Minister for Nuclear and Renewables, Andrew Bowie, today (25th March 2024) announced the appointment of Bernard Taylor CVO, CBE, DL, as the Chair of UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). Bernard will take up his post on 29th April 2024, taking over from the Interim Chair Lady Eithne Birt.
UKAEA is the UK's national organisation responsible for the research and delivery of sustainable fusion energy. It is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Fusion energy has great potential to deliver safe, sustainable, low carbon energy for generations to come. It is based on the same processes that power the Sun and stars and would form part of the world's future energy mix.
UKAEA also undertakes cutting edge work with academia, other research organisations and the industrial supply chain in a wide spectrum of areas, including robotics and materials. The Chair of UKAEA is responsible for leading the Board's strategy and ensuring that it is delivered.
Minister for Nuclear & Renewables, Andrew Bowie, said: "Bernard Taylor brings a wealth of experience to the role and will be a trusted pair of hands to steer the UK's world-class fusion body at a pivotal time in its history - from decommissioning the Joint European Torus after its fusion world record to building our new prototype plant in Nottinghamshire."
Bernard Taylor, incoming Chair of UKAEA, said: "I am very excited to be joining UKAEA at this time. UKAEA has a world class resource of fusion scientists and related skills and I look forward to working with Ian Chapman and his team to continue to build our capabilities and to deliver fusion energy for the UK."
Professor Sir Ian Chapman, CEO of UKAEA, said: "It is an exciting time at UKAEA, with a new world record for fusion energy from JET, many unique fusion facilities coming online, and a buoyant fusion industry cluster emerging in the UK. I am very thankful to our previous chair David Gann and Lady Eithne Birt for acting as Interim Chair for the past nine months - both have helped enormously in steering the organisation through considerable growth in recent years. I am looking forward to working with Bernard to build on this platform to deliver on the UK's ambitious fusion strategy."
More about Bernard Taylor
Bernard earned an M.A. from Oxford University (St. John's College) and is a Deputy Steward of the University of Oxford, Chair of the Advisory Board of the Royal Society, Chairman Emeritus of Evercore Partners International LLP, Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, and Deputy Lieutenant of Oxfordshire. His previous roles include: Alumnus and formerly Vice-Chairman of JP Morgan; former Member of the Council of the University of Oxford; former Chairman for the Royal Commission for the Great Exhibition of 1851; former Chairman of Garsington Opera.
