Tell us about your career in oil & gas so far.
After gaining a Business and Management degree as well as a NEBOSH Health & Safety qualification, I set my sights on a career offshore – one that would hopefully take me all over the world.
My first role was as a Trainee Health & Safety Officer with a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessels (FPSOs) operating company which involved an extensive training programme. This included various roles on FPSOs in Angola during operations, offshore construction upgrades and decommissioning phases. I then joined an FPSO Conversion project in China seeing it through from the shipyard phase to commissioning and first oil. We sailed the vessel from China to Brazil and I stayed there to work in the field where it was deployed and to support the country’s national safety officers.
I moved to another FPSO operating company and joined a similar FPSO project in a Singapore shipyard, again responsible for the Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) operational readiness and set up of the company’s management system. The FPSO was sailed to Angola where I was based as a Safety Officer for three years.
In 2019, I joined TotalEnergies’ UK oil & gas operations as the HSE Superintendent on Elgin Franklin. What a great work ethic the team has there, and such a strong commitment to health & safety! My time there was both rewarding and challenging, for example navigating offshore operations during the pandemic, managing the increased risks that came with barge campaigns and drilling rigs that arrived, to name a few.
In 2025, I took the opportunity to go on the Company’s mobility programme and started a new position overseas.
What does your current role involve?
In September 2025, I joined the field operations team as HSE Leader on the Gas Midstream Project for Iraq. This is part of a major multi-energy project to support Iraq’s transition towards its energy independence. My role is to ensure HSE readiness for the operational phase, with the project scheduled to be completed in 2028. I’m based in Dubai but regularly travel to Basra to build relationships with the various teams on site.
Being in an onshore role is new for me, having spent my career working on offshore installations – but at least Dubai and Basra are a lot warmer than the North Sea!
What have you enjoyed most about the projects you’ve worked on throughout your career?
Having been part of the field operations teams for various projects, I really enjoy the variety and the different challenges arise on the projects, and working with the many teams to ensure a solution is found. I particularly enjoy seeing projects from the start right through to the operational phase, and my current role in Iraq also allows me to do that.
What is the best piece of carer advice you’ve been given?
Having started as a trainee, I was always told that if you work hard, doors will open for you and if an opportunity arises that appeals to you, then take it. So far this advice has rung true for me!
Working hard is important, which my parents always instilled in me. Even at 12/13 years old I was pestering the postman to help him deliver letters or jumping on a milk float at 4am helping the local milkman for a bit of pocket money!
Outside of work, what do you like to do?
Having worked in offshore rotation positions my entire career, away from my family, I really enjoy spending quality time with them when I’m back home and going on holidays. My real passion is my football team Liverpool FC where I have a season ticket. Although my full-time role in Dubai has meant I’ve had to loan it to a friend and resort to watching them on TV!