About Carbon Diamond
Carbon Diamond is an international consultancy specialising in Sustainability, Social Impact and Social Policy.
Working across the Caribbean, United Kingdom and internationally, we bring together expertise in sustainable development, social policy, research, international development and programme delivery.
Our multidisciplinary model recognises that environmental and social challenges cannot be addressed in isolation. Climate resilience, economic opportunity, effective public policy and community wellbeing are interconnected.
Carbon Diamond works across disciplines to develop solutions that are evidence-led, locally grounded and capable of practical implementation.
The people behind the practice
Our multidisciplinary team brings together sustainability, social policy and international development expertise.
Shereen Samara
Shereen leads Carbon Diamond's sustainability and international development practice, connecting real-world delivery expertise with policy research, international development and innovative finance models.
Dr Sharon Walker
Dr Sharon Walker is a PhD-qualified registered social worker and senior social-policy specialist with more than 30 years' experience across public-sector policy, statutory social work, programme development, international institutional advisory work, research and academia.
Her expertise spans children and families, safeguarding, health and social care, vulnerable populations, women's equality, human rights, substance-use policy, criminal justice, programme evaluation and institutional reform.
Dr Walker previously held senior national policy and programme responsibilities within HM Prison Service/National Offender Management Service, including Head of Drug Treatment Policy and Programmes, National Women's Equalities Policy Advisor and National Women's Policy and Programme Expert.
She subsequently managed social-work interventions within Essex Children's Services, including programmes supporting families where parental substance use placed children at the edge of care. Her earlier statutory practice encompassed children and families, vulnerable adults, safeguarding and multi-agency social work.
Internationally, Dr Walker has undertaken policy, evaluation and systems-development assignments through EU TAIEX and EU Twinning programmes in Montenegro, Azerbaijan, Macedonia, Croatia, Turkey and Bulgaria. These assignments covered institutional reform, human rights, prisoner health, probation, substance-use treatment and juvenile interventions.
Alongside her policy and practice career, she has held senior academic positions in social work and health and social care and maintains an active research and publication profile.
- PhD
- MSt Applied Criminology, Penology & Management — University of Cambridge
- MSc Drug Use: Evidence Based Policy & Intervention — Imperial College London
- MSc Social Policy & Social Work Studies — London School of Economics
- MA Legal Studies — University of East London
- BSc (Hons) Psychology
- Registered Social Worker — Social Work England
International Social Policy Experience
Dr Walker's international policy, evaluation and systems-development experience spans six countries.
Montenegro
Development of protocols and policy aligned with EU and human-rights standards.
Azerbaijan
Scoping and assessment of probation-service arrangements and recommendations for alignment with EU standards.
Macedonia
Needs analysis and policy advice concerning prisoners with substance-use problems, treatment programmes and associated health interventions.
Croatia
Evaluation guidance concerning drug-treatment programmes and service delivery.
Turkey
Review of a juvenile substance-misuse intervention programme and policy recommendations.
Bulgaria
Extensive programme-development and implementation work across prison and detention settings, including programme design, implementation support and staff training.
