Dr Mark Edmiston BSc PhD CChemFRSC CFIOSH FNucI MSyI
WHAT DO YOU DO?
I am Head of Independent Assurance and I lead the NNL oversight team and work with a small group of talented and highly experienced colleagues.
WHAT WAS YOUR ROUTE INTO THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY?
My route into the nuclear stemmed after completing my PhD in Inorganic Chemistry and joining BNFL where I undertook managerial roles within the company.
WHY DID YOU BECOME A MEMBER OF THE NUCLEAR INSTITUTE?
I was keen to become more involved in the Institute and, within NNL, we are actively promoting greater levels of membership. It was also an important part of our internal nuclear professionalism programme.
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE BENEFITS OF PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP?
There are undoubted benefits in being able to share practices with other nuclear professionals and broaden horizons in terms of the totality of what is happening in the nuclear industry in the UK and internationally. It is also good to have professional recognition!
WHAT DOES YOUR PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP/CHARTERSHIP/ACCREDITATION MEAN TO YOU?
As above, professional recognition as well as access to like-minded fellow nuclear professionals and the network.
HOW DID YOU FIND THE APPLICATION PROCESS? ANY TIPS FOR ASPIRING MNucI/FNucI?
Whilst the process involves effort, as with everything in life, it’s a case of “no gain without some pain”. That said, it was useful to reflect on how my role supports nuclear safety and security and the industry more broadly as well as previous achievements.
I would encourage applicants not to be daunted by the process in any way. It is really a case of writing about your role and how the elements of the Nuclear Delta apply to your day-to-day work. Talking it through with colleagues undoubtedly helps. I’d also encourage anyone in the industry to consider the application: you don’t need to be a front-line nuclear worker. Every single one of us is a nuclear professional: we support nuclear safety and security in different ways.
HAVE YOU UNDERTAKEN ANY NI VOLUNTEERING ROLES? WHAT DID YOU GAIN FROM THIS?
I became an Assessor. I enjoy undertaking assessments and ensuring high standards are applied. I see this as important in maintaining and developing the overall standing of the NI as well as encouraging individual membership applications!
I have also been actively involved in implementing the NIOP (Nuclear Independent Oversight Professional) qualification as part of the NI offering. This is a joint project involving NI and the Independent Oversight Working Group (IOWG)*. It seeks to enhance the professional standing of independent assurance and internal regulation colleagues across the industry.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU?
I will continue to develop oversight within NNL and play my small part in advancing the profession within the industry. I have just become Chair of the IOWG so there are many industry-wide oversight challenges to tackle. Embedding the NIOP qualification is an important short-term goal. Within the NI I will be continuing as an Assessor and have volunteered for CPD assessment too: there may be other areas where I can support the Institute.
More broadly, I have a number of mentoring roles internally which will continue unabated.
It’s so encouraging to see the talent that is coming through and, after 32 years in nuclear, it’s great that the industry has bever been in a better place to power a sustainable future whilst dealing responsibly with the legacies of the past.
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