| James Kon |
THE Managing Director of Brunei Shell Petroleum Co Sdn Bhd (BSP) and Shell Country Chair for Brunei Darussalam, Dr Ceri Powell, stressed the importance of having Bruneian talents working within Brunei Shell Joint Venture (BSJV) Companies as well as further nurturing and developing Bruneian talents for the future of the country.
This was stated by the managing director during the sidelines of the BSJV scholarship contract signing ceremony held at the Indera Samudra Grand Hall of The Empire Hotel & Country Club yesterday morning.
Dr Powell arrived in the Sultanate in March 2017 and was appointed the first female Managing Director of BSP.
As one of the most senior women in the energy industry today, Dr Powell has been awarded the accolade of being on the Fortune Top 50 most Powerful Women in International Business, in 2013 and again in 2014 where she was listed at No 21.
In an interview, Dr Powell lauded, “Having Bruneian talents and developing them is absolutely fundamental for the future of BSJV Companies. Having top quality Bruneian technical talents and leaders is our future. With the BSJV Scholarship and the development of talents in BSJV and BSP through overseas assignments and also cross assignments, Bruneians can further develop their talents and learn new skills.”
She also felt a great responsibility in building female talents in BSJV and help to develop their full potential.
She said, “The BSJV Companies’ Scholarship is extremely important. It has been involved in providing scholarships since 1972 and to date, there are more than 700 students benefitting from the scholarship so far. At today’s ceremony, we can see the influence of scholarships where students can further their studies in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.”
Dr Powell is especially passionate about the BSJV scholarship programme because she is also a scholar under Shell undertaking Geology at the University of Liverpool. She also understands the importance of having a chance to get scholarship and her advice for the scholars is to seize every opportunity and seize the day.
She added, “I also had the privilege of meeting family members of the scholars who are also the recipients of BSJV scholarships. We are building enormous talents for the country from mechanical engineering to chemical engineering and other scientific subjects which are really important as Brunei diversifies from oil and gas to broader form of energy where engineers and scientists will be critical for the future of Brunei. It’s really important for BSJV to support this.”
She said, “It has been an exciting year to be in Brunei. It is an honour to be here for the Golden Jubilee Celebration of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s Accession to the Throne. I am also very proud of how BSJV supported the celebration by participating in many glorious events that have been taking place.”
Life in Brunei, she said, “is extremely interesting. I love Asia and Borneo. I really enjoy the walking and hiking. I like the market and the ‘tamu’. Most of all I enjoy meeting the people of Brunei. I think Bruneians are the most lovely, kind and welcoming people.”
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