engage with the public and stakeholders to maintain their trust, confidence, and support.
Their views are essential to us and help shape the ongoing delivery of our mission and future strategy.
We pride ourselves on being an open and transparent organisation that pays heed to its stakeholders and are extremely grateful to them using platforms like this virtual summit to engage with us.
David Peattie opened the event, discussing the importance of decommissioning in the nuclear lifecycle, what the future looks like for the NDA group, and reflecting on several key milestones achieved in the last 12 months, including:
- Retrievals from the Pile Fuel Cladding Silo (PFCS) at Sellafield.
- £1m of support from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS) to develop a new nuclear transport package.
- The bringing together of Dounreay and Magnox to create NRS, and the progress being made within the organisation.
- The progress being made through NWS towards creating a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF).
He went on to thank delegates for the valued relationship between them and the NDA, identifying that ‘the scrutiny they bring in their interactions is fundamental to providing constructive challenge and support to the NDA in its decision-making.’
Other panel sessions included focus on the NDA group’s contributions to sustainability, social value, and skills, as well as how the mission is being brought to life through areas such as the support of the supply chain, the pipeline of talent being developed and the advancement of technology and innovation.
Councillor Mark Fryer, Leader of Cumberland Council, said:
As a key stakeholder with a direct interest in the work of the NDA, I very much welcome this opportunity to hear from its senior leaders.
Decommissioning activity has a big impact on the economy in Cumbria, so it is important for Cumberland Council to work closely with the NDA group.
The NDA has an obligation under the Energy Act 2004 to engage with stakeholders including site stakeholder groups and local authorities. Throughout 2023, the government and stakeholder relations team have been engaging on a variety of channels and platforms which will continue into 2024.
If you would like to engage with the NDA on its work, please contact Dr Samantha Harris, Director of Shareholder and Stakeholder Relations, on samantha.harris@nda.gov.uk
If you missed the virtual stakeholder summit, you can view it here: https://vimeo.com/894087056/b4bb533964?share=copy. The password is marick-2023.
The NDA group offers a range of opportunities for young people who wish to enter into a career within the nuclear sector. To find out more, visit NDA group graduate programme - One extraordinary group, so many possibilities (ndagroupgraduates.co.uk).