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Rebecca Azzopardi

from Supermarket Cashier to GHG Process Engineer
I work to measure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions!
Industry
Energy, gas and oil
Company
Shell QGC
Job Level
Mid

Ask me about

  • What a Chemical (or Process) engineer does
  • Moving away from home for uni
  • Working regionally on-site for >3 years
  • Why I'm passionate about my role and reducing emissions

About me

  • Regional Background

Growing up, I didn’t really know what I wanted to be. It wasn’t until my school’s career advisor recommended looking into Chemical Engineering (when I was in Year 12) that I considered becoming an engineer – up until that point, I thought all engineers built roads and cars, which I wasn’t super interested in. Not knowing anyone in this field made it hard to understand what Chemical engineers do, but I decided to give it a shot. Moving away from my home in regional Queensland to study chemical and environmental engineering in Brisbane was a big change, one that came with a fair amount of challenge, but it was ultimately one of my best decisions. This has led me to work in multiple locations around Australia (and maybe the world in future!) on exciting facilities so large it’s hard to picture until you’re there.

About my role

A Process (or Chemical) Engineer looks after and optimises an industrial facility which turns raw materials into final products – think water treatment, pharmaceutical production and the creation of LNG, to name a few! What this looks like can vary wildly between roles, both due to the type of process being managed, as well as how far along the facility is age wise. Design, commissioning, operation and maintenance are all aspects Process Engineers get involved in. The role of GHG Process Engineer (at Shell QGC) is to monitor and reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from a number of operating facilities. This includes coming up with new ideas to reduce emissions, evaluating the impact of ideas and implemented projects, and contributing to a multi-year strategy on how to reach net zero emissions in future decades.

Education

  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
  • Chemical and Environmental (dual major)

Subjects

  • Chemistry
  • English
  • Mathematical Methods (Maths B)
  • Physics
  • Specialist Mathematics (Maths C)

Awards

  • IChemE Ming Leung Scholarship Recipient (2017)
  • UQ Representative on Mitsui Educational Foundation (MEF) Study Tour of Japan (2016)
  • Supporting Women’s Scholarship Recipient (2015)

Hobbies

  • Cooking
  • Gaming
  • Gardening
  • Reading
  • Travel

15 year old me!!

“Taking exciting and interesting opportunities, even ones you’re not 100% sure are the “right” choice, will lead to incredible things. You got this!”

My career journey

Curious to know how I got here? Here’s a snapshot of my career pathway.
  1. Grew up regionally
  2. Careers advisor recommended Chemical Engineering
  3. Moved to Brisbane for uni
  4. Worked in Brisbane, Perth & Gladstone
  5. Now working to reduce GHG emissions!

My typical day

My employer

Shell has operated in Australia since 1901. From operating Australia’s first oil refinery, which was central to meeting Australia’s fuel needs, to fuelling the first Qantas commercial flight in the 1920s, to playing a foundation role in building some of Australia’s largest and most innovative natural resource developments. In nearly 125 years, the needs of our customers and the nation have changed and we have continued to evolve our business to meet these needs. Today, Shell is a leading natural gas producer and is playing a part in the transition to a lower carbon future.