In consultation with Scottish Ministers, Kwasi Kwarteng, Secretary of State for the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, made this appointment.
The NDA’s Chair, Dr. Ros Rivaz, stated:
I’m thrilled that Kathryn will be working with us to support the crucial and difficult work we do to decommission the 17 first nuclear sites in the UK.
Kathryn has a wealth of experience in risk management, financial reporting, and corporate governance, including the auditing and reporting facets of business law.
In addition to ensuring the effectiveness of the risk assurance control framework established by the Board, she will bring a valuable perspective that will help us develop our strategy and bring about transformational change.
Kathryn Cearns says:
This is a tremendously thrilling, difficult, and rewarding opportunity.
The NDA performs work that is unparalleled in the world, and the UK is heavily dependent on its mission.
I feel honoured to have a voice in decisions that will affect the next generation and beyond in the coming years.
Kathryn has extensive senior level experience in the public and private sectors and is a chartered accountant.
She served as the ICAEW Financial Reporting Committee’s Chair for ten years and as the Financial Reporting Advisory Board to HM Treasury’s Chair from 2010 to 2016.
She has held positions as a consultant accountant for a global law firm and project director at the UK Accounting Standards Board (now the Financial Reporting Council).
In addition to the Office of Tax Simplification, the Property Ombudsman, Crossrail, and National Highways, Kathryn has held a number of non-executive, trustee, and advisory positions.
As chair of the significant Audit, Risk and Assurance Board Committee at the NDA, she will be responsible for overseeing the efficient risk management, control, and governance of the NDA’s annual budget of more than £3 billion.