Linda
- Name
- Linda
- Job Title
- Commercial Manager
- Company
- BNFL, Sellafield
Linda graduated with an MSci degree in Mathematics from the University of Glasgow and followed it with a Postgraduate Diploma in IT. Linda had never considered a career in the nuclear industry and admits she knew nothing about the nuclear industry before she started. However while at an assessment centre for IBM another candidate mentioned BNFL. Linda investigated, thought it looked interesting, applied, and was ultimately offered a job at Sellafield on the graduate development programme starting in April 2003.
Linda started in the High Level Waste Plants department on the programme concerned with the return of High Level Waste to overseas reprocessing customers in Japan and Europe. As a mathematician, Linda was accountable for maintaining and developing mathematical models for a variety of purposes from risk modelling of plant processes to the radiological modelling of High Level Waste transport flasks.
As part of the graduate scheme, graduates have to do a three to six month secondment. Linda’s secondment was into the commercial department to work as part of a small team leading Sellafield’s contribution to the implementation of the Energy Act 2004 and the creation of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). On completion of this secondment, Linda was asked to stay in the commercial department where she has carried out a number of roles including; Cost / Price Analyst, Workstream Leader in the project separating the Low Level Waste Repository (LLWR) near Drigg from Sellafield Ltd, Senior Contract Specialist for Sellafield’s Legacy Ponds and most recently as the Commercial Manager for all of Sellafield’s functional areas (Environment, Health Safety & Quality, Finance, Information Systems and Technology, Strategy & Transition and Capability).
Aspirations
Linda plans to stay in the nuclear industry for the foreseeable future probably remaining in the decommissioning and clean-up area. However, she is all to aware of the range of opportunities that will arise as a result of nuclear new build and is delighted that even more opportunities will be available.
YGN Chair Role
Linda is also chair of The British Nuclear Energy Society Young Generation Network (BNES YGN). The BNES YGN is a national group of over 600 young professionals working, studying or simply interested in the nuclear industry. The YGN brings opportunities to get involved in all areas of the industry though the provision of training, development and networking opportunities. The YGN also responds to consultations on issues that affect the nuclear industry and / or specifically affect younger members. For example Linda, on behalf of YGN recently responded to the NDA’s draft 3-year business plan as she does not believe that it adequately addresses issues with skills in the nuclear industry.
Challenges in the Industry
Linda does not believe that being female in the nuclear industry comes with any disadvantages being ‘young’ is certainly the biggest issue. However, this is an issue which can be overcome by hard work and determination and Linda believes that once colleagues realise the value that ‘younger’ members of the industry bring, any discrimination soon disappears.