Rich was appointed as UKRI’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF) Low Cost Nuclear Challenge Director in April 2020, having served as a policy advisor in BEIS immediately prior to this. In his current role he delivered the approval of the business case for the UK Small Modular Reactor programme which has secured £235m of HMG funding and matched private investment in excess of £258m through Rolls-Royce SMR. This project was launched in November 2021 and now employs over 650 staff.

Rich has 35 years of industry experience in nuclear in the USA, UK and Japan. He has lead operations in senior roles delivering oxide fuels, reactor design and manufacturing, engineering delivery and supply chain development. Rich has a comprehensive understanding of the small nuclear sector and how it may develop.