Friday 16 June 2017

We are delighted to announce that National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) Director Dr Fiona Rayment was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, published today. The award – which, in full, makes Fiona an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire – recognises her work in the areas of R&D, innovation and skills development across the nuclear sector.

Fiona said:

“I am absolutely speechless to be awarded an OBE. This is such an honour and I am so very proud. I am fortunate to work in an industry that has given me such pleasure and with so many great people who are leading innovations in energy R&D. I see this honour as a reflection of the tremendous support which has always been given to me, both by my family and by the wonderful people I have had the pleasure to work with throughout my career.”

NNL’s Chief Executive Officer, Paul Howarth, added:

“It’s hard to think of anyone who deserves to be recognised in this way more than Fiona. I’ve worked closely with her for many years and I’ve enjoyed seeing her career develop over that time, as she’s taken on a range of important responsibilities at the national and international level. All of which has – rightly – raised her profile across the sector. And whatever the role – if Fiona is involved, you know she’ll do a great job and the end result will be very impressive. She’s also one of those people whose door is genuinely always open to anyone wanting to raise something with her. I’m absolutely delighted to see her awarded an OBE and I congratulate her on behalf of all of her colleagues at NNL.”  

Fiona has over twenty five years nuclear industry experience, working primarily within technology, operations and strategic planning roles across a number of different nuclear sites both in the UK and internationally.  In addition to her NNL role, Fiona also chairs the Nuclear Skills Strategy Group and is a member of the Fusion Advisory Board, the Office of Nuclear Regulation’s Advisory Board and the Nuclear Institute’s Board of Trustees. She also chairs the Nuclear Institute’s Events Committee.

Fiona is both a chartered Chemist and a chartered Engineer, with a BSc and a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Strathclyde. She is a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Nuclear Institute, and she has an MBA from Manchester Business School.