Annual Gala Dinner

Dr Ben Heard is one of Australia’s best recognised and most experienced analysts for the uses of nuclear technologies to support solutions for the complex interrelated challenges of climate change, energy, restoration of the natural world, and human well-being.

His doctoral thesis modelled the integration of nuclear and renewable technologies to achieve affordable, reliable electricity supply for the National Electricity Market of Australia. Holding a Masters in Corporate Sustainability, Ben has extensive experience in a range of environmental and sustainability challenges from land remediation, water use reform, and native and plantation forestry. Ben has delivered reviews of economic opportunities in the nuclear fuel cycle, proposals for advanced reactor and recycling project appended to used fuel storage, and a review of the environmental performance of the Australian uranium sector.

He has authored award-winning and highly shared peer-reviewed papers discussing the challenges of energy transitions and the role for nuclear technologies. He was a member of the Public Advisory Panel for the siting of Australia’s low-and-intermediate level waste store and repository. Ben is a regular conference fixture at international, national, and state fora, discussing contemporary challenges and opportunities to create change for the better. He is an environmental advisor to Terrestrial Energy, a Canadian-based developer of the Integral Molten Salt Reactor. He contributed two chapters to An Australian nuclear industry – Starting with submarines? (2020) and authored Small Modular Reactors in the Australian Context as an accessible guide to new nuclear technologies.

Ben has undertaken outreach on climate change and environmental concerns since 2010, with a focus on the beneficial role of nuclear technologies in helping to resolve complex challenges. He is one of the global voices featured in the documentary film Juice: How Electricity Explains the World, and his advocacy efforts are profiled in the recent documentary Atomic Hope. He brought the first Australian film crew inside the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor for a top-rated episode of 60 Minutes. He founded the environmental NGO Bright New World in 2016 to promote science-based action on the interrelated challenges of climate change, energy, conservation, and human well-being. He is proud to support RePlanet as it continues this evidence-based, human-centred work to create a better world for all.

Ben lives in Adelaide, South Australia, on Kaurna country.