In less than two years, graduate environmental advisor Louise Moysan has supported an environmental permit for a new nuclear facility at Sellafield, worked to ensure our discharges from our most hazardous facilities are within permitted levels, and is about to embark on a secondment with the Environment Agency.
Here she shares her career highlights so far, as well as her advice for joining the environmental team at Sellafield.
Being able to make a real difference from the start
I joined Sellafield Ltd as a graduate environmental advisor after studying Environmental Science at University.
I am passionate about protecting the environment, and I always knew that I needed a job that would help me make a real difference.
At University, I studied a module on radioactivity in the environment and I was instantly hooked. Sellafield was mentioned and I ended up writing my master’s dissertation on the fate of Sellafield radionuclides.
When I heard about the Sellafield graduate programme and the opportunity to join the environmental capability, I knew that it would be a perfect opportunity to put my skillset into practice.
What I didn’t expect was to have the opportunity to make a difference from the very start of my career.
In less than two years, I have supported a permit application for one of the new construction projects at Sellafield and conducted a research exercise across the company to understand the status of lifecycle analysis to determine a way forward.
No two days are the same
There is no such thing as a typical day at Sellafield.
A large part of my role is to liaise with different people, such as engineers, operators, safety case team members and colleagues across the environmental teams to provide environmental advice.
Some days I will be visiting plants, meeting with stakeholders and carrying out audits.
I also spend a significant amount of time writing technical reports and collecting and analysing data.
As part of the graduate scheme, I also undertake training courses to develop my behavioural and professional skills.
You can inspire the next generation
I have signed up to be a Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) ambassador which means I go into schools and attend events across West Cumbria to work with children and hopefully inspire the next generation of environmental professionals.
Working in the environmental team can take you anywhere you want to go
The different roles available across the environmental capability are varied, from front-line environmental teams to the environmental management team, working in permitting or discharge controls.
It can even take you outside of Sellafield Ltd. I am about to join the Environment Agency as an assistant nuclear regulator for the next six months.
I’ll be working on varied work packages related to nuclear regulation, incident management and research and development, as well as wider work with the local land and water team on metal mines monitoring and bathing water quality.
The secondment will broaden my skillset and develop positive, collaborative relationships with our regulators, ultimately making me a better environment professional.
If you’re ready to help shape the future at Sellafield, click here for more information about our environmental graduate scheme.
