Tell us about your working experience at Essar.
It is very rewarding to be part of an amazing group of motivated and skilled individuals. Despite daily challenges, everyone gives their best every day to deliver products in a safe, sustainable and profitable manner, with a great team spirit and enthusiasm.
What inspired you to join the oil and gas sector?
My uncle used to work on Oil and Gas onshore assets abroad, and I was always fascinated with his stories about the cultural and technical challenges they faced. My joining the oil and gas sector was 50% by his influence and 50% by chance, but I stayed 100% by passion. I am proud to be part of this industrial sector and a company that plays a key role in the UK economy.
What do you like the most about your job? What is the most challenging part?
My focus and inspiration has always been Process Safety. The most challenging part is that on a daily basis there are so many emergent problems that need to be solved. This include diverse topics, hazards and scenarios, so solutions also need to be very diverse. Every case is a separate case and every day the challenges are different but always with the common denominator: everyone leaves the site safe.
What is your message for young girls aspiring to join the Oil and Gas sector?
The Oil and Gas sector is an interesting, rewarding, successful career choice for girls no matter what’s your occupation from administration, operations, finance, engineering etc. Which other sector will give you is the opportunity to have a desk based job and wearing a hard hat and exploring one of the biggest refineries in the country if you desire to?
I am an engineer and recently I learned that “Fewer than one in 10 engineers in the UK is a female – the lowest percentage in Europe, according to the Women’s Engineering Society.” What I would say is don’t let the statistics put you off a career in Oil and Gas. The world is changing and is more diverse now than ever before. Women are passionate about the industry and together we will change these statistics.
Is there a woman who has been your inspiration in life or at work?
My mum has always been my inspiration. She is a hard-working woman who has always inspired me to not give up easily. She has lived and worked in many countries making the difference in many lives especially on mine.
It’s partially because of her influence that I took the risk of going abroad and that’s why I am now part of a leading player in the UK’s oil & chemical industry.
– Denise Costa,
Process Safety Technologist, Essar Oil UK
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