Gwen Parry-Jones, CEO of Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N), will be stepping down from her role on 30th September as planned. As one of the founding members of GBE-N, Gwen has played a pivotal role in leading the organisation from its inception as a start-up to its current state as a permanent entity. Under her leadership, GBE-N has successfully purchased sites, completed a technology selection process and secured government funding to start the UK’s Small Modular Reactor (SMR) fleet.
Gwen joined GBE-N on secondment from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), and her time here has exemplified the value of cross-organisational collaboration and knowledge sharing within the nuclear industry. She will return to the NDA on 1st October.
GBE-N Chair Simon Bowen said:
Gwen’s strength of leadership has been instrumental in the setup of our organisation. From the very beginning, she brought vision, energy, and deep nuclear expertise to GBE-N, helping shape it into the organisation it is today. We are deeply grateful for her dedication and impact to both GBE-N and the Industry in laying the foundations for the UK’s SMR future.
The announcement of a new CEO for GBE-N will be made in due course. In the interim, GBE-N Chief Finance Officer, Neil Cooper will be the Accounting Officer and will chair the Executive Committee to ensure continuity and support for all teams. A small subset of the Executive Team will also form an Interim Steering Group, focused on project delivery and reporting directly to the GBE-N Chair, Simon Bowen.
Cory Reynolds, Director of Communications and Government Relations
cory.reynolds@greatbritishnuclear.uk
m: 07763 096952
Ieuan Williams, Head of Communications
ieuan.williams@greatbritishnuclear.uk m: 07763 096880
About Great British Energy – Nuclear
Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) is the Government’s delivery body dedicated to supporting the development and deployment of new nuclear technologies in the UK. As part of Great British Energy (GBE) and sponsored by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), GBE-N plays a central role in strengthening the UK’s energy security and achieving net-zero carbon emissions. GBE-N focuses on fostering innovation, enabling investment, and coordinating efforts across the nuclear sector to build a resilient, low-carbon energy future.
