Fueling Fresh Starts at SLNG: From Renewable Energy Credits to Floating Terminals

Sheryl Ho, Manager (Throughput Projects)

What does it take to navigate a complete career change, especially in a highly technical industry? Sheryl Ho's journey in SLNG offers some insights on this. When Sheryl made the leap from sustainability projects into the heart of SLNG's Throughput Business, she wasn't just switching teams—she was diving into unfamiliar waters. 

"My first meeting with the new team? There was so much technical jargon and I recall being completely unfamiliar with many new terms used during the meeting," she laughs. 

Today, Sheryl plays a key role on the team driving SLNG's Second Terminal project. The Second Terminal, unlike the current one on Jurong Island which is an onshore terminal, involves the charter of a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) from Japanese shipowner, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL). This is a strategic shift for SLNG: instead of a land-based facility, the new terminal floats, offering greater flexibility in meeting Singapore’s future gas demand. 

It's also, in many ways, emblematic of Sheryl's own pivot.

From Leases to LNG

Armed with a degree in Chemical Engineering, Sheryl began her career at JTC Corporation, focusing on land-related developments for the energy and chemicals sector. 

"It was largely lease management; looking at ways to improve the competitiveness and attractiveness of Jurong Island," she recalls. "It gave me a strategic view, but I wanted to get closer to the action—the technical decisions, the operations, the execution."

That chance came in 2021, when she joined SLNG's Technical & Project Development team, supporting its sustainability portfolio. 

"It brought me one step closer," she says. "I was dealing with projects to reduce carbon emissions, and working on carbon tax exemptions and Renewable Energy Certificates. Decisions that shaped how the terminal stayed compliant and future-ready." 

"It was meaningful work," she says. "But I realised it was still just one piece of the puzzle."

Into the Core

That itch to understand the business more holistically led Sheryl to pursue an internal transfer in 2024. "The Throughput Business is SLNG's core mandate," she explains. "It's about ensuring energy security for Singapore, and I felt I needed to learn how the business really runs; to be more involved in the commercial aspects."

The move was self-driven - Sheryl took it upon herself to approach the relevant parties involved, to make it happen. "Thankfully, everyone was supportive. But once the door opened, I had to walk through it quickly and learn fast."

And there was plenty to learn.

"In the commercial side of things, everything is very specialised and very niche," she shares "There’s your gas market operations, how the commercial operations works, the scheduling and all. There’s a lot that I had to learn along the way."

Sheryl (third from left) in attendance at LNGA 2025 with SLNG staff

Her new role pulled her straight into commercial evaluations, contract negotiations, and deep coordination across teams. She worked closely with the Second Terminal team on the FSRU's 100-page charter contract—every line scrutinised.

"It's not just legalese," she notes. "We had to make sure the contract could deliver on technical, regulatory, and operational requirements, while also managing risks and giving us the flexibility we need."

No Typical Days

The learning curve was steep, but the pace kept her energised. One day she might be doing commercial analysis; the next, sitting across the table from partners from Japan.

Sheryl (third from left) and the Second Terminal Project team meeting with the MOL team in Japan

"There's no fixed boundary in this role. Every day is different."

Beyond the Second Terminal project, she also recently took up a new role as a Singapore country coordinator under the ASEAN Council on Petroleum (ASCOPE), where she works with representatives from 10 ASEAN member countries to help foster sustainable petroleum collaboration amongst members and contribute meaningfully to ASEAN energy security.

"We organise workshops, coordinate with external agencies. It's not just LNG cargoes and schedules. It's a big-picture collaboration."

Her days are rarely the same. But one small ritual keeps her grounded. A quiet meal with her husband and family at the end of the day helps her recharge. "It's how I reset and stay centred, so I can bring my best self to work again the next day."

Redefining Growth

Sheryl's journey shows how growth doesn’t just mean moving vertically to climb the corporate ladder. One can also grow by moving horizontally and changing lanes entirely. "It wasn't just a box-ticking exercise. My manager saw the value in letting someone contribute from a new angle."

But growth rarely comes without discomfort. "It's like starting a whole new job. New team, new language, new rhythm. You're a beginner again."

There were long nights: finetuning contract clauses, prepping slides for cross-functional reviews. But she never lost sight of why she made the pivot. "That’s what I signed up for. I wasn’t here to coast."

What helped, she says, was the culture. "It’s not a place where people hoard knowledge. They share. They coach."

And through it all, a quote by St. Teresa often guides her thinking: 'Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.' 

"That's a constant reminder to me that purpose lives in the day-to-day. In how you speak to someone. How you write an email. Even the way you solve a problem."

Looking Ahead

Now that she's found her footing, Sheryl wants to deepen her commercial skills and become more confident leading negotiations. "Every assignment teaches me something new, about contracts, about the energy value chain, even about myself. I had my first child in April, and leading up to it, I was reading a lot of parenting books and baby care tips. It's a whole new kind of learning journey. Ask questions. Don't be afraid to try. If you're curious and proactive, there's always a way in."

Sheryl's pivot didn't just expand her skillset; it anchored her at the intersection of strategy, operations, and impact. And she's just getting started.