"A Net Zero future is in sight"

Dr Alison Reid (48) grew up near Loch Lomond and is now based in Aberdeen after gaining a degree and PhD in Chemistry from the city’s university. She is currently Regional Sales Manager, and Managing Director for the UK entity at ChampionX, a global leader in chemistry solutions and highly engineered equipment and technologies, which help companies drill for and produce oil and gas safely and efficiently.

‘Not all chemists wear white coats.’ I remember this campaign from my school years, and it really resonated with me. It spurred me on to learn more about opportunities in the sector and made me realise the appeal of working in a STEM discipline.

Initially, I was very determined to work in the pharmaceutical industry as I saw that as a clear way to help people through science. However, I recognised that science can be applied across a number of industries to benefit society, including meeting our energy needs. Scientists can help solve the world’s biggest challenges – whether that is dealing with an emerging pandemic, climate change, energy security or determining our place in the energy transition.

After gaining my PhD, I worked as a production chemist at GSK plc (formerly Glaxo SmithKline) in its pharmaceutical manufacturing plant for a decade. Throughout this time, I held several roles including production chemist, project lead and latterly, team manager. Due to family circumstances I decided to change career, moving into the oil and gas industry. I understood that the skills I had gained working in pharmaceuticals were extremely transferrable. 

This was quite a radical shift. Not only was it a significant change of industry, but I also moved from a more technical role into sales. I had never considered working in sales prior to submitting my application and I was apprehensive. However, I quickly settled in my role and immediately knew I had made the right decision. I loved the different aspects of my job; meeting new people, finding out what technical issues they have, and working as a team to solve these using our leading chemical management solutions. While a great deal of my role is in supporting existing clients, I also work with a strong team to forge new relationships and bring business into the company.

My time at ChampionX has brought with it so many exciting opportunities. Starting as an account manager in a sales role, I then spent some time within the marketing team which opened my eyes to the whole of the sector. I work closely with our customers to secure tailored and sustainable solutions to their problems. It is fascinating to witness the entire supply chain working together to address industry challenges at such a critical time for the energy sector. Internally, the business is continually evaluating how we can expand our portfolio to enable customers to reduce their carbon footprint, freshwater use, and power consumption, while maximising efficient oil and gas production.

The oil and gas industry is supported by a highly skilled workforce. It is imperative that they are nurtured to support the energy transition as we continue to evolve alongside the changing energy mix. My own experience has shown the benefits of individuals moving from one industry to another. Diverse skills can lead to more innovative thought and approaches to challenges. Through the combination of experienced personnel with innovative digital solutions, a net zero future is in sight.