Members of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) forum for nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) chose Richard Outram as co-chair, pairing him with an agency executive to discuss decommissioning 19 former UK nuclear sites.
The NDA announced his selection Nov. 3. The government-sponsored agency is responsible for safely decommissioning the sites. Its forum gives NGOs a way to question senior representatives about the agency’s work.
Participants include organizations near NDA sites and groups opposed to the nuclear industry. The authority named People Against Wylfa B, the Ayrshire Radiation Monitoring Group and Highlands Against Nuclear Power among past participants.
Outram has been involved with the forum since its creation in 2022. He has also served as its secretariat. He advises the Welsh Anti-Nuclear Alliance (WANA) and was secretary for Nuclear Free Local Authorities (UK and Ireland).
He succeeds Rita Holmes as the NGO co-chair. Paul Vallance, the NDA's chief of staff and group chief corporate affairs officer, holds the other co-chair position.
Outram said he wants to widen participation and improve dialogue between NGOs and the authority. He said the forum lets groups raise concerns with senior NDA representatives, including decommissioning specialists. NDA Director of Stakeholder Engagement John McNamara said hearing a range of outside views helps the agency develop a shared understanding of its work.
The NDA says the group convenes regularly and makes one site visit each year.
