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UKAEA Group Chief Executive Officer

Professor Dennis Whyte

Biography

Professor Dennis Whyte is a recognised leader in fusion research. He became Chief Executive Officer of the UK Atomic Energy Authority in September 2026. 

Career highlights: 

  • published over 390 articles on fusion science and technology 
  • co-founded Commonwealth Fusion Systems and has been a leader of the SPARC project, a collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to design and build a high-field fusion device to demonstrate net energy production 
  • previously served as Department Head of Nuclear Science and Engineering and Director of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center at MIT 
  • co-founded Rutherford Energy Ventures with Dr Andrew Lo in 2024 to develop economic and investment tools for fusion energy 
  • holds a bachelor’s degree in Engineering Physics from the University of Saskatchewan, and a master’s and PhD from the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS) in Quebec, Canada

UKAEA Group Chief Executive Officer

Duties include:

  • Accounting Officer of UKAEA Group and responsible spend of public funds
  • day-to-day leadership of the UK Atomic Energy Authority Group
  • Head of the UK Atomic Energy Authority fusion laboratory

UK Atomic Energy Authority and UK Fusion Energy