DrNihal Darraj

Nihal s a carbon capture and storage (CCS) researcher, engineer and international energy professional with more than a decade of experience spanning academia, industry and international professional leadership. Her work sits at the intersection of CO₂ geological storage, engineering, industrial decarbonisation and the deployment of carbon management technologies, with a strong focus on translating technical expertise into practical solutions for large-scale CCS deployment.

She holds a PhD from Imperial College London and has held senior technical and strategic roles across academia and industry, including CO₂ Storage Lead at the Global CCS Institute, CCUS Development Manager at Heidelberg Materials, and Senior Reservoir Geomechanics Engineer. Her experience encompasses international CCS projects, subsurface engineering, technical consultancy, strategic development and engagement with industry, government and international organisations.

Nihal has contributed to international initiatives on carbon management and decarbonisation, including work with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), and has advised and collaborated with major international energy and industrial organisations such as IEAGHG, GCCSI, and IEA. Her work increasingly focuses on the broader conditions required to move CCS from individual projects towards large-scale, integrated and commercially viable carbon management systems, bringing together technical, economic, policy and infrastructure perspectives.

Her contributions to the energy and CCS sector have received significant international recognition, including the IPTC Young Professional Achievement Award (2025) for contributions to CCS technology, innovation and deployment, the SPE International Giovanni Paccaloni Young Professional Service Award (2022), SPE Regional Outstanding Young Member Award (2018) and SPE Europe Regional Sustainability and Stewardship Award. She is also a Chevening Scholar, selected through the UK Government's highly competitive international scholarship programme, and a TechWomen Fellow of the U.S. Department of State.

Nihal has held several international leadership positions within the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and the wider energy community, contributing to professional development, capacity building and the engagement of the next generation of energy professionals. She is Co-Founder and Convenor of the Global Carbon Management Academy, established through the Global CCS Institute Foundation, supporting capacity building and professional development in carbon management. She also contributes to international scientific and professional communities through leadership roles in organisations including InterPore.

Through her academic, industry and professional leadership, Nihal contributes to the development of safe, scalable and commercially viable CCS, while strengthening the connection between technical research, industrial deployment, policy and the wider systems required to accelerate the global transition to a low-carbon economy.