Spotlight on Associate: Sikander Mahmood
Continuing our series of member case studies, we recently caught up with IGEM Associate member Sikander Mahmood. Sikander is a Project Manager at Cadent working in the Future Networks team and winner of our 2020 YPPC. Here, he tells us his story so far.
Sikander’s career began in 2015 when, while studying for his degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Bradford, he decided to spend a year in industry with National Grid – “I was particularly interested in energy and how it is used across the UK, so I was extremely pleased when National Grid posted me in North London to get a true experience of how gas networks are managed and maintained”, he says, adding “at that time, I was focused on implementing vacuum excavators in the London network which, back then, was up and coming technology. During my time on the industrial placement, I heard whispers of hydrogen and it was enough to keep me intrigued.”
In 2017, following the submission of his dissertation, which included an assessment of renewable technologies in the UK, Sikander graduated and rejoined National Grid Gas Distribution (which changed to Cadent soon after) on their graduate programme. During his time on the programme, Sikander worked across three areas of the business over an 18-month period. Firstly, he worked in the emergency response department, experiencing first-hand the skills, kindness and courage of Cadent’s frontline first call operatives. He then made the switch to the innovation team to help develop and kickstart their hydrogen for transport portfolio – “whilst in this team, I realised those whispers I’d heard of hydrogen in 2015 turned out to be front and centre of the future strategy,” he says, adding that he finished his graduate programme in the North West of England with Cadent’s operate and maintain team, focusing on pipeline protection systems.
In 2019, he joined the Future of Gas team to work as a Project Specialist on HyDeploy and HyDeploy2, two major hydrogen blending projects for the UK gas networks – “as things progressed, I transitioned into a project management role and can now proudly say I’ve been working on HyDeploy for over three years. During these three years, we’ve achieved an enormous amount – including obtaining the first ever exemption to the gas safety management regulations to allow 20% hydrogen distribution into Keele University. My focus now is on ensuring that our project can deliver the necessary technical evidence to facilitate a wider roll out of hydrogen blends across the UK.”
On why he chose to become a member of IGEM, Sikander says: “I’ve always been a member of the IMECHE since starting my degree, however, when I joined the gas industry, from the outside, it looked like IGEM was always going that extra mile to organise interesting events, competitions and even training sessions. For me, representation is also very important, and the gas industry in the UK is not as diverse as other sectors. Joining IGEM provides a platform for me to encourage young professionals from ethnic minority backgrounds like myself to explore what the gas industry has to offer. It soon became a no-brainer to join. I’m now a member of both IMECHE and IGEM.”
“Like many young professionals, I am always in search of opportunities to learn and improve, and I would say that, outside of the fantastic resources within IGEM such as the Hydrogen Knowledge Centre, the true benefit is within its members. I’ve met so many great people through the various events and committees who are always ready to support and share their experience.”
Speaking of committees, Sikander is also a member of IGEM’s YPN committee. On his experience of this so far, he says: “The IGEM YPN is a network with the objective of supporting and encouraging members who are in the early parts of their career. The committee is full of amazing people who put their voluntary time into the development of ideas and plans in areas such as skills development, communication and engagement, technical site visits and so much more. I find it very rewarding to be part of such a group.”
Sikander entered IGEM’s YPPC in 2020 and was crowned the winner – on this, he says “taking part in the YPPC competition is one of my most memorable experiences, never mind winning it! I remember a few of my colleagues pushing me to submit my project summary into IGEM and I was initially reluctant as I’d not done anything like this before. It’s the people who support and encourage you without wanting anything in return who get you to where you want to be.
“Taking part in the regional and national competitions gave me the opportunity to share my work with hundreds of people. Listening to others present and learning about the various projects we are doing in the gas industry was also very fascinating. Finally, to top it all off, I was awarded with a once-in-a-lifetime trip to South Korea for the World Gas Conference. I returned from the trip at the start of June, and I can honestly say it was one of the best experiences I’ve had in my life (bar the 13-hour flight!). I had the opportunity to meet new people, learn about projects across the globe such as the hydrogen developments, visit Hyundai Heavy industries shipping yard (the world’s largest) and, best of all, experience Korean culture – let’s just say I came back heavier than before I left!”
As the topic moves to engineering heroes and role models, Sikander says “I would not say I have engineering heroes or role models, rather, I am enthused by engineering feats. I could list many across different sectors but, to name a few: the pyramids, rockets and aeroplanes, the canal and underground system in the UK and so on. Yes, there may be one amazing engineer linked to most of these, but I am 100% sure that there is a whole team of great engineers alongside them who are very dedicated and hardworking with the vision and confidence to do something incredible. This is what inspires me, not individual efforts but people working together for the betterment of all.”
So, what are his thoughts on the future of gas? “We know the gas industry faces a challenge of decarbonisation and we know the UK has set ambitious targets of net zero by 2050, but the question often comes up as to whether it will be gas or electricity making the final charge. It’s the wrong question to be asking because both have an important role in this future we are heading towards.
“During my time at the World Gas Conference, I heard about the complexities that many countries are facing to move to cleaner energy, with the majority of Asia struggling to even move away from coal. At the same time, I saw the development of the hydrogen supply chain, from fuel cell trucks to hydrogen meters and equipment. We have a real opportunity here in the UK to become world leaders in hydrogen development by rapidly building out our hydrogen economy through projects such as HyNet. My hope is that, in the very near future, HyDeploy can open the door to blending and blending can keep that door open for 100% hydrogen.”