Since beginning her career in nuclear in 2019, Alanna Mullan has built a varied career across the sector, with professional development at the heart of her journey. Now Chair of the Nuclear Institute North West Branch, she recently attained MNucI and Chartered Scientist (CSci) status.
Her career has taken her from a PhD programme to the International Atomic Energy Agency, EDF and now Frazer-Nash, while her involvement with the Nuclear Institute has helped her build knowledge, develop professional networks and continue learning throughout her career.
We spoke to Alanna about her journey into nuclear, the importance of mentoring and early career development, and why professional recognition and clear – but flexible – career pathways can help develop the nuclear professionals and future leaders the industry needs.
How did you first get interested in nuclear?
“I had a high school teacher who’d had a career in the nuclear industry – which is something quite rare for an all-girls school in a small town in Ireland! We did a very basic module in GCSE Physics on nuclear and I was obsessed. We had so many above-and-beyond conversations, I ended up as one of just five doing Physics A-level and the only one to study physics at university. Although my undergrad course gave me a broad experience of other areas in physics, nuclear just felt like the area for me.”
What is professionalism in nuclear all about?
“It is all about having the commitment to perform work with the highest standards of safety, integrity, competence, accountability and attention to detail, with the view of protecting people, the environment and the nuclear facilities. I have the pleasure of being surrounded by some of the most talented colleagues and I really do learn something new every day.”
When was the first time you consciously thought about ‘professional development’?
“Towards the end of university, when it hit me that I was no longer going to be considered a student. I am always keen to keep learning and it's a very useful excuse to get my employer to let me become a student again from time to time!”
How important is structure in professional development and how has that helped you?
“Structure to anything always helps, but it shouldn't be prohibitive. Despite being keen on nuclear from the age of 16 – which is pretty uncommon, I'm told! – I have had a really varied career within the sector. It's a broad area and I've always taken the approach of just saying ‘yes’ to any opportunity in front of me. That rarely has structure, but it often leads to interesting places – Vienna, Knoxville, Idaho and Sellafield...”
What makes a good graduate scheme – and did you do one?
“I didn't do a graduate scheme because I failed the application to each and every one! They are, of course, a valuable way of entering the industry – but they are also not the only way. I ended up in one of the companies I’d applied to for grad entry, but in a competitive PhD programme instead – and I wouldn't change it for the world.”
How has mentoring helped you in your career?
“It has been so valuable and I feel so lucky to have had advocates throughout my career and to have always had someone to answer my incessant questions! Sukhbinder Singh was a massive part of my journey at Frazer-Nash. He's incredible – and I am now reasonably successfully trying to make WWSD (What Would Sukhbinder Do) a thing!”
What work skills does a professional career focus help to build?
“I think professional development really solidified my feeling of belonging in the nuclear industry. Having a more rounded experience of the industry and having colleagues outside of your immediate specialism gives you a greater perspective and makes you a more informed professional.
“It also really helps in client meetings when topics diverge and I'm able to draw back on an NI-hosted lecture on that topic and feel like I have some basis in the discussion. When others have more than 30 years of experience in seemingly everything, it can feel like you're so behind, but showing an interest in learning more and being honest about what you do know has never failed me.”
What made you choose to pursue an MNucl and CSci, and how did you find the process?
“It really felt like the natural progression of my studies. I'd collected the BSc and the MSc and the PhD, so CSci was the one I was missing! It's such an industry standard that really demonstrates your commitment to professional development. Whilst most of my colleagues have a CEng, I've clung to my basis in science so I don't quite feel like an engineer, despite the job title. CSci felt like a good fit for me and the NI has been my home for so long, it just felt right.
“I wrote the application up over a month in January. I met with a mentor arranged internally by my company, figured out a storyboard on what evidence to put against which of the questions, drafted it, had it reviewed by a colleague and submitted it. My interviewers were lovely and it really just felt like a chat with some very knowledgeable nuclear engineers. It was a really enjoyable process.”
Why is it important for companies to invest in professionalism in young careers?
“I think every company should be investing in their employees' careers. It creates a safer, more capable and more reliable workforce. It not only supports the employee, but increases company retention and protects the company's reputation. Ultimately, you are developing your future leaders.”
How do companies protect from losing invested knowledge to others?
“The key to this is investing in your culture, creating an environment that people want to stay in and ensuring mentoring and succession planning are in place. In the UK, and even internationally, the nuclear industry is such a small place.
“As an entire sector, we are all investing in people and developing professionals. Sometimes those people you have invested in will leave – but it's not uncommon that people come back! You might also hire someone who's been mentored by a leaver, so the benefits are there, even if they're not always measured.”
Overall, why is it important to have a career pathway?
“It can be incredibly useful to understand what the next steps are to progression and to keep an eye on making sure you're progressing those. I'm a big advocate of not being too narrow in the approach, and keeping a broader look on skills progression rather than being too blinkered on what you want to be when you grow up. In an industry this fast-moving, the role that might be perfect for you might not even exist yet…”
To find out more about the Nuclear Professionalism Standard® visit
www.nuclearinst.com/professional-personal-development/nuclear-professionalism-standard