Mike Finnerty was appointed Chief Executive and Chief Nuclear Inspector of the United Kingdom’s Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) from 1 July 2025. He has over 30 years’ experience in the UK’s civil and defence nuclear industry, and an academic background in Physics.
Mike began his career in the late 80s as a nuclear safety analyst. Following some time in industry, he joined ONR (formerly NII) in 2003 as a nuclear safety inspector, specialising in criticality safety assessments. He remained at ONR for 21 years, influencing improvements in safety and security, both domestically and internationally, whether as a site inspector or in senior roles. He has experience across the whole nuclear regulatory lifecycle portfolio – from new build to operating facilities and defence, right through to decommissioning.
He was pivotal in the development and rollout of ONR’s enabling regulation philosophy, and the senior sponsor of the Diversity and Inclusion group. With his extensive technical and leadership expertise, he brings both breadth and depth of knowledge in the sector, together with an innovative approach and a people-focused mindset.
Prior to re-joining ONR, Mike was Special Assistant to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, for nuclear safety, security and safeguards, gaining valuable perspectives of the geo-political impact nuclear has across the world, and also how highly the UK is respected by its international counterparts. Mike provided the Director General with crucial advice including nuclear safety in Ukraine during the current armed conflict. Mike was also the architect of a new IAEA flagship project, ATLAS, which is aimed at enabling the peaceful maritime applications of nuclear power.
He is ONR’s Regulatory Head, providing independent authoritative expert advice on nuclear safety, security and safeguards to the ONR Board, Ministers and Parliament. He is also an Executive member of the ONR Board.
Mike is a Chartered Member of the Society of Radiological Protection and the Institute of Physics and has an honours degree in Physics from the University of St Andrews.
Register of Interests
| 1 | Companies, partnerships, trusts or other bodies of which you are a paid employee. | None |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Companies and organisations in which you or your family or close associates: | None |
| a) has/have a controlling interest, or | ||
| b) is/are a Director or Partner, or | ||
| c) has/have shares or securities with a nominal value of more than £25,000 or one hundredth of the total issues share capital, and | ||
| d) could be involved in the supply of goods or services to, or have business dealings with the ONR | ||
| 3 | Non-profit making organisations (e.g. charities, housing associations) where you or your close family are Trustees, or on the Committee of Management or other controlling body and which might receive grants, carry out activities designed to promote or develop the organisation, or have other significant dealings with the ONR. | None |
| 4 | Any land or property in which a member has a direct interest and is clearly within ONR's sphere of activities. | None |
| 5 | Membership of local authorities, health authorities and trusts, the Magistrates Bench, and relevant voluntary sector bodies. | None |