Professor Ian Chapman has been reappointed to lead the UK
Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) as its CEO for a second
term of office, following four highly successful years
deepening its scientific capabilities, its technological
collaboration with industry and its international
reputation.
This comes at a time of significant growth for the
organisation, which is managing multiple ground-breaking
experiments and new programmes.
Ian Chapman will continue to lead the UK’s magnetic
confinement fusion research programme at Culham. This
includes running the world’s most powerful operational
fusion research machine, the Joint European Torus (JET), on
behalf of the EU, and a programme of experiments on the
recently-completed MAST Upgrade device.
He is determined to push ahead with UKAEA’s many ambitious
goals:
“I am delighted to be given the opportunity to lead UKAEA
through exciting changes over the next few years,” Ian
Chapman said. “As we strive to tackle climate change and at
the same time deliver benefits to the UK economy, our
fusion energy mission is more vital than ever.
“Next year, JET will conduct unique high power fusion
experiments that cannot be done anywhere else in the world,
whilst MAST Upgrade will explore new solutions to exhaust
extreme heat from fusion devices. Our programmes in
materials, robotics, tritium and fusion technology will
continue to expand and help UK industry to thrive. Finally,
through the STEP programme, we have an audacious goal to
deliver a demonstration fusion power plant – something I
truly believe will change the world.”
Ian Chapman joined UKAEA after receiving his MSc in
Mathematics and Physics from Durham University in 2004,
before completing a PhD in plasma physics from Imperial
College London in 2008 – rising to become UKAEA’s Head of
Tokamak Science in 2014. His research has been recognised
with a number of international awards, including the
Institute of Physics Paterson Medal in 2013, the American
Physical Society Thomas H. Stix Award in 2017 and the Royal
Society Kavli Medal in 2019. He chairs the IAEA Fusion
Research Committee.
,
Minister for Science, Research and Innovation said:
“Under Ian Chapman’s leadership, UKAEA has grown rapidly in
ambition and capability, putting in place a bold new
programme to deliver the world’s first commercially viable
fusion power plant. I am delighted at his reappointment and
am sure he will continue to drive UK leadership in the
world of fusion energy research.”
Professor Chapman will be supported in his role by four new
Non-executive Directors: Lady Eithne Birt, Stephen Barter,
Dr. Luc Bardin and Mark Bayley. All bring wide experience
and expertise from across the public and private sectors to
the Board, in particular in property and real estate;
financing and strategic partnerships with the private and
public sectors. They will join the four existing
non-executive Board members – Sir , Shrin
Honap, Sue Scane and Chris Theobald.
Chair of the UKAEA Board, Professor David Gann, said:
“Ian’s vision and leadership over the last four years has
laid the foundations for an incredibly exciting period in
UKAEA’s history. UKAEA leads the world in fusion science
and technology and we can look forward with confidence to
next year’s key experiments on JET, the first operations on
MAST Upgrade and the construction of the Hydrogen 3
Advanced Technology (H3AT) tritium facility.
“The next four years will be transformative, with new
Fusion Testing facilities in Rotherham and completion of
concept design for the world’s first fusion reactor to put
power on the grid. I am delighted that we will continue to
benefit from Ian’s outstanding leadership and the
opportunity this brings to make the UK the best place
anywhere to develop fusion energy.”
