Hot Off The Grid

What does the future of nuclear decommissioning look like, and why do different voices matter in shaping it?In this episode of Hot Off The Grid, Phoebe Lynch, Head of Innovation at Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS), shares her journey from apprentice electrician to leading innovation across nuclear restoration.Starting her career as the only woman among hundreds of men at college, Phoebe reflects on building a career in a traditionally male-dominated industry, the importance of staying authentic and why diversity of thought can lead to better ideas, better engineering and better solutions.The conversation explores the changing face of nuclear decommissioning, from robotics and AI to environmental restoration and the challenge of safely and sustainably restoring sites for future use.Phoebe also discusses innovation culture, psychological safety and why creating an environment where people feel able to challenge established thinking and ask questions is so important to the future of the sector.We also hear why collaboration across nuclear matters, the opportunities available to people entering the industry and what needs to change to attract a broader range of people and perspectives.🔗 Connect with Phoebe Lynch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phoebe-lynch-a9a885205/💼 Learn more about Nuclear Restoration Services: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nuclear-restoration-services/💼 Explore careers in energy: https://www.rullion.co.uk/jobs/#/energy#HotOffTheGridPodcast #Nuclear #NuclearDecommissioning #Engineering #Innovation #WomenInSTEM

What does it take to turn one of Britain’s biggest infrastructure projects from vision into reality?

Julia Pyke CBE spent years at the heart of Sizewell C, helping take the project from development through investment and Financial Close and into construction.

In this episode of Hot Off The Grid, Julia joins Sibel Akel Saoulli to share the story behind Sizewell C and explore nuclear, infrastructure and the lasting impact major projects can have on the people and communities around them.

They discuss:

• How Julia went from studying English and becoming a lawyer to leading major infrastructure projects
• Why she changed her mind about nuclear energy
• What it takes to move a project on the scale of Sizewell C from vision to reality
• Why critical infrastructure should create social value, skills and opportunities beyond construction
• The skills challenge facing the industry and why young people need clearer pathways into infrastructure careers
• Why creativity, the arts and human skills matter alongside technical expertise

From nuclear financing and infrastructure delivery to skills, community impact and long-term thinking, Julia offers a fascinating perspective on what it takes to deliver infrastructure designed to serve generations.

Sizewell C has moved firmly into construction, with major milestones now taking place on the Suffolk coast.

Guest bio: Julia Pyke CBE is the former Joint Managing Director of Sizewell C, where she played a leading role in taking one of Britain’s largest infrastructure projects through development, Final Investment Decision and Financial Close and into construction.

Julia holds a portfolio of leadership and advisory roles across energy and infrastructure, including Chair of Agilia Infrastructure Partners, Clean Power Commissioner at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and Non-Executive Director roles at Repower Initiative and Studsvik. She was awarded a CBE for services to energy in 2026.

Follow Hot Off The Grid for more conversations with the people shaping nuclear, energy and critical infrastructure.

Julia Pyke: ⁠Julia Pyke FEI, HonFNucl | LinkedIn⁠  

Sizewell C: ⁠Sizewell C: Posts | LinkedIn⁠  

Rullion: ⁠https://uk.linkedin.com/company/rullion⁠ 

How do you make better decisions when everything is connected?

Abbie Badcock-Broe joins Hot Off The Grid to discuss why systems thinking has become one of the most valuable skills in critical infrastructure, and how long-term strategy, collaboration and policy all shape the future of the UK's energy system.

In this conversation we explore:

• Why systems thinking helps solve complex infrastructure challenges
• How strategy, policy and investment shape the energy transition
• Why curiosity, collaboration and asking better questions lead to better decisions

Guest bio

Abbie Badcock-Broe is a Non-Executive Director at Energise Landscape Ltd and former Head of Corporate, UK & Decarbonisation Strategy at National Grid. With nearly 20 years' experience across renewables, energy retail, system operations and infrastructure, she specialises in strategy, systems thinking and helping organisations navigate complex challenges across the energy transition.

Follow Hot Off The Grid for more conversations with the people shaping the future of energy and critical infrastructure.

Abbie Badcock-Broe: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/abbiebadcockbroe

Rullion: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/rullion

What does engineering really look like behind the scenes? Yasmin Ali shares how a childhood shaped by power cuts led her into energy, battery technology and public engagement, and why the industry needs to rethink how it attracts talent. 
 

In this episode of Hot Off The Grid, we speak with Yasmin Ali about careers, clean energy and the human side of engineering: 
• Growing up in Baghdad during the Gulf War and how early experiences shaped her perspective on energy 
• Why she went from wanting to study medicine to becoming a chartered chemical engineer 
• Writing her book during lockdown while working full time in energy 
• Her journey from coal and gas power stations into clean energy and battery technology 
• The recruitment and skills gap holding the energy industry back 
• How volunteering, communication and saying yes to new opportunities helped shape her career 
 
From power stations and government policy to BBC science journalism, book festivals and battery software innovation, Yasmin’s career shows just how varied engineering can be and why visibility matters in attracting the next generation into the industry. 

Guest Bio: Yasmin Ali is a chartered chemical engineer, author and energy professional working at the forefront of battery and energy management technology at RWE. Across her career, she has worked in power generation, government, clean energy innovation and public engagement, while becoming a passionate advocate for widening access into engineering and helping more people understand the role energy plays in everyday life. 

Follow the show for more conversations on critical infrastructure, including nuclear, energy and the future of the grid. 
 

Yasmin Ali: Yasmin Ali | LinkedIn 
Yasmin’s book: https://www.engineeryasmin.com/book.html ‘Power Up: An Engineer's Adventures into Sustainable Energy’ 
RWE: (28) RWE: Overview | LinkedIn 
Rullion: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/rullion 

Why is energy still seen as confusing from the outside? Daljeet Kaur shares why simplifying the sector could unlock better customer experiences, stronger talent pipelines and a more accessible future for energy.

In this episode of Hot Off The Grid, we speak with Daljeet, COO of Valda Energy, about building a modern energy business and what it takes to scale in a fast-moving sector:
• How Daljeet went from apprentice to COO in the energy sector
• What it took to scale Valda Energy from 6 to 130+ employees
• Why culture and career progression matter more than ever in attracting talent
• Why simplifying communication could solve one of energy’s biggest challenges

Guest Bio: Daljeet is the COO of Valda Energy, a leading UK business energy supplier focused on supporting SMEs. She joined the business as employee number five and has helped scale the company through rapid growth, disruption and digital transformation.

Follow the show for more conversations on nuclear, energy and the future of the grid.

Daljeet: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daljeet-kaur-6539b079/
Valda Energy: www.valdaenergy.com
Rullion: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/rullion

Is there really a skills shortage in energy, or is something else holding the sector back? Miguel Trenkel-Lopez shares why communication and education may be the real barriers to scaling the workforce. 

In this episode of Hot Off The Grid, we speak with Miguel Trenkel-Lopez, founder of Megawatt, about the future of energy talent and how we attract, develop and retain the workforce needed to deliver critical infrastructure: 

• How Miguel’s journey into nuclear started through a graduate scheme 
• Why energy is one of the biggest challenges facing the global economy
• The difference between renewable and sustainable energy and why it matters 
• How Megawatt is building energy literacy through interactive learning 
• Why the sector’s biggest issue may be communication, not capability 
• The importance of reaching talent beyond traditional STEM routes 
• Why the energy workforce needs to nearly double in the next five years 
• What the future workforce will look like across energy and nuclear 

Guest Bio: Miguel Trenkel-Lopez is the founder of Megawatt, an education platform that has grown from a card game into a programme helping schools and organisations build energy literacy and inspire future talent pipelines. 

Follow the show for more conversations on nuclear, energy and the future of the grid. 

Miguel Trenkel-Lopez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/migueltl 
Megawatt: https://megawatt.game 
Rullion: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/rullion 

What does nuclear regulation actually look like from the inside? Rani Franovich shares lessons from three decades shaping reactor policy in the US. 

In this episode of Hot Off The Grid, we speak with Rani Franovich, former senior leader at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, about what it really takes to regulate nuclear safely: 

• How nuclear regulation works behind the scenes   
• How policy has evolved over the past three decades   
• Why modernisation is critical as new reactor technologies emerge   
• The role regulation plays in enabling the future of clean energy    

Guest Bio: Rani Franovich is a former senior leader at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and now works with Deep Fission, bringing decades of experience in nuclear regulation and policy. 

Follow the show for more conversations on nuclear, energy and the future of the grid. 

Rani Franovich: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rani-franovich/   
Rullion: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/rullion   
Deep Fission: https://www.deepfission.com/

Is nuclear waste really as big a problem as we think? Rod Baltzer explains why the reality might be very different. 

In this episode of Hot Off The Grid, we speak with Rod Baltzer, CEO of Deep Isolation, about how nuclear waste is often misunderstood and what new approaches mean for long-term disposal: 

• Why only a small portion of nuclear waste requires deep geological storage   
• How borehole technology is changing the way we think about disposal   
• His unexpected path into the nuclear industry   
• Why transferable skills are more relevant in nuclear than you might expect   

Guest Bio: Rod Baltzer is the CEO of Deep Isolation, focused on developing innovative solutions for the safe, long-term disposal of nuclear waste. 

Follow the show for more conversations on nuclear, energy and the future of the grid. 

Rod Baltzer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodbaltzer/   
Rullion: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/rullion   
Deep Isolation: https://www.deepisolation.com/   

Why is nuclear struggling to attract the next generation? Nancy Bellingan explains what’s holding talent back and what needs to change. 

In this episode of Hot Off The Grid, we speak with Nancy Bellingan, nuclear physicist at Createc, about the challenge of building the future nuclear workforce: 

• Why young talent isn’t entering nuclear at the pace it needs   
• The role of early education in shaping career choices   
• The barriers facing graduates trying to break into the industry   
• Why visibility, mentorship and culture matter more than ever    

Guest Bio: Nancy Bellingan is a nuclear physicist at Createc, focused on innovation and supporting the next generation of talent in the nuclear sector. 

Follow the show for more conversations on nuclear, energy and the future of the grid.

Nancy Bellingan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-bellingan/   
Rullion: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/rullion   
Createc: https://www.createc.com/ 

Can changing public perception unlock the future of nuclear? Guillem Sanchis Ramírez explains why communication matters as much as technology. 

In this episode of Hot Off The Grid, we speak with Guillem Sanchis Ramírez, nuclear engineer at IDOM Consulting, about the role of communication in shaping the future of nuclear: 

• How a teacher first sparked his interest in nuclear   
• His work in thermohydraulics across nuclear and fusion projects   
• Why public perception is one of the industry’s biggest challenges   
• How Econucleares is supporting nuclear in Spain    

Guest Bio: Guillem Sanchis Ramírez is a nuclear engineer at IDOM Consulting and co-founder of Econucleares, focused on advancing nuclear energy and public understanding in Spain. 

Follow the show for more conversations on nuclear, energy and the future of the grid. 

Guillem Sanchis Ramírez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guillem-sr/   
Rullion: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/rullion   
Econucleares: https://www.econucleares.com/