Thursday 9 October 2025

Keynote Speech 

Julianne Antrobus delivered a keynote speech on the opening day of the NuFor conference 2025.

I have to say first and foremost, that what you all do in this field is very cool! It’s fascinating as well as being vitally important for national and international security. As outlined just before the break by representatives from our security services, your work sits at the heart of keeping Britain safe. 

I’m proud to be speaking to you today about how scientific expertise in nuclear forensics translates directly into strengthened national security capabilities, and the role collaboration plays in delivering this – demonstrating the vital connection between research and defence.  

This is a part of the role we play as a custodian of national capabilities and infrastructure critical for national and energy security. 

A New UKNNL 
But before I speak about that, I want to take a step back and look at our UKNNL mission as a whole. 

The UKNNL you see today is evolving from the organisation many of you encountered at last year’s conference. We are undergoing a ten-year strategic transformation that redefines not just our name, but our mission and our place in the UK’s nuclear landscape for decades to come. 

We are now the United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory, proud to carry His Majesty’s Government’s Royal Coat of Arms – and our mission is twofold: to enable and deliver nuclear outcomes for government, and to support growth of the UK nuclear sector. 

Our transformation reflects the government’s recognition that nuclear capabilities are not merely technical assets, but critical infrastructure for national security and our ambitions to become a clean energy superpower. We are government’s nuclear lead civil fission laboratory, positioned at the heart of Britain’s nuclear renaissance. 

UKNNL’s impact spans energy security, the delivery of clean power to the grid, national defence, and sustainable solutions for the management of nuclear waste. Right now, 13% of the UK’s electricity is powered by zero-carbon nuclear energy, and this year the Government announced its biggest rollout of nuclear power for half a century. 

Drawing on decades of experience in managing nuclear materials and understanding reactor chemistry and physics, we help to optimise performance across current generating reactor sites.  

We are also developing future fuels, work which directly informs our future nuclear forensics work. UKNNL is at the heart of these exciting new investments, providing the underpinning technical work that makes investments easier.  

This is vital for both the sector and for economic growth in the UK, delivering more high-quality, skilled jobs. 

With nuclear technology at the heart of the submarines that patrol our seas, we are helping to keep Britain safe. Our nuclear expertise makes this possible. 

This same expertise helps us safely manage nuclear sites that have reached the end of their operating life, dispose of nuclear materials responsibly, and support safe power plant operations worldwide through practical research.  

We’re also playing a growing role in strengthening the UK’s ability to seize new opportunities, including domestic fuel manufacture for the next generation of advanced reactors. 

We are an organisation looking to constantly improve, fundamentally transforming our processes and facilities to optimise delivery for government and our wider customer base. 

Through careful research and engineering, we’re ensuring that nuclear energy continues serving the country safely and securely for decades to come. 

Reflections on My Career 
My entire career to date has been within the nuclear sector, with my journey beginning around two decades ago as a Graduate Trainee at British Nuclear Fuels Ltd, in labs which are now part of UKNNL and where some of our vital work in support of national security takes place. 

So, in many ways I have come full circle – back to where I started. I couldn’t feel more at home and more driven, feeding off the passion and pride and talent of our brilliant people. 

I think it’s great that this morning was dedicated to schools’ engagement, with young people getting the opportunity to hear about the career opportunities available in this fantastic sector, and particularly the nuclear forensics field. 

I’m sold! I suspect that if I started my career over again now, this field might just be where I’d end up myself! 

And one of the main reasons would be the vital work you do to ensure the security of the nation. 

Keeping Nations Safe Through Nuclear Forensics 
The poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko in 2006, the uranium found at Heathrow airport in 2022, and the missing caesium in Western Australia in 2023 all highlight why it is so important to have the expertise available to identify and track these materials, for the security and safety of nations and their citizens.  

Expert analysis of these materials means their provenance can be rapidly determined, supporting a prompt and effective response from our law enforcement colleagues and keeping the wider public safe by delivering a managed response to the threat identified. 

Our role in nuclear forensics exemplifies how UKNNL directly serves national security objectives and delivers on International Atomic Energy Agency requirements on behalf of the UK government. 

As custodians of national capabilities critical for both national and energy security, we understand that nuclear forensics is far more than a technical discipline. It is a cornerstone of our nation’s defensive capabilities and our contribution to global security. 

The UK government’s renewed focus on national security emphasises the need for robust capabilities to defend our territory and make Britain a harder target. Nuclear forensics sits at the intersection of these priorities, providing the scientific foundation for understanding and responding to nuclear materials found outside regulatory control. 

Powerful partnerships 
Nuclear forensics is inherently multidisciplinary, requiring diverse skills across chemistry, physics, environmental and materials science, and data analysis. This complexity makes it a perfect exemplar of how national laboratories can combine capabilities effectively. Our collaboration with AWE brings together complementary expertise, creating a capability that serves both civil and defence requirements. 

And that partnership with AWE demonstrates the power of national laboratory collaboration aligned to government strategy. Together, we deliver crucial capabilities that underpin the UK’s security posture whilst supporting the Home Office’s CBRN strategy. This collaboration is not just about combining resources, but about creating something greater than the sum of our parts – supporting national security through scientific excellence. 

Nuclear Forensics into the Future 
That scientific excellence can also be used to secure the energy we need to power our future. Our nation and others are rightly looking to nuclear to play a key role in delivering reliable low-carbon energy, which enables societies to thrive. Not just via the grid, but via highly skilled, highly paid jobs in our communities. 

As we design and build the next generation of reactors, we must be mindful of the potential actions of those who seek to cause harm. How can we ensure that radiological and nuclear materials are not diverted for nefarious means? How can we act with pace and confidence should those materials be used in an attempt to cause harm? The key is in working together to keep the nation, its people, and the environment safe. 

A strong nuclear forensics capability is essential for the UK’s ambitious plans for next-generation reactors and advanced fuels. As we embark on what the government calls a “golden age of nuclear,” we must ensure that robust safety cases underpin every development. Nuclear forensics provides the analytical foundation that enables innovation whilst maintaining the highest standards of safety and security. 

Collaborating Across Borders 
Looking out at this international audience, I’m reminded that nuclear forensics challenges know no borders. As threat actors would likely move with little regard for borders, we must work as an international community to counter their efforts. 

The materials we study, the threats we counter, and the techniques we develop benefit from global collaboration. Britain’s approach has always been to combine domestic capability with international partnership. 

The recent UK-US agreements on nuclear cooperation highlight how international partnerships can accelerate deployment of advanced nuclear technologies. These agreements recognise that nuclear forensics capabilities must evolve alongside new reactor designs and fuel cycles, ensuring we can meet emerging challenges whilst seizing new opportunities.  

Our work contributes to broader international efforts to strengthen nuclear security frameworks. Whether through bilateral relationships like our partnership with the United States, or multilateral initiatives that bring together the best minds from across the globe, we understand that security is enhanced through cooperation, not isolation. 

The research presented at conferences like NuFor advances not just our individual national capabilities, but our collective ability to address shared challenges. In an interconnected world, the forensic analysis conducted in London or Albuquerque or Ottawa contributes to security from Seoul to Stockholm. 

Building Skills for the Future 
I think we can all agree that nuclear forensics and the nuclear sector play a vital role for the UK and for our international allies. 

But we face huge competition for skills and experience in our sector. There is so much to do now and, in the future, – it is vital we get the best and the brightest interested in nuclear careers. 

The nuclear sector now employs a record 98,000 people in the UK, demonstrating the growing opportunities available to those with the right skills and passion.  

The government is focused on creating more clean energy jobs in the UK. 

Whether you’re interested in reactor design, fuel cycle analysis, safety assessment, or forensic investigation, there are pathways for contribution to this vital national mission. 

But growing demand requires Nuclear Suitably Qualified and Experienced Personnel, with significant skills shortages identified by the National Nuclear Strategic Plan for Skills.  

We have a projected need for over 40,000 new nuclear jobs by 2030.  

As I speak to my colleagues across the sector it is clear we face the challenge of matching supply with demand or falling short of our aspirations for global leadership in nuclear technology and capability. 

So, we need to look further and wider for our next generation of talent. 

Nuclear represents a real chance to break down barriers to opportunities, which is why early engagement across our communities is key. 

Inclusivity feeds innovation, supporting the creation of diverse teams that solve stubborn problems with fresh perspectives and imagination. A truly inclusive workforce has, and welcomes, a spectrum of thoughts and opinions, all of which are equally valued and listened to. 

I am personally dedicated to role modelling this with the aim that our sector sees the benefits and value. Through my work as Senior Advisor and mentor with Women in Nuclear, I see first-hand the importance of creating pathways for diverse talent to enter our field. The challenges we face require the broadest possible range of perspectives and approaches. My involvement in leadership development programmes and work as a STEM ambassador reflects a commitment to ensuring that the next generation of nuclear professionals reflects the full spectrum of British talent. 

A Continuing Privilege 
As I conclude, I want to return to something deeply personal. Throughout my career journey, from graduate trainee to CEO, it is a continuing privilege to work with and for the best in the industry. The colleagues I encounter, the challenges we tackle together, and the contributions we make to national security and the advancement of nuclear science really do make this more than just a career – they make it a calling. 

The work we do in nuclear forensics may sometimes seem abstract or technical, but its importance could not be more concrete. Every analytical method we develop, every collaborative relationship we build, and every young professional we mentor contributes to a safer, more secure world.  

As I wrap up my thoughts, I want to take the opportunity to thank AWE for their commitment to our ongoing collaboration, and to acknowledge the fantastic support we receive from nuclear material holding organisations and regulators in our work to maintain the UK’s nuclear forensics capabilities. Their cooperation is essential for developing and maintaining the capabilities that protect us all.  

Thank you for your attention, and I look forward to the discussions that will follow over the next three days. Together, we are not just advancing the science of nuclear forensics – we are securing the future for generations to come.