Head of National Security & Nuclear Non-Proliferation Strategy, Department of Energy Security and Net-Zero (DESNZ)

Policy Fellow, Centre for Science and Policy

Alisha Lakhani is an accomplished Civil Service Policy Professional with extensive cross-sectoral leadership experience across the UK and Scottish Governments. She specialises in international relations, nuclear energy, climate, fiscal, and trade policy.

Her career has spanned various government departments, including HM Treasury, the Scottish Exchequer, the Home Office, and Ministerial Private Office.

Alisha holds a BA Honours in Arabic and International Relations from the University of Leeds.

Currently, Alisha is the Head of National Security and Non-Proliferation Strategy at the Department for Energy Security and Net-Zero. In this role, Alisha leads the bilateral civil nuclear relationship with India, is responsible for the department’s non-proliferation strategy as well as the Nuclear Cluster’s input into national security decision-making structures.

Before joining the Non-Proliferation Unit, Alisha led the Advanced Nuclear Diplomacy Team in DESNZ, where she established new bilateral partnerships with Europe and developed the regulatory approach to UK Small Modular Reactor (SMR) exports.