Power Lunch with Leah Parks
Current Duke students are invited to join our first Power Lunch of the fall 2026 semester featuring Leah Parks, siting manager at Kairos Power. Kairos Power is a mission-driven engineering company focused on the delivery of a clean, affordable and safe energy solution through the integrated design, licensing and demonstration of advanced reactor technology. Parks will discuss her work, with Q&A to follow. Lunch will be provided.
A LIMITED NUMBER OF TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE, so please register only if you are committed to attending. If your plans change, please cancel your registration so someone else can take part.
SPEAKER BIO
Leah Parks is siting manager for Kairos Power, headquartered in Alameda, CA, where she provides support for siting-related licensing activities, community engagement, regulatory affairs, and commercial strategy for development of the Kairos Power fluoride salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor.
Prior to joining Kairos in 2025, Leah served in a variety of roles at the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission for 18 years, providing technical and programmatic support for environmental and safety reviews on licensing activities involving facility construction, operation and/or decommissioning, including decommissioning reactor inspections. She holds an PhD in environmental management and MS in environmental engineering from Vanderbilt University, and a BS in Systems Engineering from University of Virginia.
Leah has been an active member of the American Nuclear Society since 2007, serving in many leadership roles including as Vice Chair of the Environmental and Siting Standards Consensus Committee, and previously as Chair of the ANS Public Policy Committee from 2021-2024 and as a member of the Board of Directors from 2017-2020.
Duke University is committed to creating inclusive and accessible events that encourage all people, including persons living with disabilities, to fully engage in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact nicholasinstitute@duke.edu or 919-660-1793 in advance of your participation or visit. We will do our best to accommodate any requests.
