“Trinidad offers a wide range of opportunities to work in every aspect of the oil and gas industry.” – Repsol’s Ryan Ramjit
Michael Daniel is based at the BP America campus in Houston, Texas, USA. He is the Subsea Project Manager responsible for the procurement, planning and installation of subsea infrastructure for the Juniper project. Daniel developed his skill set through work experience at bpTT. “I spent 10 years at bp Trinidad & Tobago developing project management skills through various project roles on five gas delivery projects, working to deliver platforms (Cannonball, Mango, Cashima, Savonette and Serrette). These projects were delivered locally for Trinidad using a standardised platform design model. The scope of this included managing local engineering and fabrication followed by offshore installation and start-up…I feel that with the deep knowledge that I was able to attain, I established a solid foundation upon which I was able to build during my time working abroad. Specifically, I am now able to use my understanding of the local business environment to make more informed decisions with the intention of adding overall value to bp.” He adds: “The Trinidad business is very unique in many aspects such as the type of gas contracts and gas delivery requirements versus other countries where bp operates, as well as how our local context and oil and gas business influences the Trinidad economy. As a T&T national, I am able to bring the experiences, lessons learnt and best practices from bp Trinidad and Tobago project delivery to support similar types of business which exist across the bp world. This includes strategies such as local project management development, local content enablers and contracting strategies for development of local contractors.”
74 • Business Trinidad & Tobago
Michael Shand is the Fluor QHSSE & Risk Manager Technology/Value Assurance Leader – Trinidad. His last assignment was in Qatar, Middle East. “I was the Head of the Operations Expansion All Risk and HSSE teams for all onshore and offshore Mega Projects. Without a doubt, my early career here in Trinidad working for HJ Gransaul, at the time, was formative and influenced by continuing education and growth in the industry. It was really my tenure with bpTT that allowed for an introduction into the true value of local content, discipline and professionalism.” He notes: “People may at times, and justifiably so, complain of the ‘Trini’ nonchalance but Trinidadians and Tobagonians hold themselves to a truly high standard. In my observation, the ‘Trinbagonian’ is hardworking, diligent and observably competent on a global scale. As a travelling professional I’ve come across Trinbagonians in varying disciplines all around the world. From the West to Far East and everything in between - you can randomly come across one of our people leading the charge and leaving a mark. There is carnival in Dubai now after all!’
Rodney Hosein is a T&T national who has worked at bp Houston, Texas, USA for the last four years as the Area Operations Manager (Eastern, North America Gas), looking after operations in Texas and Oklahoma. He received his Chemical Engineering Degree from UWI and started his career working at ammonia plants in Point Lisas for four years. He then worked for 10 years with bpTT, largely in Engineering and Operations Management roles. Hosein says working in Trinidad prepared him for his position in Houston because he had the opportunity to take on leadership roles and get broader exposure across work disciplines early in his career. “bp invested in my development and actively provided opportunity to stretch my development.” According to Hosein, T&T nationals bring a unique skill set to the foreign markets which allow them to succeed. “Trinidad and Tobago nationals are easy to adapt to new cultures and ways of work which creates strong working relationships quickly.”