We’re delighted that Mike Finnerty has taken up his role this week as our new Chief Executive/Chief Nuclear Inspector, bringing a range of experience in the nuclear sector, most recently at the International Atomic Energy Agency.
You will certainly be hearing more from Mike in this publication in the months and years ahead.
In spring we also welcomed Dr Nicki Crauford as our new permanent Chair, and in this edition she shares her reflections of her first four-months in post.
There has been lots of talk about nuclear in recent weeks - with major government announcements on its ambitions for the sector as part of the Spending Review.
This included the £14.2bn investment for Sizewell C, more than £6bn of investment to the nuclear submarine industrial base in support of the Strategic Defence Review, and the announcement that the Rolls Royce SMR has been selected as the preferred bidder in Great British Nuclear’s SMR competition.
We are keenly aware of the government's priorities and welcome the clarity this provides for our regulatory planning.
We recognise our role in supporting economic growth which we maintain through our enabling approach to regulation and being open to innovative and cost-effective ways of working.
Meanwhile, our work continues with the government’s nuclear regulatory taskforce. The open and honest conversations have been a key feature of the process so far and we share a joint ambition to ensure our nuclear regulation is as efficient and effective as it can be.
You may have seen that in May we published our Interim Strategy Statement which looks forward to 2030 and keeps nuclear safety, and the protection of workers and the public, at the heart of everything we do.
We also want to promote stakeholder confidence in our work and continue to develop risk-informed and well-targeted regulation which adds value and enables the industry to safely achieve its goals.
This edition includes articles about how this enabling regulatory approach has helped in the completion of Sizewell A turbine hall demolition project and a new safety culture measurement tool for nuclear organisations.
As always, if you have any comments about ONR, any of the topics included in this newsletter, please get in touch via contact@onr.gov.uk.
Best wishes
Rachel Grant Director of Strategy and Corporate Affairs | 
