Programme

Debbie Kempton - UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS)
Debbie Kempton is a Chartered Engineer and Certified Programme Manager with 30 years’ experience in aerospace engineering, applied research, technology demonstration and major programme delivery, having held roles in the US and UK. As STEP Fusion’s Director of Engineering Programme, Debbie is responsible for the overall engineering programme in addition to developing links with industry to support STEP’s concept design.

Presentation: STEP - From Fossil to Fusion
This talk will provide a general overview of the STEP Programme, including our whole programme objectives, our site, and a short overview of some of the technical challenges, but with a focus on how collaborations drive local and regional benefits.

Victor Prost - Renaissance Fusion
Victor earned his engineering diploma from Ecole Polytechnique and PhD at MIT on machine design. Victor joined Renaissance Fusion in its early days, in 2021 where he completed major published works on stellarator system code and optimization, blanket and neutronics design. He then took the lead of the magnets and cryogenics team to build high field large bore HTS magnets, and laser engraved stellarator magnets. In 2026 he was appointed head of the Stellarator Design Integration and Construction, a newly formed department to deliver our first experimental stellarator machine.

Presentation: Simplified high-field compact stellarators
Renaissance Fusion’s mission is to bring fusion energy to the grid with simplified high field compact stellarators based on thick flowing liquid metal walls and laser engraved wide HTS magnets.

More information about other speakers will follow soon.