Zemfira Knott has over two decades of management experience including many years in the nuclear insurance industry. Zemfira is one of Northcourt’s founding members and reports directly to the CEO and the Board of Directors. Zemfira’s responsibilities include managing the day-to-day operations of the company, developing strategic business and marketing plans, analyse and manage stakeholder relations with Northcourt’s clients, panel of insurers, broker network and regulators around the world and speaking at industry conferences.

Previously Zemfira worked as a Business Manager for Northcourt’s parent company operating in London and Washington DC. She was directly involved in a number of high-profile projects in the nuclear and energy sector providing strategic and advisory services to the top management of several large multinational companies. In order to assist clients on geo-political issues, Zemfira worked closely with N10 Downing Street, Members of Parliament and UK Embassies globally.

Prior to that Zemfira held a senior management position with 50 direct reports. She was responsible for developing and implementing operational strategies for increased profitability and improved customer service. As part of her many achievements she successfully turned around several struggling operations.

Zemfira’s recent studies include Business Analytics, Economics and Negotiation at the Harvard Business School and she is currently pursuing her executive education at the Cambridge University Judge Business School.

She is a member of the International Nuclear Law Association, the Chartered Insurance Institute and Financial Times’ Non-Executive Directors Club. For her achievements, Zemfira has been shortlisted for “Elite Women 2023” by Insurance Business UK and “Women in Insurance” Award.

Adrian joined the underwriting team of Northcourt in May 2017 after over 35 years working on the broking side of the insurance industry the last 13 of which focused primarily on nuclear insurance. His knowledge of and contacts in that field qualify him to work alongside the members of the insurance panel of Northcourt and the brokers involved in the placement of the binders.

After starting his career with Sedgwick in 1981, Adrian joined Alexander Howden in 1994 where he was responsible for a team dealing with all processing aspects of the more complicated placements across the combined Marine, Energy, Power and Construction Business Units.

He transferred to the Aon Power Business Unit in 2004 at which time he became involved with nuclear insurance as a key member of the team handling the reinsurance programme for European nuclear mutual EMANI.

At time of leaving Aon, Adrian was Global Account Director for EMANI, working with colleagues in London and Brussels on all stages of the process from programme design through placement of the reinsurances to production and issuance of documentation.

He was also responsible for co-ordinating all technical and servicing aspects of a portfolio of other nuclear accounts and was a member of the Aon Core Global Nuclear Team.

Alongside his account responsibilities, Adrian also undertook quality control and audit checks across the Power Business Unit within Aon to ensure compliance with both internal and external regulatory requirements. He also acted as authorised signatory for documentation issued to clients and insurers.

He will continue to perform these tasks at Northcourt alongside his primary role.

David Mincher has been involved in nuclear engineering for over 30 years, initially with the Royal Navy and then with the civil nuclear generating industry.

David’s naval career started with an artificer apprenticeship and culminated in the role of Marine Engineering Officer (Senior Engineer and Head of Department) of one of the UK’s Trident ballistic missile submarines. Over the course of a 24-year career he held engineering appointments in surface ships and submarines as well as an extensive period in a training and assessment role.

On leaving the Royal Navy David joined the UK’s civil nuclear industry firstly in the role of Internal Regulator at Dungeness B (AGR) before moving to an operational role at Sizewell B (PWR). He completed Reactor Operator training before advancing to the Control Room Supervisor position and ultimately to the senior operational role of Shift Manager, a position he held for 7 years.

Operationally focussed, David has undertaken risk-based analysis in both his careers and has relevant practical experience in risk management and mitigation. David is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Ed has nearly 40 years of experience leading and delivering high value outcomes in extremely challenging environments, both commercially and in the military. Since 2016, he has been a Senior Independent Advisor to the licensee Board of EDF Energy Generation, the operating company for UK’s nuclear industry, advising the management team on nuclear safety, security and strategy matters. He is also a senior advisor and co-builder with Gallos Technologies which invests in security technology companies.

Ed has comprehensive experience of managing and dealing with all types of intelligence, political and malicious risk, confrontation analysis, complex project management, business development and resource allocation. He has been part of the leadership team that built two successful consultancy businesses and spent 7 years as Chief Resilience Officer at Pool Re, the Government backed terrorism reinsurance scheme. He was privileged to command 22 SAS over 9/11 and led British forces in Afghanistan in 2006. Ed has been formally recognised by Her Majesty's Government on six occasions for his service to the nation.

Mark has extensive underwriting and broking experience, and has developed nuclear programmes for Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria and China. Mark is also recognised as a leading expert in the nuclear insurance field.

During his career, Mark has served as managing director of the UK’s nuclear insurance pool, Nuclear Risk Insurers Ltd, assisting the government with changes to the statutory nuclear liability legislation required by amendments to the 2004 Paris Convention. Mark has also been an expert representative of the international nuclear insurance industry at the Nuclear Law Committee of OECD’s Nuclear Energy Agency in Paris and is a lecturer at the International School of Nuclear Law. Recently, Mark engaged by the European Commission to lead a study on the insurance, private and financial markets in the field of nuclear third-party liability.

Nick is an ACII-qualified (re)insurance lawyer, and a multi-class and jurisdiction claims specialist, with extensive technical, operational and performance management expertise across London Market, Lloyd’s & MGA businesses. As Optio Group’s Claims Director, Nick is responsible for the performance of its claims team and the delivery of a high-quality claims service.

Nick represents Northcourt, and works closely with its clients, on various UK and international nuclear claims management committees as well as actively contributing towards effective risk management and regulatory processes and protocols. Given his dual legal and insurance claims management background, Nick has also been able to leverage his experience and know how on nuclear claims (from investigation through to resolution via negotiation, mediation, or litigation) to deliver optimal claims outcomes for Northcourt’s clients.

Olga joined Northcourt team in 2018 as a part-time administrator providing key operational support for all business activities undertaken by the Northcourt team before progressing to the role of underwriting assistant in which she supports the underwriting team by reviewing submissions, liaising with insureds and panel members regarding new and renewal business, preparing and issuing documentation and actioning any requests received for changes in coverage as well as continuing to provide operational support to the wider Northcourt team. Olga is currently studying for a Diploma with the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII).