SBM Offshore Guyana is working to boost female participation in its training programs, aiming for a 25% representation, its General Manager Martin Cheong said.
“Sometimes we have to go back to the market to find candidates, but we aim for at least 25% female participation in training programs,” he said, during a panel discussion at the recent Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo. “We want to ensure that more women have access to opportunities in the industry.”
SBM Offshore has implemented several training programs since establishing operations in Guyana, and women are quickly making their mark.
Several women in the 2023 cohort of Trainee Technician Programme in Advanced Skills Training in Petroleum Operations stood out for their exceptional performances. Among the distinguished awardees, Arantxa English received two accolades – the LCI Safety Award by Discipline and the LCI Most Improved Trainee by Discipline, both within the Electrical field.
SBM Offshore’s Graduate Engineer Program for 2022 also had three women participating. Tanisha Selby is now serving as an Instrument and Controls Engineer; Paula Ceres as a Facility Engineer and Maryam Nasir as a Data Scientist.
SBM Offshore also pours into other initiatives to foster women’s involvement in Guyana’s oil sector. Its Scholarship Programme for Indigenous Women in STEM aims to provide Indigenous women with an opportunity to pursue studies in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) at the University of Guyana.
Collaborating with the Vurlon Mills Football Academy, SBM Offshore Guyana, supports the Women in Football Development Programme. It provides professional football coaching, essential life skills training, and the opportunity for international scholarships to further tertiary or technical education to fifty young participants.
The initiative sought to promote holistic development by imparting not only fundamental football skills but also crucial self-development traits, such as leadership, decision-making, communication, problem-solving, and the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices. It targets girls aged between 13 and 19, aiming to nurture their physical and personal growth.
Last year, the company launched the Woman of Excellence Award, as part of a collaboration with Cerulean Inc. and The Nico Consulting Inc. – organisers of the 25 Influential Women Leaders Awards.
The award recognizes and celebrates the remarkable achievements of influential women across various sectors in Guyana annually. The inaugural Woman of Excellence Award was to Camille Cummings, a veteran educator with over 37 years of experience.
