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We meet seven women who are blazing a trail in the refinery industry and ask what challenges they are facing, the emerging technologies that are inspiring them, and career tips for aspiring future talent
Sissel Nepstad, Head of Asset Development, Mongstad Refinery, Equinor
Raffaella Lucarno, Biorefining & Supply Manager, Enilive
Can you introduce yourself and share your current role? I have been working with and associated with Equinor refineries, especially the Mongstad Refinery since I started as a young engineer 26 years ago. I started my career in one of the shift teams in operations and gained valuable knowledge about the refinery by operating it. This experience allowed me to develop a strong founda- tion in refinery competence. Since then, I have worked in various roles in the refinery organisation, including operations, HSE, projects, turnaround management, the commercial side of the business, strategy, and now business development. My diverse experience has given Can you introduce yourself and share your current role? I have been working with, and associated with, the Equinor refineries, especially the Mongstad refinery, since I started in the company in as a young engineer 26 years ago. I started my career in one of the shift teams in operations and learned from the refinery from operating it. This has given me very useful knowledge to build my refinery competence from. Since then, I have worked my way literally through the refinery organisation from operations, HSE, projects, turnaround management, the commercial side of the business, strategy and now business development. My experience in different roles and parts of the business has given me a very useful insight. I am able to use this in my current role where I lead the team that are responsible for asset development and for shaping the climate initiatives at the onshore plants, operated by Equinor in Norway. What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received? Think by yourself, ask a lot of questions but then work with your brain. What one piece of advice would you like to pass on to future talent? Be passionate, everything will be easier
Can you introduce yourself and share your current role? I’m Raffaella Lucarno, a chemical engineer with a long his- tory in traditional refining. I started as a process engineer for the utilities and, step by step, arrived to be the director of one of the most important European refineries. I have spent a part of my career in the R&D department, work- ing on every innovation. Currently, I am the Biorefining and Supply Manager for Enilive. I am responsible for the operations of our Biorefinery in Gela and Venice (Italy), Chalmette (Luisiana, USA), several biomethane plants, and the supply of bio feedstock and bioproducts.
Can you introduce yourself and share your current role?
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?
I’m Raffaella Lucarno, a chemical engineer with a long history in traditional refining. I started as process engineer for the utilities and step by step arrived to be the director of one of the most important European refineries. I have spent a part of my career in the R&D dept, working on every kind of innovation. Currently, I am the Biorefining & Supply Manager for Enilive. I am responsible for the operations of our Biorefinery in Gela and Venice (Italy), Chalmette (Luisiana- USA), several biomethane plants, and the supply of bio feedstock and bioproducts. What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the refining industry today, and what solutions do you propose?
Be curious and open minded to the opportunities that comes along and try out different parts of the business to build competence.
What one piece of advice would you like to pass on to future talent?
The same as I got, be open minded and curious. And do not be afraid to take on responsibility.
me valuable insight, which I can use in my current role, where I lead the team respon- sible for asset development and shaping the climate initiatives at the onshore plants operated by Equinor in Norway. What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the refining industry today, and what solutions do you propose? The biggest challenge is the transformation of the business from fossil to something else. The most important consideration is not only where we want to go, but also when. Timing is crucial. When is the right moment to transform our sites? I believe we have to look ahead and try catch the change before it happens, so in my opinion, the vision is more important than the present. What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the refining industry today, and what solutions do you propose? The biggest challenge is finding the solutions to ensure sufficient and timely CO₂ reduc- tions while handling the marked changes and obtaining positive margins along the way. Are there any emerging technologies that excite you, related to work or beyond? In general, automatisation, digitalisation, and tools for surveillance and detecting early signs of change from big data play a significant role in refining. These technologies will become even more important in optimisation of operations and production in the future. Sissel Nepstad Head of Asset Development of the Mongstad Refinery Equinor In general, automatization, digitalization, and tools for surveillance and detecting early signs of change from big data play a significant role in refining. These technologies will become even more important in optimization of operations and production in the future. ERTC Women in Refining 2024 The biggest challenge is finding the solutions to ensure sufficient and timely CO2 reductions whilst handling the marked changes and obtaining positive margins along the way. Are there any emerging technologies that excite you, whether related to work or beyond? Are there any emerging technologies that excite you, whether related to work or beyond? A very interesting emerging technology is the nuclear fusion. It can solve a lot of issues in one go, but we will have to wait at least one decade to prove it. I think that acceleration on this kind of technology will be more useful than a lot of other things.
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the refining industry today, and what solutions do you propose? The biggest challenge is the transformation of the business from fossil to something else. The most important consideration is not only where we want to go, but also when. Timing is crucial. When is the right moment to transform our sites? I believe we have to look ahead and try to embrace change before it happens, so in my opinion, the vision is more important than the present. ERTC Women in Refining 2024 Are there any emerging technologies that excite you, whether related to work or beyond? A very interesting emerging technology is nuclear fusion. It can solve a lot of issues in one go, but we will have to wait at least one decade to prove it. I think that acceleration of this kind of technology will be more useful than many other things. Raffaella Lucarno Biorefining & Supply Manager Enilive
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Women in Refining 2024
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Women in Refining 2024
What is the best piece of career advice you have ever received? Be curious and open minded to the opportunities that comes along and try out differ- ent parts of the business to build competence.
What is the best piece of career advice you have ever received? Think by yourself, ask plenty of questions, but then work with your brain.
What one piece of advice would you like to pass on to future talent? Be passionate; everything will be easier.
What one piece of advice would you like to pass on to future talent? The same as I got, be open-minded and curious. Do not be afraid to take on responsibility.
Yvonne Reissner, Technical Sales, Orcan Energy
Ozzy Jegunma, Senior Research Analyst, Wood Mackenzie
Can you introduce yourself and share your current role? I have been a member of the technical sales team at Orcan Energy since 2022, focusing on developing projects for waste heat to power production across vari- ous industries, including refining. What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the refin- ing industry today, and what solutions do you propose? Climate change is an undeniable reality, and many nations and industries are now striving towards a sig- nificant energy transition. New products and technol- ogies are substituting what we have been used to for
Can you introduce yourself and share your current role? I am a Senior Research Analyst at Wood Mackenzie in the Refined Products and Transport Fuels team. I work on the Liquid Renewable Fuels Service, which helps people to navigate the global renewable transport fuels market. This involves market tracking and fundamen- tals analysis, covering investments, regulation, supply, demand, and pricing. What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the refin- ing industry today, and what solutions do you propose? Decarbonising and navigating the energy transition Can you introduce yourself and share your current role? My name is Ozzy Jegunma and I’m a Senior Research Analyst at Wood Mackenzie in the Refined Products and Transport Fuels team. I work on the Liquid Renewable Fuels Service which helps people to navigate the global renewable transport fuels market. This involves market tracking and fundamentals analysis, covering investments, regulation, supply, demand, and pricing. What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the refining industry today, and what solutions do you propose?
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while remaining competitive. There are many different options to decarbonise, but the best solutions will be tailored to individual circumstances. Understanding and leveraging competitive advantage will be crucial to strategy. Decarbonising and navigating the energy transition whilst remaining competitive. There are many different options to decarbonise, but the best solutions will be tailored to individual circumstances. Understanding and leveraging competitive advantage will be crucial to strategy. Are there any emerging technologies that excite you, whether related to work or beyond? With the demand for biofuels and other renewable fuels like e-fuels rising, new tech- nologies for their production are emerging. I am particularly interested in the technolo- gies targeting the aviation sector. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a hot topic driven by regulatory attention. As a chemical engineer, the ongoing work to move these SAF pathways from technical viability to successful operation at scale excites me. ERTC Women in Refining 2024 Are there any emerging technologies that excite you, whether related to work or beyond?
decades (if not centuries), and all of that is in the context of an ever-changing regula- tory environment. The International Energy Agency calls energy efficiency the ‘first fuel’ for this transition, emphasising how crucial it is to use the energy we produce as efficiently as possible. This is what our technology at Orcan is all about. Are there any emerging technologies that excite you, related to work or beyond? I strongly believe in the concept of the circular economy and its crucial role in tackling today’s challenges in all areas of our lives. I am driven by seeing how much we waste every day and the potential we could achieve when using this waste. This applies not only to materials but equally to energy. ERTC Women in Refining 2024 What is the best piece of career advice you have ever received? 'Do good things and talk about it.' I am driven by the desire to leave a positive impact and inspire those around me. I have learned that sharing my experiences and successes is important and allows me to connect, inspire, and create a ripple effect of positive change. What one piece of advice would you like to pass on to future talent? Be authentic to yourself in everything you do. Choose a career path that you genuinely love and are passionate about, as this will fuel your motivation and drive. Yvonne Reissner Technical Sales Orcan Energy
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With the demand for biofuels and other renewable fuels like e-fuels rising, new technologies for their production are emerging. I’m particularly interested in the technologies targeting the aviation sector. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a hot topic, driven by regulatory attention. As a chemical engineer, the ongoing work to move these SAF pathways from technical viability to successful operation at scale excites me.
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What is the best piece of career advice you have ever received? Be open to new opportunities!
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Ozzy Jegunma Senior Research Analyst Wood Mackenzie
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What one piece of advice would you like to pass on to future talent? Connections with people can be invaluable, whether that is someone to help shape your career development and highlight opportunities or just someone you problem- solve with. Women in Refining 2024
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