Sama Bilbao y León

Dr Sama Bilbao y León became Director General of World Nuclear Association in October 2020. In this role, Sama leads a team of experts, analysts and communicators to enable the growth of the global nuclear sector. She connects players across the nuclear value chain, shapes and represents the industry’s position in key world forums, provides authoritative information, and influences key audiences, organizations and media.

Sama is also President of World Nuclear University. She has more than 20 years of experience in nuclear engineering and energy policy. Having worked in the nuclear industry, she has a diverse professional experience. Her roles include:

• Industry: Nuclear Safety Analysis Engineer, Dominion Energy, USA
• Academia: Director of Nuclear Engineering Programs and Associate Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), USA
• International organisations: Head of the Division of Nuclear Technology Development and Economics at the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), Head of the Technical Secretariat for the Generation IV International Forum (GIF), Head of Water Cooled Reactors Technology Development Unit, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Sama, who is originally from Spain, holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a master’s degree in Energy Technologies from the Polytechnic University of Madrid. She also has a master's degree and a PhD in Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and an MBA from Averett University.

She is also one of the seven founders of the North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NA-YGN). Sama’s areas of expertise are nuclear thermal hydraulics for both light water reactors and sodium cooled reactors, nuclear reactor design, nuclear safety, energy and environmental policy, and complex decision making.