From the Orkney Islands, to Glasgow, to London, to Aberdeen via Australia – where could the oil and gas industry take you?

Growing up within the oil and gas communities of the Orkney Islands and Aberdeenshire, Shona Harvey (43) originally wanted to go into the music business. After a stint working for a radio group in London, she entered the oil and gas industry – and never looked back. Since then, she’s had the opportunity to travel, live and work abroad, and experienced first-hand how the industry has evolved over the last 15 years.

I spent my childhood and formative years growing up in the oil and gas communities of the Orkney Islands and Aberdeenshire. My father was employed by Occidental Petroleum in the 1970s and 1980s and held key marine and safety roles at Flotta Terminal in Orkney, before being transferred to Aberdeen in the mid-1990s.

Growing up in the Orkney Islands, I spent a lot of time outside in nature, exploring the many beaches and wonderful landscapes the isles have to offer. We spent family holidays in Ayrshire where our grandparents lived, and in Aviemore – enjoying the great outdoors against the backdrop of the Cairngorms.

I began my career in Glasgow before moving to London after getting the opportunity to work for a commercial radio group. However, I became aware of the potential to grow my career in the oil and gas industry, and soon secured a job as a Communications Manager for an independent oil and gas company. Little did I know that this was the start of my big adventure. Since then, I’ve had some incredible experiences and many opportunities to travel – from Germany to Turkmenistan, to Australia.

I ended up living and working in Australia for more than eleven years, during which time I worked for both Shell and Chevron, supporting them as they launched several Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) projects. Today I am a Senior Communications Advisor for Repsol Sinopec, based in Aberdeen, where I lead the company’s corporate communications and external affairs.

Globally, the energy landscape is changing. It is undergoing significant change to meet increasing energy demands, while also reducing carbon emissions – a difficult balancing act. As traditional oil and gas activities decline, the sector is looking for new and more innovative ways to provide more and cleaner energy. As a result, alternative energy sources such as wind and hydrogen are becoming more important.

It is a really exciting time to be working in the energy industry. The North Sea Transition Deal, recently agreed with the UK Government, aims to tackle climate change and will help offshore oil and gas companies transition towards more sustainable operations. In my role, I work with technical and operational colleagues to articulate the work Repsol Sinopec is doing to design and deliver more sustainable energy. It is a collaborative effort that the whole industry is involved in. We have real reason to be hopeful and positive about the future of the industry.

For those looking to enter the industry, don’t be put off if you don’t have a ‘technical’ background. The industry needs specialists in communications, law, finance, HR and IT (amongst others) to keep it going. It is a truly dynamic and constantly changing industry that can provide a rewarding, global career.

It has been fascinating to be involved in the changing nature of oil and gas companies over the last 15 years. Initially, companies were seen only as the problem when talking about climate change. However, today, thanks to the enormous investments the industry is making in alternative energy sources, oil and gas companies are increasingly being seen as part of the solution. We are working closely with governments, customers and others in the industry to harness the expertise and skills needed to develop more sustainable energy sources.

COP26 in Glasgow provided a great opportunity to highlight the role that the region, and Scotland more generally, can play in meeting our net zero targets. I’m very excited to see what the future brings and feel privileged to be part of that journey.