Satoshi Konishi
CEO, Kyoto Fusioneering Ltd.
Prof. Satoshi Konishi co-founded Kyoto Fusioneering in 2019. With a Ph.D. in Engineering from the University of Tokyo, he brings four decades of expertise in R&D, specializing in fusion technology, advanced nuclear system design, and tritium engineering, including significant contributions to the ITER project. He holds dual roles as Chief Fusioneer, overseeing technology development, strategic planning, and execution, and as CEO, a position he has held since 2023.
Ian Castillo
Co-Chief Executive Officer, Fusion Fuel Cycles Inc.
Ian Castillo is the Co-CEO of Fusion Fuel Cycles Inc., a joint venture of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and Kyoto Fusioneering. A leading tritium expert, he oversees teams across three continents and is directing the design and construction of UNITY-2 in Chalk River, the world’s first fully integrated fusion fuel cycle. Previously, Ian led CNL’s Hydrogen and Tritium Directorate, advancing global partnerships and major R&D programs. With nearly 20 years at CNL, he has managed large multidisciplinary teams and helped shape Canada’s fusion strategy as architect of Fusion Energy for Canada. Ian holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from McGill University.
Jeffrey S. Merrifield
Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman
The Honorable Jeffrey S. Merrifield, a former presidential appointee to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, is leader of Pillsbury’s Nuclear Energy Team and co-Leader of the firm’s Energy Transition practice. He is widely recognized as an international thought leader on nuclear power and the deployment of complex energy systems for the avoidance of carbon generation.
During his three decades of involvement in the energy industry, Jeff has developed wide-ranging relationships throughout the international nuclear community that allow him to identify strategic and legal solutions for major energy and environmental matters. He is considered a leader in advanced nuclear and fusion deployment and has assisted large and developing nuclear utilities, suppliers and governments in effectively meeting their regulatory requirements and strategic objectives regarding the deployment of complex energy systems. Jeff’s well-received corporate executive experience, as well as media and public speaking capabilities, also provide a significant resource for the advocacy of common-sense and cost-effective solutions.
Muhammad Mahad
New Technologies and Innovation, Ontario Power Generation
Muhammad Mahad is Manager, Strategy and Business Development (New Technologies and Innovation) at Ontario Power Generation (OPG), where he supports strategic initiatives in fusion energy, tritium, and advanced nuclear technologies. His work focuses on helping build practical pathways for fusion development in Canada, including domestic ecosystem development, partnership formation, and alignment across public and private stakeholders. He has played a leading role in advancing the Centre for Fusion Energy from its earliest stages, helping shape the strategy, partnerships, and collaboration model needed to support a Canadian fusion ecosystem and enable stronger international partnerships for Canada in this field.
At OPG, Muhammad also provides strategic and technical leadership on fusion and tritium matters, including engagement with industry, government, and research organizations on long-term clean energy opportunities. In parallel, he contributes to OPG’s broader advanced technology work, including strategy development, innovation planning, and advanced reactor R&D oversight. Earlier in his career, he held engineering roles across reactor physics, plant design, systems engineering, and procurement, giving him a broad grounding in nuclear operations and project delivery. He holds a Master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering.
Ramzi Jammal
Executive Vice-President and Chief Regulatory Operations Officer, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Ramzi Jammal brings over 35 years of experience in the nuclear sector, having served with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission(CNSC) since 1998. His career blends executive leadership with scientific expertise, representing Canada’s nuclear regulatory authority both domestically and abroad. At the CNSC, he has held several senior positions, including as acting Chief Executive Officer from October 2023 to August 2024 and currently as Executive Vice-President and Chief Regulatory Operations Officer. His leadership reflects a deep commitment to advancing nuclear safety and regulatory excellence.
In 2024, Ramzi was elected by consensus as President of the Eighth Review Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, becoming the first Canadian to hold this position. He has also served as President of the Convention on Nuclear Safety (2016–18) and was appointed Chair of the IAEA Regulatory Cooperation Forum (2022–28), fostering international collaboration on regulatory practices. Recognized with the prestigious 2021 Ian McRae award for his contributions to nuclear energy in Canada, Ramzi’s international achievements include co-chairing theFukushima Daiichi Accident Report (2015) and shaping global safety standards through the IAEA Commission on Safety Standards.
Sehila Gonzalez
Global Director, Fusion Energy, CATF
Sehila M. Gonzalez de Vicente holds a PhD in Materials Physics from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain) and an MBA from the EOI Business School. She has 20 years of experience in fusion technologies, policy, and economic aspects. Previously, she worked at the International Atomic Energy Agency as a Nuclear Fusion Physicist in charge of fusion activities for more than eight years. Before joining the IAEA, she was the responsible officer of the Fusion Materials Development Programme at EFDA. In addition, she is vice chair of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Scientific Advisory Board in the research field of Energy, a member of the UK’s Fusion Technical Advisory Group, and a member of the IFMIF-DONES España Technical Advisory Committee. She is also the Chair of the Women in Fusion Group.
She is the author of more than 40 peer-reviewed publications in the field and a contributing author to the following books: Fundamentals of Magnetic Fusion Technology and Considerations for Commercialization Strategies for Fusion Energy.
Jennifer Ganten
Chief Global Affairs Officer, Commonwealth Fusion Systems
As Chief Global Affairs Officer of Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Jennifer Ganten leads a cross-functional team of government affairs, public affairs and open innovation to support the rapid growth of the commercial fusion industry.
Since joining the company in 2021, Jennifer has overseen policy, regulation, and partnerships across international, federal, state and local governments to increase global support for this credible solution that addresses governments energy demand, energy security and climate change objectives. Under her leadership, the Open Innovation team has partnered with more than 50 private and government groups globally on joint research and development projects.
Ganten brings decades of experience in energy policy, advocacy, partnership building, and global market expansion to Commonwealth Fusion Systems. Previously, she served as the Vice President, Federal Affairs & International Market Expansion at bluebird bio. Prior to that, she spent nearly 20 years with Chevron, leading the development and execution of corporate strategy, global policy and government advocacy. Her career included assignments in Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America, in addition to her executive leadership roles in Washington, DC and at the corporate headquarters.
Ganten received a B.Sc. in International Affairs from Drexel University, an International MBA from the University of South Carolina, and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration (MC/MPA) from the Harvard Kennedy School.
Anthony Harbridge
Chief Commercial Officer, Type One Energy
Anthony Harbridge joined Type One Energy as Chief Commercial Officer in 2026. He is a recognised energy industry leader with three decades of experience across oil and gas, renewable energy, finance, investor engagement, strategy and sustainability.
Anthony began his career in bp’s corporate treasury team in London and went on to hold senior roles in investment banking engagement, upstream commercial, and planning and performance management in the UK, US and Norway. As bp’s Head of European Investor Relations he shaped bp’s investment narrative through major strategic and market challenges.
Anthony later served as Chief of Staff for bp’s renewable energy business, leading growth strategies and portfolio development in biofuels, hydrogen, solar and offshore wind. He also held senior leadership roles in bp’s Gas and Low Carbon Energy business, guiding the evolution and delivery of its low carbon strategy.
Before leaving bp, he completed an 18-month secondment to the Royal Household as Chief Industry Officer at the Sustainable Markets Initiative, founded by HM King Charles III, where he led cross-industry task forces and developed the Astra Carta, a global mandate for space sustainability.
Tom Asselman
SVP Strategy & Chief Strategy Officer, OMV
Tom Asselman is SVP Strategy & Chief Strategy Officer at OMV, where he has led the development and implementation of Strategy 2030, including the creation of Borouge International. He joined OMV in 2022 after 19 years at Borealis, most recently serving as VP Strategy & Group Development and Executive Committee member, overseeing strategy, M&A, and sustainability.
Tom has extensive experience in the hydrocarbons-to-polyolefins value chain, leading global growth projects, joint ventures—including Baystar in the USA—and managing Borouge joint ventures in the UAE. He began his career at McKinsey & Company in Montreal.
A Belgian and Canadian citizen, Tom holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from McGill University. He lives in Vienna and enjoys travel, classical music, jazz, wine, and sports cars.
Dr. Amanda Quadling
Executive Director - Materials and Blankets Research, UKAEA
Amanda Quadling, FIMMM, CSci - Amanda is responsible for the Materials Division at the UK Atomic Energy Authority and manages the organisation’s core research grant programme (£77m). She is also Senior Responsible Owner for LIBRTI, a £220m UK Fusion Testbed Programme to deliver engineering scale tritium breeder capability to support the fusion powerplant industry. Amanda is a mineralogist with a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering. She has spent the last few decades creating and managing laboratories, incubators, commercial service divisions and Centres of Excellence focused on products and services in the energy sector and other industries. She was previously on the Technology Advisory Board of global corporate Morgan Advanced Materials and Technical Director for UK manufacturer M&I Materials. In 2021, Amanda published the UK’s first Fusion Materials Roadmap with an updated edition in 2025. She is currently a member of The Henry Royce Institute Governing Board and chairs the Nuclear Futures Institute, University of Bangor.
Axel Meisen
President, Fusion Energy Council of Canada
Axel currently serves as the President of the Fusion Energy Council of Canada, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the objective furtherance of fusion energy development and uses in Canada and abroad.
As a consultant, he advises senior management in Canadian and international organizations on strategy development and implementation using foresight and other methodologies suitable for issues with long time horizons.
Axel held the inaugural Chair in Foresight at the Alberta Research Council, after serving as president of Memorial University of Newfoundland, president of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, president of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, and Dean of Applied Science and Professor of Chemical Engineering at The University of British Columbia. He was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2008.
He has B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. degrees in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College London, California Institute of Technology, and McGill University, respectively
Nisa Halsey
VP, Nuclear Equipment & Tooling, Kinectrics
Nisa Hasley is Vice President of Nuclear Equipment Solutions and Inspection & Maintenance Systems at Kinectrics Inc., where she leads the expansion of Kinectrics’ nuclear‑grade engineering and manufacturing capabilities into the fusion sector. Her organization is applying decades of experience supplying qualified, high‑consequence equipment to the fission industry to meet the unique challenges of first‑of‑a‑kind fusion facilities.
A core differentiator of Kinectrics’ approach is deep expertise in tritium‑related systems, combined with the agility enabled by in‑house design, fabrication, assembly, testing, and qualification. This integrated capability allows rapid iteration while maintaining the rigor required for safety‑critical applications.
Most recently, Kinectrics was awarded a collaboration agreement to act as the equipment design and build partner for the UKAEA–Eni H3AT tritium facility, supporting one of the most advanced tritium programs in the global fusion landscape.
Nisa holds a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering from the United States Naval Academy, has 20 years in the nuclear industry, and previously served as a U.S. Nuclear Navy Surface Warfare Officer.
Michelle Leslie
Executive Advisor, Deloitte
Michelle Leslie is an Executive Advisor with 20 years of experience across nuclear policy, regulatory affairs, and stakeholder engagement, including advisory work with Deloitte. She has briefed environmental, social, and risk leaders at major U.S. banks on nuclear investment opportunities and collaborated with the international fusion community to advance a flagship global program, focusing on industrial readiness, supply chains, and execution pathways.
Michelle has represented Canada’s nuclear sector at key global forums, including speaking at the Canadian High Commission in London during Canada-UK Nuclear Day. She convened the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and over 120 executives on SMRs for mining decarbonization and has participated in the IAEA General Conference, Climate Week NYC, and JPAC meetings.
Her work spans policy, market development, and community engagement to support nuclear deployment and investment.
Matt Cloutier
Chief Operating Operator, Fusion Fuel Cycles
Matt Cloutier is COO at Fusion Fuel Cycles (FFC), a joint venture between Kyoto Fusioneering and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories advancing fusion fuel cycle technologies. He leads corporate strategy, operations, and financing, and is driving the commercial delivery of UNITY-2, the world’s first commercially relevant fusion fuel cycle test facility. Matt brings a multidisciplinary background spanning strategy consulting, design, and skilled trades. Prior to joining KF, he advised energy and industrial clients on growth strategy, acquisitions, and integration at Deloitte. He has held operations and design roles across multiple industrial sectors and is a Red Seal-certified electrician. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Calgary.
Ed Waller, PhD, PEng, CHP
Professor, Ontario Tech University
Dr. Edward Waller is a Professor in the Department of Energy and Nuclear Engineering. He is currently UNENE Ontario Tech Chair in Health Physics and Environmental Safety. Ed earned his BSc in Physics and MScE in Chemical Engineering at the University of New Brunswick (UNB), Masters in Nuclear Security from Technical University Delft (TU Delft), and his PhD in Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York (RPI). He worked in industry for over 15 years in applied health physics, threat assessment and applications of radiation technologies. In 2003 he joined Ontario Tech U, where he teaches radiation protection, dosimetry, environmental radiation and shielding design, and performs research in areas of radiation safety, environmental radioactivity, radiation dosimetry, applied health physics, emergency response and nuclear security. Ed has worked at the International Atomic Energy Agency Incident and Emergency Centre (IAEA-IEC) and as an IAEA expert for Member State training. He was a Canadian representative to the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). Ed is a past-President of the Canadian Radiation Protection Association (CRPA).
Dr. Masood Akmali
Safety & Regulation Officer, Renaissance Fusion
Masood Akmali is an R&D and safety engineering professional with 15 years of experience in the nuclear industry, with a strong background in nuclear physics and advanced reactor technologies spanning both fission and fusion. He combines multidisciplinary expertise in system engineering, safety analysis, control-command systems, requirements engineering, and dynamic system modeling, and has contributed across the full technology lifecycle, from concept development and feasibility studies to safety demonstration, verification methodologies, and engineering integration. His work has also extended to advanced energy applications including hydrogen production by electrolysis and hydraulic power projects, and the development of innovative frameworks that integrate behavioral and physical modeling into systems engineering for real-time verification of safety and operational requirements.
John Elling
CEO & Co-Founder, Molten Salt Solutions
John Elling is CEO and co-founder of Molten Salt Solutions, established in 2018 to develop isotopically enriched materials for next-generation nuclear and fusion technologies. He is a serial entrepreneur, having founded and led multiple tech startups, including Acoustic Cytometry Systems and Mesa Biotech, both of which were successfully acquired after commercializing technologies from Los Alamos National Laboratory.
He has also worked at Los Alamos as a Technical Staff Member and Visiting Entrepreneur, and has extensive experience in technology licensing and commercialization. John is a board member of New Mexico Angels and a general partner at Phase One Ventures. He holds a PhD in Analytical Chemistry and an MBA from the University of New Mexico, and actively mentors scientists in entrepreneurship.
Andrew Sowder, Ph.D., CHP
Sr. Technical Executive of the Fusion Energy Strategic Program, EPRI
Andrew Sowder is a Senior Technical Executive at EPRI where he launched and leads EPRI’s strategic program on fusion. Previously, he established EPRI’s advanced reactor research portfolio and managed applied research on advanced nuclear fuel cycles and used nuclear fuel management. Prior to joining EPRI, Andrew oversaw radiological safety and security policy and Chornobyl assistance at the U.S. Department of State, investigated uranium fate and transport on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site, and evaluated uranium mining impacts on the Navajo Nation as a AAAS science and technology policy fellow at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Andrew received a B.S. in Optics from the University of Rochester and a Ph.D. in Environmental Systems Engineering from Clemson University. He is a Certified Health Physicist and serves on the American Nuclear Society’s Standards Board.
Duncan White
Advanced Nuclear Fellow, Tennessee Division of Radiological Health
Duncan White currently serves as the Advanced Nuclear Fellow for Tennessee’s Division of Radiological Health. He previously spent nine years with New Jersey’s Radiation Protection Program and more than 34 years with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in a range of technical, supervisory, and advisory roles. Mr. White contributed to the development of multiple NRC byproduct and source material regulations and guidance documents governing the safe and secure use of radioactive materials. From 2021 to December 2025, he was instrumental in the NRC’s evaluation of options for fusion machine oversight and then served as the technical lead for the development of the regulatory framework for fusion machines. Duncan is a certified health physicist and participates on American Society of Mechanical Engineers committees developing standards for fusion machine components.
Hawkins DeFrance, PharmD, ANP
Director of Regulatory Affairs & Safety, Avalanche Energy
Hawkins DeFrance is the Director of Regulatory Affairs & Safety at Avalanche Energy, where he serves as the Corporate Radiation Safety Officer and leads the company’s Regulatory Affairs, Safety, and Licensing functions. In this role, he oversees efforts to ensure the safe, compliant, and responsible operation of advanced fusion technologies.
With more than 20 years of experience spanning nuclear pharmacy, radiopharmaceutical manufacturing, particle accelerator operations, and regulatory compliance, Hawkins brings deep technical and regulatory expertise to the fusion industry. He currently serves as Chair of the Fusion Industry Association’s Regulatory Committee.
Hawkins previously served as Chair of the Washington State Pharmacy Commission and Chair of District 7 for the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. He is also an advisor to the Columbia Basin College Nuclear Technology Committee and an assistant coach for Tahoma High School’s robotics program.
He earned a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from the University of Washington School of Pharmacy and a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Cellular & Molecular Biology from Western Washington University.
Dr. Philipp Sauter
Research Group Leader, University of Würzburg/Max-Planck-Institute for International Law
Dr. Philipp Sauter is the Research Group Leader of the Junior Research Group on Legal Questions of Fusion Energy at the University of Würzburg as well as a Senior Research Fellow at the Max-Planck-Institute for International Law in Heidelberg, Germany. Being a lawyer and a physicist with many years of experience in conducting rearch on fusion energy and its legal framework, he is a leading expert legal questions regarding fusion energy and and advisor to the German Government for regulating fusion energy.
Daniel Clark
Sr. Director Nuclear & Fuel Cycle Engineering, Type One Energy Group, Inc.
Daniel Clark is the Senior Director of Nuclear & Fuel Cycle Engineering at Type One Energy Group where he manages the design of several critical systems, including the tritium breeder blanket, first wall, fueling system, and tritium plant. He also overseas several cross-cutting activities, namely radiation transport and the in-vessel materials R&D program. He has a background in nuclear engineering with a specialization in materials development for nuclear systems.
Before his tenure at Type One, he dedicated eight years to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fusion Energy Science Program where he managed the Fusion Materials Research Portfolio. Notable achievements during that time include initiation of the Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (MPEX) project at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, establishment of the first public-private partnership program in the Office of Science known as the Innovation Network for Fusion Energy (INFUSE), and leadership of the Fusion Prototypic Neutron Source (FPNS) initiative.
He holds both a B.S and M.S. in Nuclear Engineering, from Texas A&M University and the University of Tennessee respectively.
Dr. Tim Graening
Fusion Materials Research Staff Scientist, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Dr. Tim Graening is a Staff Research Scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), where he leads and contributes to research on advanced structural materials for fusion and fission energy systems. He earned his Doctor of Engineering in Materials Science from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in 2017, focusing on oxide-dispersion-strengthened steels for fusion applications. His research spans ferritic-martensitic steels, tungsten, vanadium alloys, alumina-forming austenitic steels, advanced coatings, and additive manufacturing for extreme environments. At ORNL, Dr. Graening serves as principal investigator and technical lead on multiple fusion materials programs, including projects supported by ARPA-E that address materials challenges for first wall and divertor applications, accelerated materials discovery, and advanced manufacturing solutions for future fusion power plants. He also leads international collaborations investigating radiation effects and transmutation-induced degradation in fusion-relevant materials, with a focus on developing materials capable of withstanding the demanding neutron, thermal, and corrosive environments expected in commercial fusion reactors. His work bridges fundamental materials science, qualification pathways, and industry partnerships to accelerate the deployment of fusion energy.
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