Gwen is number one

7:47am Tuesday 5th August 2008

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GWEN Parry-Jones has taken over as station director at Heysham 1 power station - becoming the first woman to lead a nuclear civil operational site in the UK.

In a career which has seen her work in the UK and Canadian and American nuclear industries, she has returned to an area she knows well after previously working at each of the Heysham sites.

Gwen, pictured, says: “I have fond memories of my time at Heysham 1 and 2. The area is lovely and I am looking forward to both working here and living here again.”

After taking on the plant manager’s role at the pressure water reactor at Sizewell, Gwen moves to the station director’s position at Heysham 1 to replace Mark Gorry, who has moved to Hunterston in Scotland.

She says: “We face some challenges at Heysham 1 in completing the boiler closure project and bringing the two units back. We have plenty to do to get there but I know that I have the best team for the job.

“One thing I have always found while at Heysham is the deep understanding the residents have of nuclear power and its role as a low carbon generator of electricity.”

And she adds: “It is interesting to be station director at a time when new build is firmly on the agenda.”