UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd (UKIFS), are proud to announce a series of senior engineering appointments within the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) programme. These appointments mark a pivotal moment in STEP’s evolution as it transitions into an integrated delivery organisation, reinforcing its commitment to delivering the UK’s first prototype fusion energy plant by the early 2040s.
STEP is the UK’s flagship fusion programme, designed to demonstrate net energy from fusion and catalyse the development of a commercial fusion energy sector. Sponsored by the Department for Energy and Net Zero (DESNZ), STEP is a nationally significant infrastructure project based at West Burton, a former coal-fired power station site in Nottinghamshire. The programme is expected to unlock significant economic growth, particularly around the “Megawatt Valley” on the Nottinghamshire/Lincolnshire border, supporting thousands of jobs and positioning the UK as a global leader in fusion energy.
Engineering Leadership Appointments
Jonathan Keep – Deputy Chief Engineer: Leading whole plant integration across STEP, drawing on extensive experience in F1 engineering and fusion systems.
Ezzat Nasr – Head of Whole Plant Performance: Overseeing balance of plant characteristics and performance integration, with a background as a Chemical Engineer in the nuclear fission sector.
Ben Ireland – Head of Engineering Assurance: Ensuring plant outcomes through rigorous assurance processes, with deep industry experience from submarines and small modular fission reactors.
Jason Boyle – Design Chief Architect: Leading integrated facility design, bringing over 25 years of architectural and nuclear fission regulatory experience.
Phill Mulvana – Head of Engineering Governance: Developing engineering standards and processes, he brings extensive experience in regulatory strategy, engineering governance, and safety-critical systems across both public and private sectors.
Dr. Patricia Verrier – Head of Engineering, Computing, Modelling and Simulation: Advancing digital engineering tools, with a background in theoretical astrophysics and secure software development.
Jack Acres – Head of Engineering, Power and Cooling: Leading thermal management systems, Jack is a Chartered Engineer with industry experience in developing process plant technologies.
Michael Lord – Head of Engineering, Fuel Cycle: Driving fuel cycle system design, combining particle physics and aerospace engineering expertise.
Sam Davis – Head of Engineering, Tokamak Machine: Delivering the tokamak and its subsystems, with hands-on experience from leading the delivery of the JT-60SA tokamak upgrade project in Japan.
This successful recruitment milestone delivers leadership to bring together the design of the prototype plant, perfect the technology and ultimately move to construction phases. Working with commercial partners in fusion science, construction and engineering, STEP will bring together the various aspects required to both design commercial fusion power plants and ensure that the UK has the knowledge and industrial capability to deliver them.
Quote from Paul Methven, CEO of UKIFS:
These appointments mark a critical milestone in STEP’s journey. As we move from concept to delivery, having the right engineering leadership in place is essential to realise our mission: to demonstrate fusion energy and build a world-leading fusion supply chain that delivers for the UK. The scale and complexity of this challenge demands not only technical excellence but a shared vision and commitment to innovation. I’m excited to work with this talented team as we take the next steps toward a fusion-powered future.
Recruitment for the Head of Engineering, Prototype and Testing role is nearing completion, with further announcements expected shortly.
