European Nuclear Forum

Francesco de Falco

Chief Executive Officer, Sviluppo Nucleare Italia

Biography

Francesco de Falco is Chief Executive Officer of Sviluppo Nucleare Italia, a joint venture between Enel and EDF, established in July 2009 to develop the project for the construction of at least four EPRs in Italy.

He holds a five year degree in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Rome. He JOINED Enel in1974 he started working in the nuclear Sector with the start up of Caorso Nuclear Power Plant and the PSR of Latina Nuclear Power Plant; during the construction of Montalto di Castro NPP he was appointed Head of the Nuclear Office of ENEL Rome Region.

After the closure of all the Italian NPPs, in 1987, he joined the Enel Generation Division for conventional Power Plants, where he leaded, among others, the Technical Office and the Fuel Oil purchasing Office, (at that time Oil was the primary fuel for electricity generation in Italy).

In 2007 he returned to the nuclear sector, as Head of Nuclear Safety Oversight for the Enel Group. He is also member of the NSAC (Nuclear Safety Advisory Committee), the international experts committee supporting the Slovenske Elektrarne Board on nuclear safety, and of the Nuclear Oversight Committee, established by Endesa to support its oversight on the operation of ANAV Nuclear Power Plants (ASCO 1 & 2, Vandellos 2).

Christoph Schröder

Senior Administrator, DG ENER, European Commission

Biography

Christoph Schröder is working as a senior administrator for the Energy Directorate General of the European Commission in Luxembourg. Nowadays he mainly deals with general aspects of the Commission's nuclear energy policy, and in particular with the European Nuclear Energy Forum as well as information and communication matters.

Prior to joining the Commission in 2004, he headed the minister's office and the public relations department of the ministry of economics affairs in a German federal state.

He studied economics at the University of Saarland in Germany and the University of Michigan in the US.

Jong Kyun Park

Director- Nuclear Power Division, IAEA

Biography

Dr. Jong Kyun PARK acquired his BS in Nuclear Engineering from Seoul National University in Korea in 1973, and his Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Nuclear Engineering and Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in USA in 1979 and 1981, respectively.

He had served in the Republic of Korean Army as first Lieutenant from February 1973 till June 1975. And he had started his career at KAERI in July 1975 as a researcher in the field of Nuclear Engineering and continued extended research in USA at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute from September 1978. After his degrees, he had been working for Combustion Engineering, which was one of the US nuclear vendors(which is now merged into Westinghouse), for 5 years in the field of nuclear engineering and reactor design and for Long Island Lighting Company at Shoreham Nuclear Power Station(which was sold to NY State and later dismantled) for 1 year as a nuclear engineer.

He returned back to KAERI in 1987 taking significant leading roles of research and development in nuclear science and engineering, such as Manager of reactor safety analysis, Directors of nuclear fuel and reactor core design project, nuclear policy research, Korean Next Generation Reactor (APR1400) Development, and Nuclear Training Center. He has served as Vice President at KAERI from May 2002 till September 2009 in the area of Advanced Reactor Technology Development, Advanced Nuclear Technology Development, VHTR and Nuclear Hydrogen Development, and Nuclear Policy and International Relations.

He joined the IAEA in October 2009 as Director, Division of Nuclear Power.

He is a member of American Nuclear Society and Korean Nuclear Society.

Pedro Azagra

Chief Development Officer, Iberdrola

Biography

Pedro Azagra at present is member of the executive committee, responsible for governance of the US business of the Firm reporting to the Chairman and CEO of the Group and Director of Corporate Development reporting to the Chief Strategy and Development Officer.

ViceChairman and board member in Energy East and Board Director at Rokas (Greek traded company) and Iberdrola Portugal.

Professor of Corporate Finance (MBA Program), Mergers and Acquisitions and International Financing (Business Degree Program).

Previously member of the Corporate Finance, Mergers and Acquisitions and Project Finance Departments.

EDUCATION

• Degree in Business and Degree in Law Icade University, Madrid, Spain
• University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business, Master in Business Administration

Iberdrola is the main energy company in Spain, and one of the top 5 power companies worldwide. Currently has a market capitalization in excess of 32,000 million €.

The company has worldwide around 28 million customers and installed capacity of 44,000 MW. Of this figure, more than 10,000 MW are from renewable energy sources, that make Iberdrola the world leader in wind energy, and having a pipeline in renewables in excess of 56,000 MW.

Iberdrola is present in more than 40 countries and has around 33,000 employees.

Chris Harrop

Project Director, Horizon Nuclear Power

Biography

Chris Harrop was recently appointed as the Projects Director for Horizon Nuclear Power, a new JV company formed between E.ON and RWE. Chris reports directly to the COO and is a member of the Horizon senior leadership team. He is responsible for three key strategic areas:

Planning and Consenting of the future large UK nuclear power plants

Development of two UK sites to accommodate 6GW of new nuclear plants working closely with the vendors, central government, local councils and the supply chain

Programme development, project management and construction of nuclear power plants on behalf of HNP

Previously Chris was the Head of UK Nuclear Projects for E.ON. Responsible for the nuclear team and the development of the site options prior to forming the JV.

Prior to that Chris led Centrica during the integration with EDF on the acquisition of British Energy and was Business Development and project lead for AMEC Nuclear Business.

He has thirty years business leadership experience in the energy sector. Gained in Europe, North America and the Far East, this experience ranges from his award winning twelve year contribution to the Chinese Nuclear Self Reliance Programme, to leading large European nuclear and non nuclear utility companies in new strategic partnerships. In short Chris has delivered projects in developing countries and developed companies and countries wishing to build nuclear power plants.

Chris’s success, initially based on an engineering and project management background, is enabled by his experience within the challenging and complex, highly regulated nuclear power industry. His rare depth of recent new build leadership is far reaching. His consistent insightful and “involving” style of leadership has enabled him to build, inspire and motivate highly qualified teams to achieve demanding targets and reach best in class status in a wide range of multi cultural environments. His relationship within the European and North American power community has delivered tangible results without taking unlimited risk profiles.

Luc Geraets

VP, Nuclear Activities Division, GDF Suez

Biography

Education

INSEAD International Executive Programme, Fontainebleau-Singapore, 1999

M.B.A. Innovation Management, Mons Polytechnical Institute, Belgium, 1990

Ph. D. Mechanical Engineering, University of Louvain, Belgium, 1974

M.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Louvain, Belgium, 1969

B.S. Engineering, University of Louvain, Belgium, 1966

Experience

More than 35 years of experience, including 20 years with the engineering office (design and analysis of conventional thermal and nuclear power plant components) and management of large projects.

Participation to the international expansion of GDF SUEZ (in charge of South Asia between 1995 and 2001).

Current position : Corporate Vice President, in charge of Strategy, Business Development and R&D within the Nuclear Activities Division of GDF SUEZ.

Member of the SNE-TP (Sustainable Nuclear Energy – Technological Platform Governing Board since 2007.

Professional affiliations

ASME Life Fellow

INSEAD Alumnus

Jorma Karjala

Senior Manager, Strategic Ventures, Fortum

Biography

Jorma Karjala is serving as a manager for new nuclear in Fortum's Power Division. He started his nuclear career 1972 in the Technical Research Centre of Finland. After that he has worked in nuclear field holding different positions in Teollisuuden Voima Oy (TVO) as well as in TVO Nuclear Services LTD (TVONS).

Mr Karjala has worked several years in the European Commission in Brussels mainly in the area of nuclear energy and nuclear safety.

Besides that Mr Karjala has worked in several major Banks in the field of international banking and project financing.

Mr Karjala has also worked in the Finnish Foreign Ministry.

Mr. Karjala holds a Master of Science -degree in Nuclear Engineering as well as a Diploma in International Marketing and Financial Management.

Herbert Niklaus

Head of Division, Energy Services, Alpiq

Biography

Since February 1996 in different management positions of Alpiq Holding Ltd. Responsible for Alpiq new nuclear power Plant project.

Reijo Sundell

President, Posiva

Biography

Reijo Sundell, M.Sc. Physics, graduated in 1975 from the university of Åbo Akademy. He started his work in Teollisuuden Voima (TVO) at the same year as a Head of Health Physics. After that he has had several positions and responsibility areas in TVO, Manager of Technical Supervision, Manager of Environment, Manager of Logistics and finally Senior Vice President of Operation, responsible for Olkiluoto 1 and 2 plant units. In 2009 he was nominated as a President of Posiva. Posiva is the daughter company of TVO and Fortum Power and Heat, another nuclear power plant operator in Finland. Posiva is responsible for the site selection, investigation, development, technical design, construction and operation of spent fuel repository.

Francesco Mazzuca

Commissioner, Sogin

Biography

Laurea degree in Engineering.

Governmental Commissioner of Sogin spa, Company involved in the decommissioning of Nuclear Sites in Italy.

Member of the Board of Director of Finmeccanica Spa, Director of the Space Office for the University and Research Minister and Delegate for the Italian Government in the European Space Agency.

Member of the Board of Director of the "Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale” - OGS Trieste (I)

Chairman of the Ansaldo Nucleare Board.

Speaker, about technologies and innovation themes, in international and national symposia.

Professor for three years in the University of Tor Vergata, Roma, in the engineering Faculty.

Gerald Ouzounian

Director, International Division, ANDRA

Biography

Gerald Ouzounian has a background in the field of physics and earth sciences. Following his PhD at University of Paris, he spent 10 years for exploration and operating of geothermal fields. He joined Andra in 1989.

Ouzounian has been the head of the Earth Sciences Modelling team, in 1995 he became the advisor for strategies in research programmes, including relationships with waste producers and public stakeholders. In this position he was in charge of coordinating research strategies in the framework of the 1991 Act, including studies of alternatives to the geological disposal, especially partitioning and transmutation. In 2005, he has been appointed as Director at the Head of the International Division in Andra.

József Rónaky

Director General, Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority

Biography

Graduated from the Loránd Eötvös University of Budapest as physicist in 1970, received PhD in natural sciences in 1973.

1999 From 1 September Director General of the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority

1993 Head of the Nuclear Emergency Preparedness organisation of the Paks NPP

1989 Chief nuclear engineer of the NPP responsible for nuclear and radiation safety, and fuel management

1981 Head of Dosimetry Service of the Paks NPP

1979 Health Physicist at the Paks NPP

1976 Head of Laser Development Section at the Hungarian Optical Works (MOM)

1970 Research fellow at the Central Research Institute for Physics (KFKI)

Membership in domestic professional societies:

Past President of the Radiation Protection Section of the Lorand Eötvös Physical Society

Member of the Hungarian Nuclear Society

Member of the Radiation Protection and Environmental Physics Committee of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences

Member of the Standing Advisory Group on Nuclear Applications of the IAEA (2000-2004)

Member of the International Nuclear Safety Group INSAG (2002-2007)

Governor in the Board of the IAEA (2003-2005)

Vice-chair of the OECD NEA Steering Committee

President of the IAEA 2004 General Conference

Isabelle Leboucher

VP Marketing - Back-End Fuel Cycle, AREVA

Biography

Isabelle Leboucher holds a degree in Chemical engineering from Toulouse Engineering school as well as a Master from UMIST (Manchester University).

Isabelle Leboucher joined AREVA group in 1992. She contributed to the ramp-up of La Hague recycling facilities first as start-up team manager and then as project leader on optimization and improvements of the processes. She then moved to the commercial fuel cycle activity organisations for 8 years with various positions from sales of front end products and services to US utilities to MOX technology to Japanese Utilities as well as logistics services to EDF. She thus experienced various approaches of nuclear energy management and developed the understanding of customers needs in their competitive environment and changing world.

Early 2006, she joins the International and Marketing Department of AREVA to enhance the Key Account Managers program both on Installed Base and preparing the New Build. She took the dimension of the importance of partnerships among utilities and nuclear suppliers.

In October 2008 she becomes Vice President Marketing for back end activities, convinced that the time to benefit from maturity of recycling technology and to apply it to a large fleet of used fuel has come.

Antonis Papacostas

Head of Unit, Directorate General Communication, European Commission

Biography

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

11/07 to date: Head of Unit COMM.A.3 "Research and Political Analysis"

02/85 to10/07: European Commission (various services of the EC), Head of Unit since 01/02

STUDIES

1974: University I of Grenoble: DUES option mathematical and Physics:

1976: University I of Grenoble: Control in information technology:

1977: Institut National Polytechnique of Grenoble: DEA in computer Engineering

1980: Paris VI university: Doctorate in information technology

OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

84-85: Greek Parliament

Study for the computerisation of the Greek Parliament.

83-84: Press and Information secretariat

Study for the computerisation of the state Secretariat.

81-82: Military service

Participation in the CCCS (Control and Command System Communication) of the Greek army.

77-80: SINTRA (ENGINEER R&D).

Design of the MIMD/SIMD computers, underwater radar, flight simulators.

1978: IUT of the University XIII of Paris

Assistant (practical work) in the information technology (analysis and programming) of the IUT, University XIII of Paris.

David Stearns

Director, Resource and Energy Group, HSBC

Biography

David leads HSBC's nuclear generation finance working group, joining HSBC's Resources and Energy Group in 2007. He has led numerous M&A and debt transactions across a range of power assets, fuels and technologies in EMEA and the US, representing over 18GW of capacity and raising over $30 billion of debt and equity. Recent deal leadership experience includes:

• M&A Advisor to a bidder on the Offshore Transmission asset tender in the UK (current)
• Advisor and Arranger to the Unit/Elcen sponsored 120MW gas-fired greenfield CHP in Romania (current)
• M&A Advisor and Arranger to a bid for a 2600MW coal and gas-fired CHP complex in the Czech Republic (2009)
• Advisor to the TNK-BP/OGK1 sponsored Nizhnevartovskaya 1600 + 800MW expansion gas-fired IPP in Russia (2008/2009)
• Advisor to Kahramaa and MLA on the GDF-Suez/Mitsui/QP/QEWC sponsored Ras Laffan C 1500MW / 63MIGD gas-fired IWPP in Qatar (2008)
• Advisor/Sole MLA to the Aikengall and West Durham onshore windfarms in the UK (2008)

While in the US, David was closely involved the structuring of a number of US utilities across regulated and deregulated businesses, such as TXU, Aquila, PG&E and AES. In Egypt, he was involved in various privatization initiatives of fixed line telecom networks and the launch of the country's inaugural IPP programIn the nuclear greenfield sector, David was involved in the Olkiluoto 3 bank financing for TVO in Finland.David graduated with a B.A. from Amherst College and an MSc. from Georgetown University (USA)

David previously worked for as co-head for European Power PF for Credit Agricole (5 years), and Citigroup (10 years) in their Global Power transaction group.

Prof. Joseph Safieh

President, European Nuclear Education Network

Biography

Master degree in Physics at "Louis Pasteur" University in Strasbourg France. Engineering degree in Nuclear Engineering from “Institut National des Sciences et Techniques Nucleaires” (CEA/INSTN – Saclay Centre). PhD in Nuclear Engineering : “Study of cold and hot neutron sources equipments for research reactors”. (CEA/INSTN)

Professional experience at CEA (French Atomic Energy Commission): Operation of research reactors, Manager of ULYSSE training reactor (CEA/INSTN) Head of the Nuclear Engineering Educational Unit (CEA/INSTN), Director of INSTN’s “Génie Atomique” Master degree in Nuclear Engineering.

European Nuclear Education Network (ENEN) Association founder member, NEPTUNO European Framework Programme 6, project coordinator and, since March 2006, ENEN Association’s president.

János Tóth

Chairman, TEN Section, EESC

Biography

Civil Society Activities

2008 - present: President of the Hungarian Associaton of Industrial, Technology, Science and Innovation Parks (IPE)

2008 - 2009: President of AICESIS - global Association of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions

2007 - 2008: President-in-office of the Hungarian Economic and Social Council

2006 - present: President of the Section for Energy, Transport, Infrastructure and Information Society (TEN) of the EESC

2006 - present: Member of the Hungarian National Development Council

2005 - 2006: Acting Secretary General of the Hungarian Economic and Social Council

2005 - present: Co-president of the Hungarian Economic and Social Council (GSZT)

2005 - present: Chairman of Group III of the Hungarian Economic and Social Council

2004 – present: member of Bureau EESC

2001 - 2008: Vice-President of the Hungarian Session of ELEC (European League for Economic Cooperation)

1995 - 2008: Vice-President of the Association of Industrial Parks, Hungary (IPE)

1992 - present: Founder and/or Board member of different Hungarian philanthropy or charity foundations

Professional activity

2002 - present: Chartered mediator at the Hungarian Ministry of Justice

1994 - present: Lawyer, member of Budapest Bar Association, founder of Dr.vTOTH Law Firm

Education

1993-1995: PhD at ELTE international trade law

1988: Barrister and solicitor exam at Ministry of Justice

1980-1986: ELTE University Budapest Faculty of State and Law Sciences "summa cum laude" doctor

Languages

English, German, Russian

Born in Budapest, 1962

Prof. Steve Thomas

Professor of Energy Policy, University of Greenwich

Biography

Stephen Thomas is Professor of Energy Policy at the Business School of the University of Greenwich, London, where he has led the energy research since 2001. He has worked as an independent energy policy researcher for more than 30 years. From 1979-2000, he was a member of the Energy Policy Programme at SPRU, University of Sussex and in 2001, he spent 10 months as a visiting researcher in the Energy Planning Programme at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. He has published extensively on economics and policy on nuclear power including a book co-edited by him, International Perspectives on Energy Policy and the Role of Nuclear Power’ in 2009.

Dr Brian Murphy

Research Director, Cogent SSC

Biography

Dr Brian Murphy was appointed to the Directorate of Cogent in 2007. Cogent is the Sector Skills Council which represents a number of science- and engineering-using sectors of manufacturing: Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Nuclear, Petroleum, Polymers, Oil and Gas. In addition to leading the Cogent Research team, Brian also has a special responsibility to lead the Science and Higher Education team at Cogent and most recently was successful in £3m HEFCE bid for HE workforce development in the Nuclear, Chemical and Bioscience sectors.

In the nuclear field, Brian and his team have worked closely with employers, government and stakeholders to produce the widely disseminated, peer-reviewed Renaissance Skills reports; namely:

• Power People: The Civil Nuclear Industry 2009-2025, September 2009
• Next Generation: Skills for New Build Nuclear, March 2010
• Assurance: Skills for Nuclear Defence, in press Q4 2010

Brian is a regular invited lecturer on the national and international circuit for nuclear and has recently been invited to Chair the OECD/NEA advisory panel on global skills needs for the industry.

In a career spanning over two decades, Brian has worked in a broad sector of other institutions in the UK and Australia, a consistent thread of which is the application of skills to a variety of workplace and business interests. Brian has approaching one hundred papers in subject research, learning and teaching, and labour market information.

Jean Le Cocguic

Senior Policy Analyst, OECD

Biography

As a Senior Advisor at the OECD Secretariat since 2001, Jean has advised OECD Governments, non OECD officials, financial institutions, large corporate and civil society organisations on the negotiation and the implementation of international agreements in the area of officially supported export credits. These agreements set out the disciplines applicable to the provision of official support for export credits, whether financial, environmental or in the area of anti-bribery in international export contracts.

On substance Jean was closely involved in the negotiations of several agreements which set the financial terms and conditions applying to the exports of nuclear reactors (July 2009 agreement), renewable energies projects (July 2009) or aircraft (July 2007). Jean also advises the relevant OECD committees on the legal linkages between the OECD disciplines on export credits and the WTO legislation and litigation on export subsidies.

Prior to 2001, Jean was the Deputy Permanent Representative of France to the WTO, covering WTO negotiations on trade in services, intellectual property and investment. Jean has also been France’s spokesman in various international negociations, including in the European Union, as a Trade Policy Analyst at the French Ministry of Finance and Foreign Trade.

Jean holds a Maîtrise in International Law from the Bordeaux Law School and is a graduate of both the Bordeaux Institut d’Etudes Politiques and the French Ecole Nationale d’Administration.

Philipp Elkuch

President, Nuclear + Transmission & Distribution, Pöyry AG, Switzerland

Biography

Philipp Elkuch is Head of the Competence Line Nuclear Energy since January 2009. He is responsible for Pöyry's operations in this area on a worldwide basis. Pöyry's consulting and engineering services for the Nuclear Energy sector covers the entire lifecycle of nuclear energy assets and comprises Asset Strategies & Development, Project Implementation, Services for Assets in operation as well as Decommissioning Services.

Philipp Elkuch has been appointed President Central Europe as of January 2011, responsible for all Energy related topics, including Hydropower, Thermal Power, Transmission & Distribution next to Nuclear Energy.

Philipp started his career as Project Manager for ABB Power Generation in the area of combined cycle power plants. After joining the Pöyry group in 2000, he was responsible for Pöyry's Management Consulting operations in Southern Europe. In 2005, he was appointed Managing Director of Pöyry in Italy, being responsible for Pöyry's activities in Italy and South-East Europe.

Philipp holds Master Degrees in both Mechanical Engineering and Business Administration, working in assessment, safety research, site inspection and policy functions.

Olivier Grosfils

Products Director - New Plants & Plant Modifications, Tractebel Engineering

Biography

O. Grosfils, Products Director in the Nuclear Department at Tractebel Engineering, is in charge of the engineering activities for New Nuclear Power Plants and Modifications of existing ones.

With a Civil Engineering background, an Executive Masters in Management and a solid experience in business development and marketing & sales, he is now responsible of a team of Project Managers directly involved in the nuclear renaissance, this either through the extension of the life duration of existing plans, or in the development of new units.

Professor Gerd Wolf

Vice-President, Section for Transport, Energy, Infrastructure an, European Economic and Social Committee

Biography

Prof. Dr. Gerd Wolf is presently vice-president of section TEN of the European Economic and Social Committee EESC. After his studies of Technical Physics at the Technical University Munich and his thesis (Maier-Leibnitz) in nuclear physics he started a career in plasma-physics at the Munich Max-Planck-Institute for Physics and Astrophysics (Heisenberg). In 1975 he became director at the Institute for Plasmaphysics at Research Centre Juelich and later both, Professor for Experimental Physics at Düsseldorf University and head of the Jülich Fusion Project; being Emeritus from these tasks since 1999. He acted on many advisory and other scientific committees and in 1998 became member of the EESC where his main engagement concerns science and energy policy. So far, he has been Rapporteur of 29 “Opinions” of the EESC, giving recommendations on these subjects to the Council, the Parliament and the Commission.