UPCOMING EVENTS
Join us at the AFBE Leadership programme as Dr Roy Bitrus hosts Emeka Emembolu – Senior Vice President, BP North Sea Region.
The underrepresentation of people of colour is well known in industries, and here we have a unique opportunity to discuss with Emeka, the most senior black executive in BP.
We would explore his early life and long term career progression in BP to date, exploring his leadership qualities and skills, the challenges he faced and most importantly the support structure he had. We would also discuss issues around value, trust and teamwork in a corporate setting and how he used these traits to progress in his career.
PAST EVENTS
Dear AFBE members,
please join us at our Start of the Year Dinner!
Venue: Chaophraya Aberdeen
Date: 10/01/2020
Time: 6:30 PM
Please kindly inform one of our team if you’re planning to attend.
Dear students and recent graduates,
please join us at our most successful event for students, the AFBE Scotland Transition Careers Event in Edinburgh: A full day of free food, job hunting activities, mentoring, CV clinic and mock interviews!
Transition is a career workshop designed to equip students and recent graduates with the skills required to scale through the employment process and secure jobs at the most sought after companies.
The Transition programme was initiated by AFBE-UK in Aberdeen in 2012 and has since been very effective in equipping over 2500 mentees with the tools they need not just to get into the workplace but to thrive!
According to a survey carried out in 2016, 70% of people who have attended the Transition programme secured a job in a relevant role within 12 months for reasons directly attributable to the Transition programme. Over 90% said it made them more confident in interviews.
Attendees will listen to an inspiring talk titled “My Transition Story” by a successful professional at this event. The event will also include a CV review session, mock interviews and an assessment centre. Its also a great event to network with industry professionals.
Lunch will be provided on the day.
This event is open to anyone who needs support to get into work. You do not have to be an engineer or of BME origin to attend.
If you are interested in attending this event, email a copy of your CV to afbescotland@gmail.com with the title Transition Edinburgh and register on Eventbrite (below).
Date, Time and Location
Saturday, 30 November 2019 from 09:00 to 17:00 (GMT)
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Book your free place here!
AFBE Real Projects brings you our November presentation, titled: ‘Youth in Energy’, to be delivered by Dr. James Mullins PhD.
James Mullins recently attended a 3-month long virtual academy in Energy that also included a Gas Forum for engineers and scientists, which took place in the Russian city of St. Petersburg. Participation at the programme followed a rigorous application and assessment process from which participants were selected (similar to the renowned AFBE UK ‘Transition’ event – but far more involved, shall we say!).
The virtual academy and Gas Forum involved carrying out several exercises including executing hypothetical projects such as ‘smart drilling’, power generation for domestic use, etc which amongst other things required participants to forge collaborations with real life companies and top industry professionals towards reaching Final Investment Decisions (FID) on their projects. The programme also featured panel debates amongst participants on selected energy topics.
In this presentation James will be ‘downloading’ his experiences at the virtual academy and the Gas Forum, and giving insights on how young engineers and scientists can apply for and win a place at this very competitive programme in future.
The Talk will cover areas such as:
- How to successfully apply for a place at the academy and the gas forum;
- Technical contents of the programme, including exercise and activities carried out;
- Lessons learned from the programme;
Benefits of attending the programme, including:
- Research and knowledge in the energy industry
- Communication with highly skilled and motivated peers and high-level international experts
- Presentation and professional skills
- Career opportunities in a range of sectors
This presentation would benefit young engineers and scientists hoping to gain the insights required to potentially fast-track their careers into leadership positions in the energy industry, especially within the context of the ‘Energy Transition’ that is picking up pace across the world.
As always, the Talk will feature an interactive Q&A session, networking and refreshments.
Attendance is free but prior registration is required.
About the Speaker
Dr James Mullins is an award winning geoscientist based in Aberdeen. After graduating from the University of Birmingham with an MSci in Resource and Applied Geology in 2013, James started his postgraduate studies at the University of Aberdeen using reservoir analogues to improve conditioning data input parameters for subsurface reservoir modelling. He has industry experience with Total Exploration and Production UK and DEA Wintershall. Having graduated from his PhD in 2019, he is currently working as a geomodelling consultant in Aberdeen.
Outside of work, James is member of AFBE UK-Scotland, a fair weather sports fan and enjoys travel, photography and scuba diving.
Time, Date and Location
Thursday, November 28, 2019 from 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM. New Kings Building (Room NK14), The University of Aberdeen.
Please sign up for the event here.
Global warming and energy transition are the topical issues of the day, with the UK government setting a new target of ending its contribution to global warming by reaching net zero emissions by 2050 from 1990 levels.
Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) is proposed as one of the six technology options that can be used to reduce net anthropogenic CO2 emissions to the atmosphere.
This presentation will discuss the main issues relating to CCS and touch upon the economics of this industry as well as address some commonly held misconceptions. The presentation will cover the following:
- What is CCS technology and its role in the energy transition mix?
- CCS history in the UK and the World
- The cost of technology vs other options
- Should we skip CCS and switch to renewables directly?
- The economics behind CCS – Who should pay for it?
- Challenges of CCS deployment and ways of enabling CCS
About the Speaker
Dr Alfiya Wright is an economist with a doctorate in the Economics of Carbon Capture and Storage(CCS). Her research interests lie in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), energy economics and energy transition, and low carbon technologies. Alfiya has several years’ engineering and management experience working on different oil & gas projects. While working in the offshore oil and gas industry in Norway, she undertook a variety of projects for major companies, such as Siemens, Maersk, Statoil, and ConocoPhillips. She has also worked in a S&P 100 company as a marketing manager, and as a lecturer and course coordinator at the University of Aberdeen.
Alfiya’s day job is as a consultant for Pale Blue Dot Energy, the project developer of the Acorn CCS and Acorn Hydrogen projects. She is a personal development consultant and provides management consultancy services to organisations.
Outside her work, Alfiya is also the Business Development Director for the Kazakhstan PhD Association (www.kpauk.org), a non-profit interdisciplinary organisation of Kazakhstani PhD researchers in the UK, facilitating collaboration between scientists of the two countries.
Date, Time and Location
Thu, 31 October 2019
18:30 – 20:00 GMT
New Kings Building (Room NK14)
The University of Aberdeen
Aberdeen, United Kingdom
Event tickets
Please sign up for this free event here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/energy-transition-the-role-of-ccs-an-economists-perspective-tickets-77453299905
Dear students and recent graduates,
please join us at our most successful event for students: A full day of free food, job hunting activities, mentoring, CV clinic and mock interviews!
Book your free place here (only few are left):
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/transition-aberdeen-tickets-70344039917
This September, AFBE Real Projects brings you a long and eagerly anticipated Talk titled: ‘Relighting the Furnace at St. Fergus’, to be delivered by Dr Ollie Folayan CEng FIChemE.
AFBE-UK Scotland Real Projects:
“Relighting the Furnace at St. Fergus“
Thursday, September 26, 2019 from 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Speaker: Dr Ollie Folayan CEng FIChemE Date: Thursday, 26th September, from 6.30 – 8.00pm
Venue: New Kings Building (Room NK 14), The University of Aberdeen.
About the Talk
In 2012 a multi-disciplinary team of engineers carried out a review of the existing furnaces in one of the Gas Plants at St. Fergus; their review highlighted more than 80 safety related issues. In this talk Dr Ollie Folayan, a process engineer and combustion specialist, will discuss the reasons for this project, details of what was implemented and some of the challenges encountered, particularly in the commissioning phase of the project. This talk is a good introduction to anyone wanting an insight to furnace operation, the safety risks associated with combustion or any one just interested in learning about the factors that help a project succeed.
The talk will cover but not be limited to the following:
- A brief background of the drivers for the project
- The Safety risks associated with furnace operation
- Details of the Project design and execution
- An overview of the start-up process, the challenges encountered and lessons learned.
As always, the Talk will feature an interactive Q&A session, networking and refreshments. Attendance is free but prior registration is required.
The Speaker
Dr Ollie Folayan is a chartered process engineering consultant with a doctorate in the environmental effects of fuel combustion. He is also a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers. Ollie leads the award-winning AFBE-UK Scotland which set up stall in Aberdeen in November 2011. Ollie graduated with a BEng in Chemical Process Engineering with Fuel Technology from the University of Sheffield in 1999 and then earned a Doctorate (PhD) in Fuels and Combustion from University of Leeds, authoring five international publications in the field of combustion and engineering. Ollie has worked on various projects to provide front-end engineering design and detailed design in the power generation, refining, LNG and offshore oil and gas industries. He is an experienced process engineering consultant and combustion specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the oil & energy industry. Ollie has championed successful outreach programmes such as Making Engineering Hot, NextGen (Scotland), Transition and Real Projects and has co-authored two publications on the influence of role models in the transition from academic study to the workplace and on the sustainability of the engineering profession in the UK. In addition Ollie has also been involved with a number of successful community initiatives through organisations such as Shell. Ollie has chaired a number of AFBE-UK annual seminars featuring key industry leaders and politicians and is a regular speaker at events on varied engineering topics. Ollie is an avid sports fan and has other interests including singing, mentoring and reading on various subjects.
Register your attendance for free here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/afbe-uk-scotland-real-projects-relighting-the-furnace-at-st-fergus-tickets-72408587033?aff=mcivte&mc_eid=e1181e95b7&mc_cid=369d3675d4#
The ethics of ethnic diversity: We Mean Business
Date: Thursday, March 28
Time: 11:45am – 2pm
Venue: The Aberdeen Altens Hotel
Join us to hear from speakers John Tomlinson of Grampian Regional Equality Council Limited (GREC) and Ollie Folayan from the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers.
GREC’s mission is to advance equality for all people and from the beginning GREC has played a leading role in the North-east in advancing equality for the region.
John will discuss how they are tackling discrimination and promoting good community relations in the North-east.
The Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE-UK) are actively involved in promoting public awareness of engineering and the opportunities for black and minority ethnic (BME) groups in engineering.
Ollie will be focussing on the oil and gas industry in the region.
Find out more: AGCC
You are invited to attend:
Real Projects: “Decommissioning of Offshore Oil & Gas Infrastructure”
On Thursday, March 28th, 2019 from 6.30 – 8.00PM.
Join us again at AFBE-UK Scotland Real Projects. This month we will be discussing Decommissioning of Offshore Infrastructure, with Elizabeth McAlpine. The talk will cover:
• An Overview of Decommissioning
• State of the art in decommissioning practices, and
• Decommissioning skills requirements and future challenges
Speaker Profile
Elizabeth is a Decommissioning Consultant and training provider with several years’ experience working in the North Sea Oil & Gas industry. She provides training and consultancy services on decommissioning and other areas to oil & gas operators in the UK and overseas. She holds a Master’s degree in Decommissioning from the University of Aberdeen.
Elizabeth is the Secretary of the AXIS Network, a not-for-profit organisation focused on increasing gender balance within the Aberdeen Energy Industry.
About this Event
The rapid decline in oil price that began in 2014, and the challenge to move towards cleaner fuels and energy, was a wakeup call for the oil and gas industry. A few Oil & Gas Operators recognised that this was not ‘just another downturn’ that can be managed by the conventional business-as-usual approach, but rather called for a paradigm shift, a new era of transformation, and more nimble methods of working.
At the end of this month AFBE-UK Scotland’s Real Projects series is bringing you a seminar that examines the journey undertaken by one such company operating in the UK North Sea. You will hear from a key member of the company’s modernisation and transformation (M&T) team about the motivation behind the change initiative, the strategic decisions and actions taken, as well as the key learnings and results achieved so far.
The key areas that the presentation will cover include:
- The 3 pillars of the M&T agenda – Agility, Mindset & Digitalisation
- The elements to consider for a successful transformation program
Workforce engagement & motivation strategies - The success story – the impact that the adoption of agile ways of working had on plant Availability and production rates.
Guest Speaker
Mopelola Lamond (or Lola as she’s popularly called) is a project services manager at BP with a background in Mechanical Engineering. Mopelola graduated with a BEng in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Aberdeen in 2003 and has for over 15 years worked for a number of service providers and Oil and Gas majors including Chevron, Marathon Oil and BP in operations and project roles. Mopelola holds an MBA from the Aberdeen Business School (2009). She is an active supporter of many international charities championing various causes including Time to heal, a charity that campaigns against violence towards women, Lions Club and MeAL. Mopelola lives in Aberdeen with her two children and writes poetry in her spare time.
Event Details
Date And Time:
Thur, 31 January 2019
18:30 – 20:00 GMT
Location:
New Kings Building (Rm NK14)
University of Aberdeen
Please register for the event on Eventbrite.
Happy New Year, and congratulations for making it into 2019! 2018 was quite an eventful year for us at AFBE-UK Scotland and we hope to carry on in the same manner this year.
We would like to kick 2019 off on a cheery note, therefore we are inviting you to join us at Shell Woodbank House in Cults on Saturday, 26th January, for an afternoon of nibbles, drinks and some chit chat.
This is an opportunity for you to meet members of the team and get to find out how you can be part of our exciting project. We will also take the opportunity to outline our plans for this year.
Please bring your friends & colleagues along – the event is free to attend, but we ask that you register in Eventbrite to help us with the arrangements.
Come One, Come All!!
Event Details
Date And Time:
Sat, 26 January 2019
13:30 – 16:00 GMT
Location:
Woodbank
North Deeside Road
Cults
AB15 9PN
AFBE-UK Scotland would love to see you for a final gathering this year at the Nargile restaurant for a festive three course dinner on Thursday 20th of December at 7 PM.
Let’s come together to celebrate our new members, the successful gala awards and fundraiser, achievements in NextGen, Transition and Real Projects and look out to highlights of the next year.
77-79 Skene Street
Aberdeen
AB10 1QD
The AFBE-UK Scotland Gala Dinner and Awards celebrates the impact of AFBE-UK on the engineering landscape and our contributions to diversity in the industry over the last 11 years in the UK and 7 years in Scotland.
This black-tie event brings together business leaders, government officials, professionals and students for an evening of inspiration, celebration, networking and multicultural entertainment.
The event which will begin with a drinks and networking reception. It will also include a keynote address from Deirdre Michie, CEO Oil and Gas UK, a three-course meal accompanied by wine and soft drinks, and the AFBE-UK Scotland Awards recognising individuals and organisations making a significant contribution to the engineering industry in Scotland.
Guest Speaker
Deirdre Michie was appointed CEO of Oil & Gas UK in May 2015. She has an LLB Hons in Scots Law and has extensive experience as a senior business leader in the oil and gas industry covering upstream, downstream and globally. She is a member of MER UK – a government and industry forum – and is also on the UK Treasury’s Oil Industry Fiscal Forum. Deirdre is a board member of Opportunity North East, a non-executive board member of Scottish Water and chair of Common Data Access Limited. Deirdre is also a member of the Women’s Business Council – a UK Government body focused on increasing women’s contribution to economic growth – and is also sponsor of AXIS. In June 2018 she was recognised as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours for her services to the industry and made an OBE.
Before joining Oil & Gas UK, Deirdre worked for Shell’s downstream operations in various roles before moving to Shell’s upstream operations as a senior commercial negotiator. Her next roles were as external affairs manager for Shell’s UK upstream operations and communications manager for its European business, contracting and procurement manager for Europe, and from 2011 to 2013 she managed a global team delivering a multi-billion annual strategic sourcing programme.
Deirdre is married with two sons and enjoys reading, cycling, skiing, running, watching ballet and rugby.
Note: Early Bird Ticket sales end on 30th September 2018.
Register
Transition is a career workshop designed to equip students and recent graduates with the skills required to scale through the employment process at the most sought after companies.
Iain Lewis, Finance Director at TAQA Europe will be sharing his Transition story at this event which will also include a CV review session, a mock interview session and an assessment center. Lunch will be provided on the day.
Please note that registration is required to attend this event.
Register
Join us at this Real Projects event as we review the state of industrial cyber security and offer recommendations for organizations to improve their cyber security posture in a holistic and sustainable model.
In this presentation we will share insights on the ways governance, technology, and business requirements intersect and illustrate ways organizations can leverage digitalization opportunities to better manage increasing risks. We will also break down these risks to help your organization address these sometimes overwhelming challenges.
Guest Speaker
Ben Dickinson is a Cyber Security Consultant with ABB and helps clients secure their systems from the threat of cyber-attacks. He joins ABB from the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of GCHQ, a world leader in the field of Cyber Security, where he spent time building an excellent reputation with owners and operators of the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) by advising them in preparing for, detecting, responding and recovering from cyber-attacks.
Ben brings a wealth of experience from his time with GCHQ and specialises in understanding the unique challenges posed by securing Industrial Automation and Control Systems (IACS). He also holds a Master of Science Degree in Computer Security from the University of Liverpool and has studied courses such as “Assessing and Exploiting Control Systems” by Justin Searle, “SANS 515: Industrial Control System Active Defence and Incident Response” by Rob Lee and “Hardware Hacking” by Grand Idea Studio.”
Register