Dawn Watson

Dawn Watson FInstP CPhys FNucI 

Dawn graduated in 1996 from UMIST with a BSc (Hons) in Physics with Environmental Science, and began her career in the nuclear industry as a graduate trainee based in Cheshire.  She also has an MBA in Engineering Management (2004) which she did outside work.  She began working for Sellafield in West Cumbria in 2006, and has a keen interest in encouraging young people into science, and is an active member of Women in Nuclear (Cumbria) and is a STEM ambassador.  She became a Fellow of the IOP in 2017, and in 2021 achieved fellowship of the Nuclear Institute. 

Since graduation she has worked in the nuclear industry, in safety case, and project management and for the last 20 years at Sellafield, currently leading a team delivering strategic and technical work to support site clean-up.

She leads the WiNCumbria Mentoring programme, a scheme which encourages women in the nuclear industry by providing some independent advice and support.    She is also the chair of the Women in Physics Group for the IOP, which arranges a number of events throughout the year for physicists across the UK to improve diversity and inclusion. 

Fairness and inclusivity are her core values, and looks to make sure that these are at the heart of everything she does. 

In her spare time she goes horse riding, rides a motorbike (in the nice weather) and has just started open water swimming in the Lakes, taking her 3 nieces along when she can.