Companies are leveraging women in positions of leadership and technical roles, making women integral to energy operations – why? Because women get things done!
Our Caribbean region is quickly becoming a leader when it comes to hiring and retaining female employees in the oil and gas field, with many businesses actively seeking out talented Caribbean women to join their teams.
This is reflected in the increased number of women working at the executive level, participating in research and development initiatives, and engaging with government policy formation in upstream exploration and production, downstream refining and distribution, and services sectors across the region.
Women’s unique perspectives on the energy industry are being embraced throughout the region. Women bring expertise and insight to the energy sector that can drive solutions and create new opportunities in a region that needs them.
With new and increasing discoveries of Oil & Gas triggering the influx of Oil Majors to the Caribbean, presents a unique opportunity for Caribbean Women to access traditionally male areas of this industry.
The massive successes in Guyana have placed a spotlight on this region like never before. Caricom neighbour – Suriname poised to experience similar success, exploration licenses issued in Barbados & Jamaica, and not underscoring the continued activity in the Region’s most mature market – Trinidad.
This explosion of successful oil & gas activity in our Southern Caribbean Basin has created a great demand for highly skilled labour for this industry.
While there still exists some technical labour which has traditionally been imported by the International Companies, with the introduction of specific local content legislation supporting the hiring of our Caribbean nationals, the time is now for our Women to put themselves at the forefront of these opportunities.
First and foremost the formation of new businesses to support the expansion of this industry will see the creation of new entrepreneurs. Notwithstanding, the job creation includes:
Heavy equipment operators and Lifting Specialists, Heavy Transportation Vehicle operators and Maintenance Technicians. Port, Marine & Warehousing personnel, HSSE Specialists, Engineers and Automating Technicians. Helicopter Crews, Medical and Medivac capabilities, Catering support.
This has also spurred the formation of Technical Schools which offer Diplomas in Oil & Gas, Onshore & Offshore Programmes for Drilling & Production operators, Logistics Co-ordinators, Materials Co-ordinators, Certified operators in Oil & Gas Systems and software and other new technologies in AI.
We will also need teachers to teach these skills to continue filling the pipeline with qualified candidates – who pivot and innovate using technology to bring their subjects to life to prepare our local human resource to build capability and take advantage of these opportunities.
Key to note, is that these skills are also transferable internationally, and there are many Caribbean Nationals who have gone to other parts of the world following the Industry.
Mega projects such as new Oil & Gas refineries, LNG facilities, and Carbon Capture are being evaluated. Other alternative energy projects are also being considered for solar, wind and hydro, geothermal and carbon capture projects. These present numerous opportunities for our Caribbean Women to embrace.
Other emerging opportunities for the Caribbean present themselves with the increased focus on Sustainability and Reduction of Carbon Footprint. For many International Companies, this is a key metric that is driving major global corporations. It is becoming increasingly important for Companies to demonstrate strategic plans supported by clear execution on managing their social and environmental impact.
Progressing ED&I (Equality, Diversity & Inclusion) also creates new roles for our Caribbean women as we can strongly consider the Caribbean Region as home to the definition of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion with our varied cultures, religions and mixes of races. Any business that wants to commit to being an employer who takes ED&I seriously has to be prepared to embrace a workplace culture change and commit to a long-term commitment to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
This are also avenues that Caribbean Women should be encouraged to embrace as they become available in Corporations operating in our Region that slowly implement these shareholder metrics.
Caribbean
And without a doubt we will play an integral role in advancing the development of alternative energy development in the Caribbean Region.
Earning a seat at the Executive Level is no easy feat, as we all know that we have had to work thrice as hard as our male counterparts, and even moreso as Caribbean women.
Let us ensure that as we navigate these opportunities, we do not simply satisfy a quota for gender and diversity, but lead and influence using the qualities unique to our gender.
