“ I get my own energy from helping people, so my advice to anyone looking to join the industry would be to follow your passion.”
A trained clinical psychologist turned oil and gas sales professional, Shabnum Hanif recently took on the role of Director of Clinical Psychology at Integrity HSE, combining her industry knowledge and psychological background to combat mental health issues in the onshore and offshore industry.
Having completed a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from The University of Aberdeen followed by a Masters in clinical health psychology from The University of Edinburgh, I spent the first few years of my career as a clinical psychologist treating patients in a private hospital in Edinburgh and around the country, working alongside some of the world’s leading mental health professionals. Then almost completely by chance, I transitioned to the oil and gas industry, taking on director-level sales and operational roles with several internationally recognised companies such as Fugro, James Fisher and Ocean Infinity.
I really loved this work, especially the opportunity to meet new people and build professional relationships, but I did find the combination of performance targets and travelling to be very demanding. So, after almost a decade, and with a deep knowledge and understanding of the energy sector as well as the growing issue of mental illness, I made the decision to return to psychology.
Now in my role as the Director of Clinical Psychology for Integrity HSE, I am working to address and support the mental health of the people in our industry. With the Covid pandemic impacting access to treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) leading to an increase in untreated cases, and worrying statistics around declining male mental health more broadly, my role is to educate, support and treat so that our people can positively and coherently manage their emotions and life pressures.
I absolutely love working in this industry and appreciate what it brings to the entire world in terms of sustaining societies and driving economies, and that is why I am so passionate about supporting its workforce. Energy is such an important facet to life and living, and without it, we would not have the quality of life we see today.
Looking ahead, I truly believe that technology will be the cornerstone of safer, healthier and more environmentally friendly operations at sea, which should be embraced as we transition to a cleaner energy future. By harnessing new innovations and maximising the support available to our workforce, we will unlock a thriving energy future that delivers for our people, society and the planet.
I get my own energy from helping people, so my advice to anyone looking to join the industry would be to follow your passion. Whether it be technology, robotics or environmental initiatives, there are so many parts of the energy industry that suit all interests and passions. It’s a great industry and I’m incredibly proud to be part of it.
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