Evidence of French Areva chief Anne Lauvergeon's status as one of the biggest players in the global nuclear sector is in a decision by Imperial College to award her an honorary doctorate in sciences today.

Going by the nickname "Atomic Anne", the tough and charming 49-year-old leads the nuclear group that aims to supply the bulk of the next wave of reactors in the UK and is bidding for the contract to run Sellafield in Cumbria.