The Beginning

Whilst at Newcastle University studying mechanical engineering, I took the opportunity to join ConocoPhillips for two summer placements. These were at the Humber refinery at the end of my second and third academic years. The placements gave me an opportunity to gain practical experience of working at one of Europe’s most complex oil refineries, and allowed both me and the company to grow to know each other.

After my second summer placement, prior to my final year at university, I was offered financial sponsorship and a job on graduation. This offer allowed me to fully concentrate on successfully completing my degree, whilst other students at university were frantically filling in numerous application forms.

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My work at ConocoPhillips

I started working at Humber refinery in 2004 within the engineering support department. In this role, one of my main responsibilities was to support refinery project work by undertaking design assurance checks on the procurement of new pressure vessels and equipment. I had to ensure they would meet both international and ConocoPhillips design standards. After eight months, I changed roles and moved into one of the operating divisions at the refinery. I was responsible for providing engineering solutions to emerging maintenance issues on a daily basis, procuring replacement pressure vessels, piping and equipment in order to maintain high unit uptime.

In 2006, I was given the chance to develop my interest in project management by joining the refinery’s project team. In this position, I currently lead six projects totaling approximately £5 million in capital value and I spend part of my time working out of an international design consultant’s office.

I have been assigned many technically challenging tasks since starting with the company, but I have always had the back-up of support and guidance when needed. This has been an invaluable resource. 

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Career Development

I am currently completing the Monitored Professional Development Scheme (MPDS) with the IMechE in order to become a registered chartered engineer through Humber’s accredited training scheme.

I have also had the opportunity to attend numerous technical training courses as well as the ConocoPhillips graduate training programme called Pioneer. This gave me the chance to network with other recent graduates from the upstream and commercial sections of the organisation at venues in Aberdeen, Stavanger and London.

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The Future

At Humber refinery, I have always been given the opportunity to challenge myself and to learn on daily basis. In the immediate future, I am aiming to gain chartered status with the IMechE and to continue to develop both my technical and leadership skills through successfully completing my current projects on time and within budget.

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