RWA Update Speakers
Pete Burgess, Radiation Metrology Ltd
After an undistinguished degree in Natural Philosophy at Aberdeen University, Pete completed an MSc in Radiobiology at London University. In 1975 he joined the National Radiological Protection Board’s Health Physics Instruments Group, and was eventually appointed Group Leader. Mostly it was great fun. Pete joined UKAEA in 2002 as the company’s Radiation Measurement and Metrology Advisor. He moved to NPL in 2006, as Knowledge Leader for the Radioactivity and Neutrons Group. Then in 2008, to Nuvia as Principal Consultant for Radiation Metrology. In 2014, he decided to set up on his own and is now (all of) Radiation Metrology Ltd and is enjoying doing interesting things without commercial oversight.
Michael Watt, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Michael is a Clinical Scientist in the NHS GGC Health Physics team, which provides radiation safety support to 9 health boards across the south and west of Scotland. He is lead RPA to several X-ray and molecular imaging departments, and to three radiopharmaceutical production facilities. Michael also acts as an MPE in the fields of diagnostic and interventional radiology.
RPA Update Speakers
Stephen Barnard, UK Health Security Agency
Dr Stephen Barnard is a Senior Scientific Group Leader at UK Health Security Agency, running the Cytogenetics Group. Stephen has worked in radiobiology for over 15 years (for UKHSA and its predecessor organisations), with a focus on biological dosimetry, estimating radiation exposure in biological samples. Stephen’s research activities focus on radiation-induced DNA damage, radiosensitivity in clinical and occupational cohorts, large-scale emergency response and obtained his PhD studying radiation-induced cataract.
Jo Nettleton, Environment Agency
Jo has extensive experience in the public sector, working for the NHS, Health & Safety Executive and Nuclear Installations Inspectorate before joining the Environment Agency in 2016.
Jo took up her role as the Environment Agency’s first ever Chief Regulator in April 2024 – leading the team to enable modern, future focused and effective regulation by providing influential technical leadership across the totality of EA’s regulatory activities.
Previously, as Deputy Director and Head of Radioactive Substances and Installations Regulation, Jo led on high-profile projects, including Nuclear New Build, Nuclear Legacy and Waste, Radioactive Source Security, regulation of EPR (Environmental Permitting Regulations) at a range of industrial sectors, Local Authority Unit, Control of Onshore Major Accident Hazards Regulations (COMAH), decarbonisation (hydrogen and carbon capture) and supported a wide range of government plans and strategies.
During the last 9 years, Jo has also undertaken a number of senior EA roles, including as Chief Scientist, where she led the Chief Scientist's Group to put strong science and rigorous analysis at the heart of EA's work to create a better place for people and wildlife and to support sustainable development - through research, innovation, evaluation, data analysis and reporting and horizon scanning. She also led a review of EA’s regulation and subsequently set up the team that works to improve EA's regulatory resilience for the challenges facing us now and in the future.
Jo is a governor at Edge Hill University (where she is the lead for ESG) and is Champion of EA’s Cancer network. She is passionate about helping to increase diversity in the workplace, including at senior management and board level, looking for opportunities to collaborate with and learn from individuals and organisations within and beyond EA. She is a member of the IAEA Task Force of Experts – formed to advise the Government of Japan on disposal of water contaminated during the 2011 Nuclear Emergency and is a Fellow of the Society for Radiological Protection.
Jo is a Yorkshire lass and lives in Southport with her husband and 2 cats. She has a stepson, daughter and two grandchildren.