Melanie Windridge

Dr. Windridge’s passion for science began at a young age, by A-levels she had set her sights on a career in physics. This early interest led her to pursue a Master of Science in Physics at Bristol University. After completing her degree, she found herself unsure of her next steps. Encouraged by her parents to travel, she set out on a journey that not only cemented her interest in physics but also led her to fusion.

During her gap years, Dr. Windridge was brought into contact with the natural world through activities such as diving, witnessing coral bleaching, trekking in the Himalayas, and learning about glacial retreat. These experiences, coupled with her existing concern about climate change and global energy constraints, fostered a desire to find sustainable energy solutions. It was at this time that she happened upon the concept of fusion energy in a science magazine. She saw a clean, green, energy as the solution to these problems, leading her to pursue a PhD in Plasma Physics at Imperial College London with a focus on fusion energy. “As a student though I had no idea of the challenges of fusion, but I still believe that it’s the best chance we have for a sustainable energy future long term, so I got really excited about it” she shares.

Reflecting on her professional achievements, she says: “my career has evolved with the industry.” Following her PhD, Dr. Windridge was drawn to the communications and education side of Fusion. In 2010, she became the Schools and Colleges Lecturer for the Institute of Physics. This experience enabled her to travel around the UK, visiting over fifty schools that year. At the same time, Dr. Windridge was compiling a series of blog entries about her travels and about fusion, these were later published as a book called “Star Chambers”.

In 2013, Dr. Windridge began working for Tokamak Energy – a small fusion startup at the time. The company sought her out for her unique ability to both understand the scientific concepts behind fusion and communicate them to diverse audiences. “They had come to me because they had read the funny little book that I wrote called ‘Star Chambers’ and they said that they needed someone that understood the science and could talk about it to whoever, whether that was investors, politicians or the general public,” Dr. Windridge recalls. It was during her time at Tokamak Energy that Dr. Windridge honed a variety of communication skills that would serve her throughout her career. “I started when they were very small, so at the beginning it involved a bit of everything,” she says. This includes writing articles, press releases, public speaking, engaging in investor relations, and leading the company’s social media channels. She also spearheaded the company’s YouTube channel, producing videos both in in front of and behind the camera.

After five years as a freelancer for Tokamak Energy, Dr. Windridge was involved in the setting up of the Fusion Industry Association and began working as their UK Director, with responsibility for Communications, alongside Tokamak Energy work. She was in a unique position, having witnessed the evolution of fusion, from academia to the birth of start-ups and the rise of a fusion industry. “I didn’t really realize it at the time, but the fusion industry was evolving, things were changing dramatically,” she reflects. It was this perspective that enabled Dr. Windridge to recognize the need to build a larger fusion ecosystem, leading her to create Fusion Energy Insights in 2021. The company aims to keep stakeholders informed about fusion developments, in turn encouraging widespread participation and investment in the industry. Additionally, she co-founded FusionX Invest, which focuses on attracting investment into the fusion sector. “Fusion needs people and businesses coming in and driving business, we need to grow the ecosystem and we need to have a whole range of different businesses and people contributing to driving fusion forward,” she explains. She is adamant that providing people and businesses with the information they need to succeed will propel the broader industry forward and speed up the commercialization of fusion. “We’re basically an information company,” she says, “we just try and help people understand more about fusion and where they fit into the picture.”

To anyone looking to enter into fusion, Dr. Windridge recommends aligning one’s career with personal values and interests. “Think about what you care about and what matters to you,” she says, “even just the day-to-day of what you want to be doing at your job, because I think that the opportunities are vast, it’s not just science and engineering.”  Dr. Windridge points to the growth in career opportunities in the field, from expertise in plasma physics, cryogenics, magnets, and electrical and mechanical engineering, to law, communications, finance, and more. “There are a lot of different ways that people can contribute to the broader goal,” she states.

Reflecting on her career, Dr. Windridge says, “I think the highlights for me are when you see something meaningful happen that shows progress.” Tangible milestones, such as large funding rounds and governmental support for fusion illustrate the industry’s development. She acknowledges that while there are challenges in her career – notably the demanding workload, the learning curve experienced when running a business for the first time, as well as balancing a professional and personal life – she does not see them as off putting, rather as an inevitable part of life. “I think that there are always challenges in everything, that’s just natural so I don’t expect to not have challenges.”

Additionally, Dr. Windridge’s adventurous pursuits, exemplified by her trekking and mountaineering, have had a significant impact on her professional life. “Adversity builds resilience,” she says, “all of these challenges, even if they’re self-inflicted, still take a lot of determination, grit and hanging on, and I think that always teaches you something.” These adventures helped shape her risk assessment and management. “If you want to achieve something big you have to walk a fine line between bravery and insanity,” she notes, “climbing mountains helps you walk that line a bit better.” It has also enabled her to navigate the complexities of balancing personal and professional ambitions. “The lifestyle I had before I had a child, of freelance and ‘side projects,’ set me up really well for running a business and having a child because it wasn’t a big change, just a different ‘side project’!” Dr. Windridge shares.