Invited Speakers

David Kenneth Smith

David Kenneth Smith is a Distinguished Fellow at The Stimson Center USA supporting their nuclear technology programs. He is also an affiliated senior scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory USA. From 1987 to 2009, Smith held roles at the Laboratory focusing on the development of nuclear forensics science and nuclear security capacity building. He was a regular budget, Senior Nuclear Security Officer / Coordinator (P5) with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from 2010 to 2020 where he led the Agency’s nuclear forensics program. Smith also was part of the executive of the Nuclear Forensics International Technical Working Group (ITWG) from 2004 to 2022 and was senior fellow of the Center for Science and Security Studies at King's College London from 2020 - 2024.

Maria Wallenius

Dr. Maria Wallenius has a PhD in radiochemistry from the University of Helsinki, Finland. Some 25 years ago, she moved to European Commission's Joint Research Centre in Karlsruhe, Germany. Maria has been involved in various R&D, capacity building and project management activities related to nuclear forensics and nuclear security in general. Currently, she is the acting Head of Nuclear Safeguards and Security Unit, and the co-chair of the Nuclear Forensics International Technical Working Group (ITWG).

Julianne Antrobus

Julianne became Chief Executive Officer of UKNNL in April 2025, bringing over 25 years of nuclear sector experience to the role.

After beginning her career as a Graduate Radiation Protection Advisor with British Nuclear Fuels Ltd, UKNNL's predecessor organisation, Julianne went on to hold strategic leadership positions at Nuvia, Atkins and PA Consulting before returning as our CEO.

Julianne’s expertise lies in strategic implementation and operational excellence. During her career she has led and implemented transformational growth strategies, established strategic joint ventures between UK, European and international organisations and secured long term strategic frameworks with Government and commercial entities. As Global Head of Nuclear at PA Consulting, Julianne established and grew an innovative nuclear practice, working with clients across the entire nuclear fuel cycle from new build to decommissioning.

Passionate about diversity and inclusion, Julianne has been a driving force for women in STEM. Her contributions to the nuclear sector were recognised with an Honorary Fellowship from the Nuclear Institute in 2023 and the National STEM Ambassador Award from Forward Ladies.

Jon Michael Schwantes

Dr. Schwantes is a Professor and Head of the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Penn State working on environmental radiochemistry, super-heavy element chemistry and physics, astrophysical nucleosynthesis, science-based stockpile stewardship, nuclear material science and nuclear forensics. He has authored over 120 publications, was part of the confirmatory team for element 111 and identified the world’s oldest reactor-produced plutonium. He was elected to the Washington State Academy of Science in 2020 and is the US Co-Chair for the Exercise Task Group of the Nuclear Forensics International Technical Working Group. Before joining Penn State, he was a Research Scientist for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, serving on two response teams to the Fukushima Daiichi disaster (2011), was appointed by the Secretary of Energy (2014) to investigate a radioactive contamination at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, and (2019) led the forensic examination of a breached 3,000 Ci radioactive source in downtown Seattle.