The RCNDE is delighted to welcome Caroline Bull as its new Director. Following her appointment as Director Elect in January, Caroline has been working alongside departing RCNDE Director Professor Robert Smith and the rest of the team to gain an understanding of the centre’s ongoing work and plans for the future.

Caroline is bringing to the post her extensive industry and leadership experience, which includes her continuing role as the Product Engineering Technical Outreach Lead for nuclear defence experts AWE. Her grounding in the fields NDT and engineering started age 17 at Harwell Laboratory and, following her studies in Physics and Maths at the University of Reading under UKAEA sponsorship, has led to a long and successful trajectory in the industry.

During 35 years of industry involvement, Caroline has participated in research programmes, performed NDT inspections at home and abroad, and assumed a series of leadership positions, including the presidency of the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT) in January 2017. In addition to supporting BINDT activities as a Past President, Caroline is a member of BINDT Council, the NDT Technical Committee, NDE 4.0 Working Group, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group and the Engineering Council Working Group. She is also a member of the newly formed UK NDT Leadership Forum Executive and of the American Society of NDT (ASNT) Women in NDT Council supporting equality, diversity and inclusion.

Caroline officially assumed her duties as RCNDE Director in July 2022, and is already utilising her breadth and depth of knowledge and experience, as well as her keen interest in research and innovation, to steer the RCNDE in new and exciting directions.

We would like to warmly thank Robert for his work as RCNDE Director over the past three and a half years, and for successfully navigating the changing landscape of the relationship between our research and industry. Thank you, Robert, and welcome Caroline!