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Emma Yeoman

A picture of Emma Yeoman

Name:
Emma Yeoman
Age:
30
Location:
Brisbane
Current job title:
Senior Completions Engineer

Qualifications

Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) / Bachelor of Business (Business Administration)

Past experience

I initially began my career in engineering as a vacation student at Mobil’s Refinery in Victoria in the summer of 2000/01. From 2002 onwards I have worked with Santos Ltd in a range of different roles across Australia from a Graduate Reservoir Engineer, through to my current role as Senior Completions Engineer.

How did you get started?

My father has been the single biggest influence on me throughout my academic and professional development. He is also an engineer, working in a wide variety of industries, and I have always been inspired by him. My father recognised my interest early on (when I was in primary school) and has helped me realise my potential as a student, and has been very supportive of me wanting to work in a traditionally male-dominated environment.

Greatest professional achievement

I had the pleasure of being the only female in the ground-breaking Cooper Oil project, where I had the role of lead engineer for Completions. Due to the success in this project, I was invited to join the new CSG Completions team in Brisbane.

Challenges the job presents

Working within an industry such as oil and gas, or mining, gives professionals like myself the opportunity to work with people from such a wide variety of backgrounds – ethnicity and culture, extent of experience, location of experience and type of experience (professionals and labourers). At times, communication can be difficult, whether it be a language barrier, or cultural differences, or encountering people with vastly different working styles. The nature of our industry often requires its professionals to relocate to other cities or remote locations – requiring participants to assimilate into different lifestyles (sometimes very different), and to seek new social circles.

What you like most about your job

In one word: Santos! My managers have continuously supported my career development, offering me opportunities to work on new projects, and to widen the breadth of my experience. I have been given the exposure to different areas, i.e. deep tight gas, shallow oil, and now coal seam gas. Santos is incredibly supportive of work/life balance, and have a great social network. The variety of work that the industry offers keeps the mind thinking - there is never a dull moment.

Typical day at work

I typically begin the day between 8.00 and 8.30am. All going smoothly, day is opened by a phone call to the Santos Rig Representative out onsite to discuss overnight operations the outlook for the next 24 hours.

I then have a morning meeting held with the Completions team where we discuss EHS matters that have come to light on the rigs over the preceding 24 hours, as well as reviewing hazards/incidents that have been notified across the entire Santos operation. Each engineer gives the team an overview of the rig activities from the previous 24 hours, the engineer shares any problems encountered, as well as any solutions formulated.

From this point forward (9am), my day varies from day to day. Common activities would include: meetings for new projects, working on ongoing projects, managing rig activities, cost management tasks and attending presentations from existing and new equipment/service providers.

Day typically ends around 5.30pm with a final call to the Santos Rig Representative to get an update on operations to close of business, and to ensure that the rig is adequately prepared for overnight operations.

Advice for other women

Get out there and be yourself. Whilst I can accept that not every workplace is as much a joy to work in as my own, some of the key contributing factors to the success of my own experience in a male-dominated working environment include:

  1. Getting out to the worksite and taking an interest in the work people are doing outside the office. I have found that rig crews respond remarkably well to office-folk who make a genuine effort to spend time with them in the field;
  2. (Related to number 1) Getting to know the people you work with on a more social level – talking to the guys on the rig floor, finding out what makes them tick, actively participating in out-of-work-hours activities with work colleagues; and probably most importantly…
  3. Embracing my feminine qualities and having the confidence and courage to assert these qualities in my everyday work life (as appropriate, of course!).

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Last updated: 15 June 2009