As key contributors to OGUK’s events programme, Lois Wilkinson and Isabella Busch help organise a host of events including the representative body’s annual awards, where members of the next generation achieved industry recognition.
Onyi Anyado, a life coach who went from living a destructive street life to becoming an award-winning entrepreneur and leader of distinction says: “Leadership isn’t about age but rather, leadership is about influence, impact and inspiration.”
These words describe the inspirational finalists at OGUK’s 2020 annual awards ceremony, especially those at the start of their careers in the apprentice and graduate categories. They are great role models for the next generation and confident about continuing their careers in our sector as it plays its part in the energy transition to a low carbon future.
OGUK’s 2020 Graduate of the Year Award winner and project manager at Baker Hughes, Connor Robb says: “This industry is going to go through unprecedented reinvention – the world needs it to – and the industry needs strong people to lead that change and to make a difference. Opportunities will arise faster than we have seen before and there is a real chance here to become the next energy leaders of the world.”
Fellow finalist Steve Scott, a production technologist at Shell UK added: “I don’t think there’s ever been a more exciting time to join the industry, with conventional oil and gas projects requiring pioneering engineering to achieve delivery, whilst having the opportunity to individually impact the progression of the energy transition. I’m inspired by complex engineering problems which require open-ended and critical thinking and I aspire to become a leader who leverages experience in conventional oil and gas production to deliver world-class energy transition projects including offshore carbon capture injection and the maturation of hydrogen as a dominant fuel source.”
Apprentice mechanical technician Scott Milligan from CNOOC International comments: ”I chose oil and gas because I wanted to do something in world-class engineering and a hands-on approach with the classroom learning at college. An apprenticeship with Ogtap/Opito was the ideal route for me. There are vast areas of learning to pursue along with gaining life-changing skills which will help throughout offshore life and at home. It’s an amazing industry with different opportunities in a multi-discipline engineering sector that involves so many skills across the UK and worldwide.”
While the OGUK awards provided an amazing online showcase for the industry’s emerging talent, our team also hosted 56 webinars in 2020. The young professional events proved popular attracting up to 500 registrations and attendees from almost 20 countries around the world.
We’re planning four webinars for Young Professionals. More people realise our industry’s key role in the energy transition and understand the sector is building on its oil and gas expertise to incorporate wind, CCUS, hydrogen and wave energies to support the UK’s cleaner climate ambitions, with all the diverse job opportunities that these will bring.
The first webinar on March 18 sponsored by Halliburton focuses on OGUK’s Business Outlook:’ 2021 and Beyond’ which sets out the industry’s expectations for the coming year including activity levels and how it’s evolving to deliver net zero emissions.
Marking the five-month countdown to COP26, the webinar in June focuses on climate change and the environment while mentoring is the theme in September.
This year we’ll be asking participants to choose the theme of the final webinar in November so it’s worth getting involved in these webinars to benefit from the online networking opportunities and the chance to debate and shape discussions about the future of our industry.
To make sure of your place at the event, go to OGUK’s event page https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/oguk-events-7957768157 – and to view the awards videos, visit www.ogukawards.co.uk
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