Claire Riley is a Senior Engineering Leader at Sellafield Ltd, currently serving as Process and Compliance Requirements Owner for Technology & Science. She began her career at 16 as a Craft Apprentice Instrument Mechanic, gaining NVQ Level 3, ONC, and HNC qualifications before progressing into Control Systems Engineering. Claire later achieved a BEng (Hons) in Electronic Engineering from UCLAN and completed Sellafield’s Graduate Scheme, which provided broad technical and leadership experience.
Throughout her career, Claire has held senior roles including Engineering & Maintenance Capability Lead, Head of Outage Management & Site Integration, and Head of Asset Management Delivery. She is passionate about advancing diversity and inclusion in STEM and actively supports outreach, recruitment, and mentoring for early careers. Claire is a STEM Ambassador and a founding member of Sellafield WEST (Women in Engineering, Science and Technology), expanding previous networks to include science colleagues.
Claire is a member of the IET, Women in Nuclear (WiN), and an Associate Member of the Nuclear Institute. As a Science Council Trustee, she is committed to promoting professional standards, increasing diversity and equity, and inspiring future generations. Outside work, Claire enjoys crafting—especially knitting and crochet—and spending time with her family and pets.
