Vietnam-based Hugh is the President and Country Manager for Mubadala Petroleum.
Hugh graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Leeds University in 1986, followed by a PhD sponsored by Rolls Royce and SERC from Southampton University in 1991. Following this, he was offered a role in BP focussed on rotating machinery, from refinery through to offshore applications and LNG installations.
With 23 years experience in international oil and gas across South East Asia, we find out about his engineering career and working in Vietnam.
Why did you choose a career in engineering?
I chose to apply for mechanical engineering course places at university after reading a number of careers publications. It seemed to me that engineering would be a stimulating environment to work in and one that promised stable, useful employment. My father had hoped I would become a priest (like himself) or an architect, and my school tended to promote other careers, rather than engineering.
What does your job entail?
My role involves leading a team of mostly very experienced Vietnamese and expatriate professionals from geologists to engineers to accountants, to progress the operations for Mubadala Petroleum in Vietnam. As President and Country Manager I am responsible for all in-country activities in Vietnam including relationships with government, partners and other key stakeholders.
The role is varied and the work has a strong technical and operational core or foundation. However, the team - its motivation and how it functions within Mubadala Petroleum and delivers on what we term our “promise" to the company - is probably the primary responsibility of my role.
Some enjoyable aspects of what I do include team-building events, delivering safe operations, and driving forward the company’s image and business relationships.
What is typical working day like?
It is difficult to characterise a typical working day. Most of my work is office based and involving quite a lot of regional travel; during exploration well operations, I will visit the offshore drilling rig and supply base. I try to attend various Corporate Social Responsibility project implementation milestone events.
What is it like working as an engineer in Vietnam?
Engineers are highly regarded in Vietnam and experience and grey hairs command more respect in Vietnam than back in the UK. So I have always enjoyed being an engineer in Vietnam. In fact my wife would have preferred I had stayed in engineering rather than move into more general, managerial roles.
What advice would you give to other members who were thinking of working here?
Come to Vietnam and be prepared to find some very capable individuals, both Vietnamese and expatriate, working here. Be prepared to want to stay longer than you planned to.
What advice would you give to younger, developing engineers who are thinking about where their careers could take them?
The world for professional engineers is as dynamic, exciting and challenging as it ever was. Chartered mechanical engineers, or those working to become one, can step forward strongly towards a large variety of roles from technical to project management to academia to general management. The trained engineering mind is one that should forever be open to ingenuity.
If you’d like to know about the IMechE in Vietnam and South East Asia, please see the Near You.