Walker Sime has appointed Sheryl Durham as Director of Project Controls and Decarbonisation Lead, marking a significant move in the firm’s expansion into the UK’s energy and infrastructure sectors. With a robust career spanning two decades, Durham has played key roles in major energy transition and net-zero projects. At Walker Sime, her mandate will be to drive innovative, large-scale decarbonisation initiatives that align with the firm’s mission to support sustainable infrastructure.
Known as a strong advocate for sustainable innovation, Durham describes her approach as “the art of the possible,” aiming to deliver projects that contribute to a greener planet. “We’re working on pioneering projects at scale that can make a real difference. It’s thrilling to be part of initiatives that will shape a cleaner world for future generations,” Durham shared. Her leadership is expected to bolster Walker Sime’s expertise in tackling the demands of complex, first-of-a-kind decarbonisation projects across the UK.
Durham’s early career saw her manage project controls in oil and gas projects in Northern Canada, followed by her transition to low-carbon and nuclear energy projects both in Canada and the UK. Over the last ten years, Durham has led some of the UK’s flagship energy transition projects, providing critical support in the shift from traditional energy sources towards net-zero solutions.
Most recently, she served as Project Controls Lead on the Sizewell C Civils Design Programme, where she was responsible for implementing and overseeing a rigorous management system. Her work encompassed scheduling, budgeting, performance tracking, and risk and change management for a £500 million component of the £8 billion civil engineering programme. The scale of her role required her to establish cross-functional controls teams and adopt best practices for reporting across multiple stakeholders.
In her new role at Walker Sime, Durham will focus on managing the intricacies of decarbonisation projects by collaborating with investors and stakeholders. She emphasises the importance of addressing “optimism bias” that can impact budgets and timelines for large-scale projects, noting that her role includes ensuring that all parties fully understand the project scope and are equipped with systems to monitor progress and manage risks effectively.
Durham’s appointment signals a major commitment by Walker Sime to strengthen its presence in the energy and infrastructure sector. Her expertise is set to enhance the firm’s ability to deliver critical services as part of the UK’s ongoing energy transition. “Walker Sime has a reputation for exceeding expectations, and we have the expertise and the passion to support these ambitious projects,” Durham stated. “Being part of a firm so committed to sustainable infrastructure is a unique opportunity, and I’m here to help make a lasting impact.”
Durham’s addition to the team is seen as a step toward solidifying Walker Sime‘s reputation as a trusted partner in the field of energy transition. Her experience and vision will support the firm’s objective to play an increasingly influential role in advancing the UK’s net-zero goals.