Sarah joined TechnipFMC in 1993 as a graduate. The offshore industry had captured her imagination during her time at university when she undertook her work placements at a fabricator’s yard at Nigg Bay, on the northern coastline of the Cromarty Firth in Scotland. She shares some of her career highlights to date.
At TechnipFMC, I’ve been fortunate to have the opportunity to work at sites around the world. After starting my career in 1993 as a graduate subsea engineer in Aberdeen, I had the opportunity to spend three years in Rio in Brazil before moving to Paris, France, where I was involved in managing deep water construction and pipe laying for a number of client projects in West Africa.
Transferring to the manufacturing side of our business, I was based in Newcastle upon Tyne in England for 12 years, before moving back to Paris to head up the global tendering function. I returned to Aberdeen in 2019 to manage the fleet and offshore operations, before taking up my current general management role.
Having the chance to work in different countries and functions has given me a great insight into the nature of collaboration and the strengths of diversity in our company. There are cultural differences across our business, and those differences are good. The most effective collaborations happen when people with different backgrounds and diverse thinking work together.
During my time in the company, I’ve seen great examples of innovation. One took place in Brazil 25 years ago where the team developed swivels that ensured the PLET’s [pipeline end terminations] stayed the right way up when laying pipe in ultra-deep water.
In Newcastle we developed a fantastic vertical layup machine, the VHAM, which was designed to be future-proof and is not only used for deep water and long length umbilicals but is enabling us to develop the new high tensile dynamic power cables for offshore floating wind and electrification.
I have a real passion for encouraging women in STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics] at schools from early in my career and I believe that ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’. That’s why it has been important for me to go out and show that you can be a female engineer and business leader.
First, the future. We see it as our duty as an industry leader to develop ways for our customers to make the production of oil and gas less carbon intensive. We believe offshore will be the next frontier of the energy transition and we are ready to accelerate and grow our contribution. Our goal is to be a key enabler of the carbon transportation and storage and offshore renewables industry. Working with us gives you the chance to be part of the solution.
Second, great career opportunities. This applies whether you want to travel, or simply work in different disciplines. We believe in innovation, creativity, and growth. You’ll discover a rewarding, fulfilling, and varied career that you can take anywhere you want to go.
Third, we are people focused. We prioritize our employees, their career development, and inclusion. We give people the chance to progress, no matter their gender, race or background, and we treat everyone fairly and with respect.
