“For someone looking to join the industry, my advice would be to get engaged early on, by keeping up to date with current affairs, attending talks, and networking as much as possible.”
Edmund Lau (24), originally from Yorkshire, recently graduated with an MEng Chemical Engineering degree from The University of Edinburgh. After completing a 6-month placement at Shell on electrification, he is now pursuing a career in the oil and gas industry as a Graduate Process Engineer at Katoni Engineering, based in Aberdeen.
Growing up, I had an aptitude for maths and the sciences, and I knew that STEM was an area I could excel in after leaving school. Having attended a few engineering summer schools, and knowing I wanted to be challenged further while also being able to make a difference in the world, I chose to study Chemical Engineering at the University of Edinburgh.
I knew this degree could open doors in many different industries, but the six-month placement I undertook with Shell in Aberdeen while completing my Masters and working on my thesis quantifying lifecycle GHG emissions for an electrification project, was a real turning point. I had an incredibly positive experience, studying while gaining a practical insight, and it ultimately gave me the foundation and confidence to pursue a career in the oil and gas industry.
I am now in a highly technical role as a Graduate Process Engineer with specialist engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company, Katoni Engineering. This involves supporting the work of brownfield oil and gas projects for different operators and ensuring compliance to regulation and legislation. While this role has less of a focus on the energy transition, I can see opportunity for more net-zero related projects and roles further down the line.
Overall, I am really excited about the future of the energy industry in the UK and have a great belief that oil and gas will have a key part to play in the transition as we strive to meet UK and global net-zero targets. This will demand a significant change in investment, skills, technologies and infrastructure, but I’m looking forward to seeing how the industry will evolve. I also think it’s a positive thing that many more people and organisations will have to get involved to solve the problem we are collectively facing – ensuring security of energy supply while reducing emissions.
For someone looking to join the industry, my advice would be to get engaged early on, by keeping up to date with current affairs, attending talks, and networking as much as possible. I’d also encourage people to be ambitious and follow your passions, as before you know it, you could be making a truly positive impact.
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