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/

How do you go from advocating for nuclear to working inside the industry? Jens Christiansen shares how activism shaped his path into engineering.  

In this episode of Hot Off The Grid, we speak with Jens Christiansen about his journey from grassroots advocacy in Denmark into a career in nuclear: 

• What it’s like entering the industry after years of campaigning   
• The people and moments that helped him make the transition   
• Denmark’s evolving relationship with nuclear energy   
• Why attracting the next generation into nuclear matters   

Guest Bio: Jens Christiansen is a nuclear engineer and advocate, known for his work promoting nuclear energy in Denmark and his ambition to build a long-term career in reactor physics. 

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

Jens Christiansen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jens-christiansen/   
Rullion: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/rullion   

Can we actually solve nuclear waste for good? Liz Muller explains how deep borehole technology could make disposal faster, safer and more cost-effective. 

In this episode of Hot Off The Grid, we speak with Liz Muller, CEO and co-founder of Deep Fission, about rethinking one of nuclear energy’s biggest challenges: 

• How a childhood question led her into nuclear   
• What deep borehole disposal is and why it matters   
• Why cost and speed are critical to solving waste   
• What it takes to innovate in a traditionally slow-moving industry   

 
Guest Bio: Liz Muller is the CEO and co-founder of Deep Fission, focused on advancing deep borehole technology to transform nuclear waste disposal. 

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

Liz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethmuller/   
Rullion: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/rullion   
Deep Fission: https://www.deepfission.com/   

How do you break into nuclear when there’s no clear path? Juliette Martin shares her journey across countries and into one of the UK’s biggest energy projects. 

In this episode of Hot Off The Grid, we speak with Juliette Martin, Plant Layout Engineer at EDF, about her path into the nuclear industry and what it really takes to get started: 

• How she navigated a career across Japan, France and the UK   
• What it’s like working on Hinkley Point C   
• How EDF’s VIE programme opened the door into nuclear   
• Why representation and community matter in the industry

Guest Bio: Juliette Martin is a Plant Layout Engineer at EDF, working on major nuclear projects including Hinkley Point C. 

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

Juliette: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliette-martin-264268199/  
Rullion: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/rullion  

Edvance: https://www.edvance.fr/