Name: Shelley
University: Melbourne
Course: Civil Engineering / Arts

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Shelley completed a double degree in Civil Engineering and Arts at the University of Melbourne and commenced as a graduate in 2001 after completing vacation work in 1999/2000. "My vacation work assignment showed me the range or roles that civil engineers could be involved with in the oil and gas industry and also the opportunity to move into different areas throughout your career."

Shelley's first role was in the Safety and Regulatory Group as the Offshore Regulatory Compliance Coordinator.  Shelley worked for two and a half years coordinating the offshore regulatory audits and working with the platform teams and engineers to close out regulatory findings as well as items identified through internally led audits and inspections.  "My first role gave me a great insight into the scope of Gippsland operations and I had the opportunity to help improve some of the processes within Esso's safety management systems and work to implement some of the new Offshore Regulations."

Following her first role Shelley spent 2 years working as the structural integrity engineer within the Inspection Engineering Group.  "I was responsible for looking after the onshore and offshore structures which included writing inspection programs for the divers and remotely operated vehicles which Esso use to inspect underwater equipment and conducting visual inspections onshore and offshore.  The role gave me great balance between being in the field and the office and I had the opportunity to work with expert risk based inspection consultants to optimise our offshore underwater inspection programs."

The next two years Shelley spent in the Planning Department, initially as a Production Planner and later as the Corporate Planner. These roles spanned many activities including reporting production and costs to ExxonMobil management in Houston, coordinating the annual Planning and Budgeting cycle, coordinating economic reviews and evaluations and writing presentations and speeches for the Leadership Team of ExxonMobil in Australia.  "I had the opportunity to spend a couple of months in Houston helping with the overall Plan and Budget for the ExxonMobil Production Company.  It was great to gain an understanding of some of the opportunities and challenges at a Production Company level and also to work with people from around the world."

"There are many things I enjoy about working for ExxonMobil; the range of work assignments that are available due to ExxonMobil's size and global reach; the level of responsibility that you are given from your first assignment; and the quality of the people that you work with and their willingness to help you learn."