The People

Chris Murray

Business Leader


Before becoming a consultant in 2007, Chris Murray was the CEO of UK Nirex Ltd., the Government owned organisation charged with developing safe and environmentally safe means to dispose of the UK’s long-lived radioactive waste.  He had previously been Nirex’s Finance and Corporate Services Director.  Prior to joining Nirex he worked in senior finance positions with Hamilton Brothers Oil and Gas and Baxters of Speyside.  He graduated in Economics from Aberdeen University and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

Whilst at Nirex Chris was a high profile Chief Executive operating within the global nuclear industry, successfully led the UK Government agency responsible for developing the disposal of UK radioactive waste, proposals subsequently endorsed by an independent committee, and accepted by Government.  He is a creative strategist, known for honesty and integrity, producing hard edged results within politically sensitive, publicly accountable environments; and has a reputation for creating the precise environment to deliver significant change.  He is also recognized as an inspirational leader of cross functional teams, internationally acclaimed scientists and engineers, balancing sensitive ethical, scientific and political issues.  The Nirex role demonstrated his skilfull engagement of all stakeholders to contribute new ideas and concepts.

His reputation demonstrates:

  • Bringing ethical, social and political aspects to the centre of the debate so that peoples’ real concerns were properly addressed, resulting in a community approaching Government about hosting a repository.
  • Demonstrating developed and sustained open, effective stakeholder and public involvement to enable people to come to grips with the issues.  Extensive contact with national and local politicians (to cabinet level), and national and local television and radio.
  • Leading the changed ownership of Nirex to provide the authority and credibility required to give the platform for change.
  • Creating an environment of openness and accountability against strong Government pressure to influence public and industry opinion to embrace the robust technical and societal advice given by Nirex.  Created a transparent, technically innovative and enabling environment.
  • Achieveing a fully consistent behaviour strategy for Nirex “one company - one ethos”, which provided a strong, coherent framework within which to move from a traditionally, ‘elitist’ view.  All staff across all functions within the company maintained the behaviour, providing a team wholly committed to delivery and success.
  • Greatly improving scientific, technical and value focus within Nirex to ensure that the proposed solution was scientifically, technically and economically able to deliver very long-term safety in a publicly acceptable way, resulting in independent and Government endorsement of Nirex’s proposals.