Confirmed Speakers to Date
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2nd, 2025 — PLENARY
Offices of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLC
31 West 52nd St, 29th Floor, New York, NY 10019
8:30 AM
REGISTRATION & COFFEE
9:00 AM
WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS
Mr. Todd Abrajano
President & CEO
U.S. Nuclear Industry Council
​
Hon. Jeffrey Merrifield
Chairman, USNIC
Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman
9:15 AM
I. OVERVIEW OF NUCLEAR ENERGY DEMAND
A high-level overview of the surging demands for 24/7 reliable power, including recent announcement of the US Government Janus microreactor program.
Mr. Will Fork
Partner
Pillsbury, Winthrop Shaw Pittman
9:40 AM
II. PERSPECTIVE ON UK NUCLEAR FINANCING
Ms. Patricia Schouker
Energy Security and Energy Transition Team Leader
British Embassy, Washington
9:55 AM
NETWORKING BREAK
10:15 AM
III. INDUSTRY UPDATE — WESTINGHOUSE
Mr. Atul Sharma
Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development
Westinghouse
10:30 AM
IV. PANEL DISCUSSION: U.S. GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY
In this session, senior U.S. Government officials will discuss the support for major US nuclear energy projects including advanced nuclear fuel, AI and data centers, and reactor pilots.
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Dr. Kirsten Cutler
Senior Strategist for Nuclear Energy Innovation
U.S. Department of State
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Dr. Rian Bahran
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Reactors
U.S. Department of Energy
​
Mr. Jonah Ury
Senior Consultant
Loan Programs Office
U.S. Department of Energy
11:05 AM
V. PANEL DISCUSSION: PERSPECTIVES FROM LEADERS ON FINANCING
Leaders in the private sector energy financing community will share their thoughts on the financing of nuclear projects and the financial business case for investing in nuclear deployment in today’s market of surging 24/7 demand. The panel will discuss the fundamental principles of reshoring USA manufacturing, jobs, fuel supply, and US minerals.
Mr. Richard Donohoe - Moderator
Partner
Elara Nova
​
Mr. Shawn Matthews
Chairman and CEO
Hondius Capital Management
​
Mr. John Barsa
Partner
Continental Strategy
​
Mr. Simon Irish
CEO
Terrestrial Energy
11:40 AM
VI. FIRESIDE CHAT WITH WEDBUSH SECURITIES
Mr. Will Fork - Moderator
Partner
Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw Pittman LLC
Mr. Burke Dempsey
Executive Vice President
Wedbush Securities
11:55 PM
NETWORKING LUNCH
Brought to you by
THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
12:55 PM
VII. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION FIRESIDE CHAT WITH CHAIRMAN DAVID A. WRIGHT
Hon. Jeffrey Merrifield - Moderator
Chairman, USNIC
Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman
​
Hon. David A. Wright
Chairman
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
1:25 PM
VIII. STATE PERSPECTIVES & UPDATES
Individual states discuss the importance of advanced nuclear energy and specific initiatives to meet surging market demand and achieve their climate objectives.
Ms. April Wade – Moderator
Executive Director
Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium
​
Hon. Glenn Davis
Director
Virginia Department of Energy
​
Dr. Luis Aguirre-Torres
Director of Financial Planning and Analysis and Financing Solutions
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
​
Mr. Justin Kohley
Senior Clean Energy Finance Manager
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
​
Ms. Cristina Long Paredes
Executive Director
South Carolina NEXUS
2:00 PM
IX. FIRESIDE CHAT WITH NATURA RESOURCES
​
Mr. Doug Robison
Founder & President
Natura Resources
2:15 PM
X. “CASE STUDY: PROJECT FINANCE STRUCTURES FOR SMRs”
This session will present a specific case study based on Amazon’s collaboration with X-energy to deploy small modular reactors (SMRs) to power the company's AI infrastructure. Amazon made an investment in X-energy’s technology and plans to pursue 5 gigawatts of SMRs by 2039. This session will provide an update on Energy Northwest’s Cascade Advanced Energy Facility that will use X-energy SMRs and TRISO fuel. The case study will focus on developing a scalable SMR financing strategy and the roles of the SMR OEM, utility, energy customers and other stakeholders.
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Mr. Patrick Leonard
Principal, Energy Strategy
Amazon
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Mr. Dinkar Bhatia
Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer
X-energy
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Mr. Christopher McKey
Principal
Energy West LLC
2:50 PM​
XI. PANEL DISCUSSION: NUCLEAR ENERGY APPLICATIONS FOR ENERGY INTENSIVE SECTORS
This panel of Industry experts will discuss the application of nuclear energy and the need for 24/7 energy across specific energy intensive industries, including high tech (AI and datacenters), oil & gas, and chemicals.
Dr. Keyes Niemer - Moderator
Senior Vice President, Global Nuclear
Worley
​
Mr. Jay Yu
Founder, Executive Chairman & President
NANO Nuclear Energy Inc.
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Dr. Rick Springman
President of Global Clean Energy Opportunities
Holtec International
​
Mr. Edward Stones
Vice President Energy & Climate
Dow
3:25 PM
NETWORKING BREAK
3:45 PM
XII. INDUSTRY UPDATE — LIS TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Mr. Christo Liebenberg
President, Co-Founder & Chief Technical Advisor
LIS Technologies, Inc.
4:05 PM
XIII. NUCLEAR ENERGY UTILITY UPDATES
This panel of nuclear energy utilities will discuss the importance of meeting the increasing demand for electricity and the specific role of nuclear energy in providing reliable power for their customers and helping to achieve their carbon reduction objectives. The panel discussion will include the impact of energy-intensive applications (e.g., data centers) on meeting customer demand.
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Mr. Roland Backhaus
Senior Counsel - Nuclear
Vistra Corp.
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Mr. Mike Kramer
Vice President - Data Economy Strategy
Constellation
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Mr. Grant Grothen
Vice President
Burns & McDonnell Global
4:40 PM​
XIV. PANEL DISCUSSION: PERSPECTIVES FROM LEADERS ON PRIVATE FINANCING — PART I
Leaders in the private sector energy financing community will share their thoughts on the financing of nuclear projects and the financial business case for investing in nuclear deployment in today’s market of surging 24/7 demand.
Mr. Paul Murphy - Moderator
Managing Director
Murphy Energy & Infrastructure Consulting, LLC
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Mr. Jay Surina
Managing Director
Pelican Energy Partners
​
Mr. Matt Kittell
Director Sustainable Finance
Societe Generale
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Mr. Joseph Gnanapragasam
Director, Investment Banking
Bank of America
5:05 PM
XV. PANEL DISCUSSION: PERSPECTIVES FROM LEADERS ON PRIVATE FINANCING — PART II
Leaders in the private sector energy financing community will share their thoughts on the financing of nuclear projects and the financial business case for investing in nuclear deployment in today’s market of surging 24/7 demand.
Mr. Paul Murphy - Moderator
Managing Director
Murphy Energy & Infrastructure Consulting, LLC
​
Mr. Phil Cooper
Founder and Managing Partner
Pine Island New Energy
​
Mr. Ryan Nielson
Director Investment Banking
Citi
5:35 PM
CLOSING REMARKS
Mr. Todd Abrajano
President & CEO
U.S. Nuclear Industry Council
5:40 PM
ADJOURN
5:45 PM
NETWORKING RECEPTION
Brought to you by
LIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Networking Reception at the conclusion of the NNC2025 Summit on the Rooftop Terrace at Pillsbury