Our People is a regular feature focusing on staff at the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and the work we do every day to help keep the nuclear industry safe and secure.
It aims to bring our jobs to life while increasing understanding of our role among key stakeholders.
Today, we meet Stephanie Lavergne and hear more about her role as an inspector with ONR's safeguards team.
Stephanie brings extensive experience to the regulator, having joined in May 2019 after 20 years at the Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) in France.
On 31 December 2020, ONR became the UK's nuclear safeguards regulator, in charge of the domestic safeguards regime and operating the UK State System of Accountancy for, and Control of, Nuclear Materials (SSAC).
It meant developing a team of safeguards specialists, including inspectors and nuclear material accountants, and implementing a bespoke IT system, SIMRS (Safeguards Information Reporting and Management System).
Nuclear safeguards are measures to verify that countries comply with their international obligations not to use nuclear materials from their civil nuclear programmes for non-peaceful purposes.
Stephanie arrived at ONR at a crucial time, becoming part of a newly formed team responsible for implementing UK safeguards arrangements following the transition from EURATOM oversight.
This change came as the UK needed to demonstrate robust procedures for ensuring the safe and peaceful use of nuclear materials after departure from the European Union.
Stephanie said: "When I joined, there was significant work ahead of us We needed to develop new processes and test them thoroughly.
“Some dutyholders volunteered to help us pilot these procedures. While they had to adapt to different approaches compared to EURATOM, our ultimate goal remained the same – proper implementation of safeguards."
"We've worked closely with dutyholders to refine our processes and guidance. It's been particularly rewarding to build trust with operators and work alongside safety and security site inspectors during joint inspections."
This relatively new safeguards function within ONR has been well received, and at the end of 2023, a delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency concluded within a global annual review that ONR's safeguards international reporting regime is among the most comprehensive in the world.
Now the lead safeguards inspector for Springfields UK Ltd in Lancashire, Stephanie takes pride in her contribution to developing UK safeguards and looks forward to further embedding these processes.
She said: "While we're in a strong position, we're still a relatively young team within the organisation. There's scope to develop further, particularly in improving collaboration and information sharing across ONR."
Outside work, Stephanie's life in London includes her cat Coco and interests including cycling, hiking and scrapbooking.
However, her sporting achievements are particularly noteworthy. What began as an unexpected gift of rollerblades from her brother 20 years ago has led to a remarkable inline skating career.
She has represented the French National team for a decade in European and National championships, and recently achieved the impressive feat of winning a British championship, making her both a British and French champion.
ONR's values are fundamental to how we operate," Stephanie added.
"These principles have helped me build strong, trusting relationships with both colleagues and dutyholders – something I'm proud of and eager to continue to develop."