Profile

Derek Carlisle

PFCS Head of Projects, Sellafield Ltd

Derek is currently the Head of Projects for the Pile Fuel Cladding Silo, where he is responsible for leading a number of projects aimed at emptying then eventual decommissioning and demolition of the oldest waste silo on the Sellafield site. Derek joined the nuclear industry, at Sellafield in 1990 after graduating with a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Aston University. Initially working as part of the commissioning team for a £500m effluent treatment complex, Derek moved on to taking a leading role in developing a plant to treat and dispose of the Medium Active waste solvent stored on the site. In 1998 Derek became Programme Manager for the Floc Retrieval Project where he spent seven years leading a £120m project which resulted in the transformation of the Sludge Storage Tanks and the successful recovery and treatment of over 1800m³ of actinide rich sludge. Following completion in 2005 Derek moved to the Pile Fuel Storage Pond where he again led projects achieving ground breaking milestones on the Sellafield site including the complete removal of metal and canned fuel from the pond and the commencement of pond desludging. In his current role Derek is leading the effort to start removal of cladding from an aging waste silo. As part of this work he led the turnaround of the project preparing the facility for retrievals from a failing project to one which has delivered savings in excess of £400m and while delivering years ahead of schedule.