I graduated with an Integrated Master of Oceanography from the University of Southampton, and started my career as a Marine Geophysicist conducting shallow gas hazard mapping for the oil and gas sector.

I then progressed onto Party Chief and Project Manager roles in the delivery project in Subsea Minerals exploration, Cable and pipeline installation, Oil and Gas, Offshore Wind, and Maritime infrastructure development, as well the delineation of Exclusive Economic Zones under UNCLOS article 56 for the governments of Sri Lanka and South Africa.

I enjoyed the teamwork, innovative thinking and technical challenges of working in the offshore sector; especially in Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Turkmenistan where the projects were particularly demanding.

As I progressed onto Regional Manager for West Africa and the Caspian Sea I was responsible for delivering increasingly innovative high value projects which required greater levels of Health & Safety, Security and Environmental awareness.

The projects gave me an insight into the need for good Environmental, Social and Governance practice, as well as the opportunities to reduce the environmental impact of some of these overseas practices.