Agenda
October 19-20, 2026
Indianapolis, Indiana
This event is in partnership with the State of Indiana and Purdue University College of Engineering, with support from the Institute for Energy Innovation (IEI).
**Additional speakers and panelists will be announced as the Summit approaches—please check back for updates.**
Monday, October 19
| Time (ET) | Event/Details |
|---|---|
| 9:30-10:00 AM |
Arrival/Registration Hyatt Regency (Regency Ballroom, 2nd Floor) 1 S. Capitol Ave. Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 |
| 10:00-10:10 AM |
Welcome President Mitch Daniels, Interim President, Purdue University Secretary Suzanne Jaworowski, Indiana Secretary of Energy and Natural Resources |
| 10:15-10:50 AM | Nuclear Spotlight |
| 10:50-11:10 AM | Keynote: Maria Korsnick, President and Chief Executive Officer, Nuclear Energy Institute |
| 11:15-11:35 AM |
Nuclear Spotlight Panel - The Nuclear Landscape: A Year in Review Moderator: Secretary Suzanne Jaworowski, Indiana Secretary of Energy and Natural Resources Assistant Secretary Theodore Garrish, Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, U.S. Department of Energy Commissioner David A. Wright, Commissioner, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) |
| 11:40 AM-12:25 PM |
Panel 1 - Deploying the Next Generation of Nuclear Technology
Moderator: Lefteri Tsoukalas, Professor of Nuclear Engineering, Purdue University
Craig Bealmear, Chief Financial Officer, Oklo
Ben Reinke, Senior Vice President, Global Business Development; Deputy Chief Commercial Officer, X-energy
Emily Williams, Chief Exxecutive Officer, Geenex
James Wyble, Vice President -APX Project Development - North America, Westinghouse Electric Company
|
| 12:30-1:30 PM |
Lunch (Cosmopolitan Room, 3rd Floor) Special thank you to our lunch sponsor, Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) |
| 1:40 PM | Return to Ballroom |
| 2:00-2:20 PM | Keynote: Secretary Chuck Goodrich, Indiana Secretary of Commerce |
| 2:25-3:10 PM |
Panel 2 - The Future of Nuclear Fuel Moderator: Aaron Totemeier, Principal Technical Leader, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
Leo Carrilho, Director - Fuel Assembly Design, Lightbridge
Abbey Donahue, PE, Chief Engineer, BWXT Advanced Nuclear Reactor
Sean Oehlbert, Vice President, Corporate Business Strategy, Centrus Energy Corp.
Bill Stokes, President and Founder, First American Nuclear Co. (FANCO)
|
| 3:10-3:25 PM | Break |
| 3:25–3:35 PM |
Nuclear Spotlight: Purdue's Institute for Energy Innovation (IEI) – Engineering and Economics for Reliable, Affordable Energy
Fabio Ribeiro, W. Nicholas and Elizabeth H. Delgass Distinguished Professor in Chemical Engineering; Director, CISTAR; Executive Director, IEI, Purdue University An introduction to IEI’s approach to abundant, reliable and affordable energy, grounded in sound engineering and economics and connecting Purdue’s strengths in nuclear energy, the electric grid, energy storage, geothermal and natural gas, critical materials and industrial efficiency. |
| 3:35-3:45 PM | Nuclear Spotlight |
| 3:50–4:15 PM |
Nuclear Spotlight Panel – A Global Nuclear Future Moderator: Carol Berrigan, Executive Director, International Government Affairs and Supply Chain, Nuclear Energy Institute Matt MacVicar, Vice President, SMR Strategy & Business Development, Rolls-Royce Patrick O'Brien, Executive Director, Government Affairs and Communications, Holtec International |
| 4:20-4:45 PM |
Nuclear Spotlight Panel |
| 5:00–5:30 PM |
Fireside Chat Hyatt Regency (Regency Ballroom, 2nd Floor) 1 S. Capitol Ave., Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
Governor Mike Braun, Governor of Indiana |
| 6:00-7:00 PM |
Global Nuclear Energy Economic Summit Mixer Hyatt Regency (Studio Lounge, 3rd Floor) 1 S. Capitol Ave. Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 |
Tuesday, October 20
| Time (ET) | Event/Details |
|---|---|
| 8:00-8:30 AM |
Continental Breakfast and Registration Hyatt Regency (Regency Ballroom, 2nd Floor) 1 S. Capitol Ave. Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 |
| 8:30-8:40 AM |
Opening Remarks/Welcome Secretary Suzanne Jaworowski, Indiana Secretary of Energy and Natural Resources Michael B. Cline, Senior Vice President, Administrative Operations & Chief Operating Officer, Indianapolis, Purdue University |
| 8:45-9:05 AM |
Nuclear Spotlight: Nuclear Construction: Schedule, Cost, and QA/QC Optimization in Codes/Standards Amit Varma, Karl H. Kettelhut Professor of Civil Engineering; Director, Bowen Laboratory of Large-Scale CE Research, Lyles School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University |
| 9:10-9:55 AM |
Panel 4 - Building the Nuclear Workforce of the Future Moderator: Paul Mitchell, President and CEO, Energy Systems Network (ESN) Jason Clark, Senior Political Advisor, Central Midwest Carpenters Union Mitch Frazier, President, Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) Hannah Pike, PhD Student, Nuclear Engineering, Purdue University Patrick Rouse, Vice President, Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering, Bioscience, and Skilled Trades, Ivy Tech Community College - Systems Office |
| 9:55-10:15 AM | Break |
| 10:20-10:40 AM | Nuclear Spotlight |
| 10:45-11:30 AM |
Panel 5 - Financing the Future: Investment and Assurance Pathways for Nuclear Energy Moderator: Rinaldo Hunt, Executive Director for Business Development and Strategic Partnerships, Purdue Applied Research Institute (PARI) David Faherty, Chief Commercial Officer and Co-Founder, Elementl Power Joe Jacobson, Head of Commercialization, Applied Atomics Allen Otto, Senior Managing Director, Guggenheim Partners Michael Woods, President, Woods Capital LLC |
| 11:30 AM-1:00 PM | Lunch (Cosmopolitan Room, 3rd Floor) |
| 1:00-2:15 PM |
Workshop - Indiana's Nuclear Cluster Strategy Led by Julio Prado, Strategic Doing |
| 2:15-3:00 PM |
Breakout Sessions - Converting strategic outcomes set for 2030 into pathfinder projects Working Group 1: Workforce and Education Pipeline Working Group 2: Infrastructure and Investment Working Group 3: Innovation and R&D Working Group 4: Community Readiness and Governance |
| 3:00-3:15 PM | Break |
| 3:15-4:00 PM | Breakout Sessions Continue |
| 4:00-5:00 PM | Report-Outs and Action Planning |
| 5:00 PM | Conclusion |