Dr Rebecca Weston CB FREng Announces Departure from NDA Group

After more than 25 years of dedicated service within the NDA group and the broader UK nuclear industry, Rebecca Weston CB FREng will be departing from the group at the end of July to embark on a new phase in her career. She will be engaging with various organisations across the UK nuclear, defence, and critical infrastructure sectors.

Rebecca has made a significant and lasting impact on the group, having held numerous senior leadership and executive positions. Notably, as Chief Operating Officer at Sellafield Ltd, she was responsible for overseeing major nuclear operations, leading some of the group’s most critical initiatives and programmes, and guiding the site through the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Leadership in Defence Nuclear

In her most recent role, Rebecca was appointed as the first Director General Warhead within the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Nuclear Organisation. In this capacity, she established the Warhead Group and spearheaded some of the UK’s most vital and intricate work in support of national defence and security, collaborating closely with AWE and partners in both the United States and France.

Rebecca’s influence extends into the future of the UK’s nuclear sector, as she serves as a Non-Executive Director at Great British Energy Nuclear and is a member of the ministerially-chaired Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce Implementation Panel.

Her contributions have been acknowledged at the highest levels, culminating in her appointment as a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in His Majesty The King’s Birthday Honours for her services to defence.

Tributes from Industry Leaders

David Peattie, Chief Executive of the NDA, expressed his gratitude, stating, “Rebecca has made a lasting contribution to the NDA Group and to the wider nuclear sector. Her leadership and dedication have played a pivotal role in achieving significant milestones for the group over more than two decades. On behalf of the NDA group, I thank her for her service and wish her all the best in this exciting next chapter.”

Euan Hutton, Chief Executive of Sellafield Ltd, also paid tribute to Rebecca’s impact: “I want to thank Rebecca for her outstanding contribution to Sellafield and the nuclear sector. I have had the privilege of working closely with her for many years, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when her leadership was instrumental in navigating the organisation through one of its most challenging periods. Her influence on our organisation and its people has been both significant and enduring. On behalf of everyone at Sellafield, I express my gratitude for her commitment and, personally, for her friendship.”

A Fond Farewell

In her farewell remarks, Rebecca Weston CB reflected on her career, stating, “I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone I have had the privilege of working with over the past 25 years. Sellafield, in particular, and the wider NDA group have profoundly shaped my professional life throughout the 21st century, and for that, I will always be grateful. It has been an honour to contribute during some of the defining moments in the group’s history, including its formation and growth, and to collaborate with so many talented and dedicated colleagues.”

She continued, “My tenure in defence nuclear has further enriched my experience and reinforced my belief in the necessity of effective collaboration across government, industry, and the wider nuclear sector. As I commence this new chapter in my career, I look forward to applying that experience more broadly. I will always remain a passionate advocate for the people and mission of the NDA group.”

Rebecca concluded with a powerful reminder of the importance of teamwork in the sector: “One lesson I have learned throughout my career is that success in our field is fundamentally built on collaboration, shared purpose, and productive partnerships. ‘We win together or we lose together.’ I wish everyone across the NDA Group every success for the future. ‘Every Day Counts. Every One Counts.’”