Tea Bilic Zabric is Deputy Head of the Nuclear Safety Technology and Regulation Division at the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA). She has over 35 years of experience in the nuclear power plant operation, working with regulatory authorities, technical support organizations, international agencies, and reactor designers. Her balanced view of operational and regulatory challenges stems from her experience in multiple functional areas of nuclear power plants, and she has also served as an authorized independent expert supporting the regulatory authority.

She has worked in three IAEA departments, where she has been involved in safety reviews of operating plants and new constructions, safety culture and leadership programmes, and initiatives to strengthen the capacity of regulators and embarking countries.

She gained direct experience in small modular reactor design and licensing at Rolls-Royce SMR and continues to support international efforts to advance the safe deployment of SMRs and advanced reactors.