Employee Profiles

"I love the feeling that I am the only thing that limits the opportunities open to me, and also the sense that there are no boundaries to what can be achieved in the future."

Location: The Hague
Studied: Earth Sciences
Where: Oxford, UK
Joined Shell: January 1995

I started with Shell after university, working on a drilling rig in the Dutch sector of the North Sea and I still think of that time as one of the most amazing and enriching experiences I've ever had. It was pretty tough but it taught me a huge amount about teamwork and gave me an understanding of the challenges that are faced every day 'at the sharp end' of the business.

After a year I became the Development Geologist for a cluster of fields in the far north of the Netherlands and in that context I was pretty outspoken about socio-economic and environmental issues. After a couple of years I was asked to join the Sustainable Development Team within the Planning, Strategy and External Affairs Group in London. At the time sustainable development was an emerging concept within Shell and the wider industry, and when in 1998 we published the first Shell Report, 'People, Planet and Profits', it was a real achievement.

The three years I worked in the team editing 'The Shell Report Summary', and helping to create the 'Tell Shell' concept, was hugely rewarding. I was really inspired by the commitment, vision, passion and humanity of the senior leaders. It was incredible to have the chance to make a difference to the way that business is done, not only in Shell but in the wider industry too.

My role now is to develop and oversee the current and aspired portfolio of gas and power projects. My goal is to ensure that the Shell Group has the best portfolio of integrated gas and power projects, makes the right propositions for governments and customers, and that successful acquisitions or divestments are made to deliver the strategy.

I love the feeling that I am the only thing that limits the opportunities open to me, and also the sense that there are no boundaries to what can be achieved in the future. I also really value the professionalism, teamwork, passion and respect for people I see throughout the company and the feeling that I am learning more every day.