Manchester based Walker Sime has announced Sheryl Durham as their new Director of Project Controls and Decarbonisation Lead. Durham, who brings two decades of experience on some of the UK’s most significant energy transition and net-zero projects, will play an important role in expanding Walker Sime’s portfolio in energy and infrastructure.
Durham is a strong advocate for “the art of the possible,” driven by a passion for projects that will provide a cleaner, greener planet for future generations. “We’re pushing innovative projects that are first of their kind at scale, and that’s something worth getting swept up in. It's a thrilling opportunity to work on projects that can make a real difference," she says.
Durham’s project controls career started in oil and gas projects in Northern Canada. She later transitioned to nuclear and low-carbon energy projects in Canada and the UK, where she worked with leading engineering and construction specialists. Over the last decade, she has taken on leadership roles in flagship energy transition projects, playing a critical part in moving from traditional oil and gas towards net-zero energy for power and industry.
Recently, Durham served as Project Controls Lead for the Sizewell C Civils Design Programme. In this role, she was responsible for setting up and managing a comprehensive system of schedule, cost, performance, risk, and change management for the £500 million engineering portion of the £8 billion civil works programme. Her leadership in establishing multi-discipline controls teams and systems ensured industry best practices were followed in reporting programme information and coordinating across various stakeholders.
At Walker Sime, Durham is not only focused on expanding the firm’s project controls expertise but also in collaborating with investors and stakeholders on the complexities of first-of-a-kind decarbonisation projects. "These projects are massive, and timelines and budgets are often laden with optimism bias. My role is to help all stakeholders understand the full scope, set out proactive processes to measure and evaluate progress, and manage risks appropriately."
A key part of her mission at Walker Sime is to solidify the firm’s reputation as a trusted partner in delivering programmes supporting the energy transition. "Walker Sime has a history of punching above its weight. We have the expertise, the passion, and the people to support these large-scale infrastructure projects," Durham says. "That’s a huge part of why I’m here—to help shape a more sustainable world and make a lasting impact."