The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has announced plans to align its leadership structure to other nuclear regulators around the world with a new combined post of Chief Nuclear Inspector/Chief Executive.
Chief Nuclear Inspector Mark Foy will take up the new combined post, subject to detailed government approvals, supported by current Deputy Chief Executive, Sarah High. A new senior regulatory role, Executive Director of Operations/Deputy Chief Inspector, will also be established. The exact timescales have yet to be confirmed, but the changes will come into effect later in 2021.
Under existing contractual arrangements, current Chief Executive Adriènne Kelbie CBE was always expected to step down as her extended term of office comes to an end in January 2022.
The change reflects ONR’s successful transition into a mature and high performing organisation since becoming an independent Public Corporation in 2014.
Since then, ONR has established and developed the organisational functions and systems required of a standalone corporate body. This means it is now able to implement changes to the leadership structure that further integrate its regulatory work and corporate operations, as recommended from the 2008 government-sponsored Nuclear Regulatory Review. The latest stakeholder survey showed that ONR is regarded as professional, independent and trusted.
ONR Chair Mark McAllister said: “Our current leadership arrangements have served us well. We have developed a strong, cohesive leadership team and the right building blocks to take our organisation forward.
“Under Adriènne’s leadership since 2016, we’ve come a long way, becoming a mature organisation with the infrastructure required to operate as a self-standing regulator with a healthy and inclusive culture. At the same time, the Chief Nuclear Inspector role has broadened to incorporate a strong command of corporate priorities.
“Now is the right time to adopt a leadership structure that further integrates and aligns our functions. This new leadership model will support us to deliver our 2020-25 Strategy and continue to protect society by securing safe nuclear operations, now and in the future.”