‘Working in the energy industry will give you a level of job fulfilment you simply won’t get in other careers’

Originally from St Combs near Fraserburgh, Fraser Graham (36) now lives in Kintore with his wife and son and is responsible for the global growth of Xodus’ Advisory business unit.

I have always had a fascination with people, in understanding their motivations and what drives them in life. I knew from a young age that any future role would be centred around people.

Whilst I was convinced that I was destined for a career in rock and roll, this was not to be, and at the age of 23 I began a degree in Corporate Communications and PR. I then undertook a Postgraduate in Strategy and Leadership and recently achieved Chartered Marketer status, which has allowed me to develop a well-rounded approach to commercial activities.

From years working in bars in Aberdeen, I have always enjoyed customer facing roles; a role in hospitality forces you to be able to communicate with people from all backgrounds. My current job at Xodus fundamentally isn’t any different. I look after reputation, customer experience and generating revenue for our growing Advisory services. Our team blends technical, commercial and financial services to help the client translate technical issues into commercial answers.

Living in Aberdeen, you are surrounded by the energy industry, even if you don’t have a direct role in the business, you are influenced by it every day, and often simply become interested by osmosis. This was the case for me, and I have now been in the industry for 10 years.

I am fortunate to be in a position to help develop and play a small part in the next generation of energy projects around the world. I’m proud to have been involved in projects making the oil and gas industry as sustainable as possible from extending asset life in the most environmentally efficient way to electrification across ageing and new developments. Xodus was involved in 16 of the 25GW of the successful ScotWind lease applications, cementing its position as a leading advisor to the energy transition.

I have also worked with governments and national oil companies of emerging markets to identify the resource potential for the basin, which is fascinating, and something so different to what we experience here in such a mature industry.

The industry will be the key to the transition. The knowledge, transferable skills and vision will be a huge driving force. The whole of the energy sector will have a role to play, ensuring solutions are not only technically sound but also commercially successful.

Many of the companies with a legacy in oil and gas are also the companies helping drive real change. A sustainable future means a balanced energy mix will be essential in the short and midterm. Energy security remains vital as we seek to produce enough energy to meet demands while also reducing emissions. It is paramount to share the positives from the energy industry and showcase the advancements that have been made so far.

My advice to anyone looking to join this industry is to start to build a network and get involved. The drive for energy security and for net zero is one that will challenge you, and also give you a level of job fulfilment you won’t get in other careers. As demand continues to rise, you will be part of driving the next stage of energy delivery and sustainability.