Byline: Communications. Advocacy & Adoption, GT&C
PETRONAS has been a cornerstone in the energy industry, driving innovation and progress. A large part of its success story is owed to the invaluable contributions of the women who have shaped its trajectory. As PETRONAS celebrates its 50th anniversary, now is a fitting moment to shine a spotlight on these trailblazers. Here are their stories.
When Noriani Yati Mohamad joined PETRONAS Carigali Sdn Bhd in Kertih as a petroleum engineer 30 years ago, she came face-to-face with a disheartening reality. “There were less than five female engineers out of 100 in technical services,” she recalled.
The lack of female role models back then made it difficult for the young Noriani Yati to even imagine the possibility of growing her career in the company, let alone picture herself as a leader in technical roles in PETRONAS. After all, you can’t be what you can’t see.
But fast forward to today, Noriani Yati has persevered to excel in her field and now heads the Sarawak division of Malaysia Assets. In her three decades with PETRONAS, Noriani Yati has helmed 10 different roles in Carigali, Malaysia Petroleum Management and now Malaysia Assets. She is most proud of the opportunity to lead and strategise the development of Sarawak Integrated Sour Gas Evacuation System (SISGES) in 2021-2022. This has enabled the monetisation of sour gas resources from several fields that will contribute almost 1/3 of Sarawak gas supply in the future.
Moulding Pioneers and Innovators
Noriani Yati is but one of the many women who are integral to PETRONAS’ journey from its inception. Their roles have evolved from supporting functions to occupying pivotal positions in research, development, engineering, and leadership. From having only a handful of women in the organisation during those formative years, women now make up 29% of PETRONAS’ workforce; 31% of them in senior leadership positions —a goal that was surpassed in 2023.
A key aspect of diversity is the implementation of equity and inclusion to guarantee an environment where everyone can flourish. Cultivating a workplace that provides equal opportunities for growth and advancement can break down barriers and harness the full potential of every individual's talent and skill. To see this through, PETRONAS has been investing in people development – for men and women – since its inception and began ramping it up in the 1990s as it grew internationally.
As Leena Chelladurai, Workstream Lead for Energy Transition Strategy – Hydrogen puts it, PETRONAS has provided her a great platform with endless learning opportunities. “I particularly enjoyed Innovation Masterclass and Dynamic Leadership programme. These programmes have been instrumental in supporting my career growth and addressing knowledge gaps in my expertise to ensure I can contribute effectively to our team’s goals”.
Wherever in the world PETRONAS has its presence, it ensures that its partner organisation enjoys the same people development opportunities so that local talent gets upskilled to manage their natural resources independently.
A Culture of Empowerment and Inclusivity
In her nine-year career with PETRONAS, Leena counts her assignment with Engen, PETRONAS’ former subsidiary organisation based in Cape Town, South Africa, as one of her professional highlights. She worked together with colleagues in Cape Town for a year as an analyst to transform Engen’s procurement culture and practices from traditional transactional procurement to a strategic digitalised procurement.
“We digitalised its procurement processes to achieve the highest standards of governance and transparency. Overall, this transformation not only optimised procurement operations but also aligned them with best practices, setting a new standard for the organisation,” she said.
Beyond creating value for the organisation, the experience gave her the international exposure she needed to enhance her cross-cultural competence and leadership skills.
A Culture of Inclusivity
To Leena, PETRONAS has fostered a positive and inclusive environment through its Diversity and Inclusivity initiatives, which actively support and promote gender diversity – programmes such as PETRONAS Leaders Women Network (PLWN). “Additionally, the management has been proactive in collaborating with industry leaders to transform common challenges into opportunities, thereby shaping the workforce ecosystem to embrace diversity,” she added.
The progress made so far has set a strong foundation for a new generation of women leaders like Lisa Chan, Head of Custom Solutions at PETRONAS Digital Sdn Bhd.
Lisa has led a male-majority IT team throughout her career in PETRONAS since she joined nine years ago. She credits their tireless support for her ability to lead her team in developing custom software solutions for the PETRONAS Group of companies.
“I came from a non-technical background, and I managed a group of software engineers who are deeply technical. The most memorable experience for me were the one-on-one ‘tuition sessions’ they gave me to upskill myself in technical knowledge,” she said.
Thanks to her team, Lisa learned “about basic object-oriented programming, how software development really works, how to deploy, and how to use the cloud console”.
“A lot of this was Greek to me and I was so grateful that they would invest their personal time to teach me. They seemed really happy when I successfully completed a new technical task,” she recalled.
The support she received combined with her own thirst for knowledge enabled Lisa to understand and empathise with how engineers work- this helps her make more informed decisions that not only take into consideration the success of a project but also the effectiveness of the team.
The Road Ahead
Women will continue to be at the forefront of innovation even as PETRONAS enters its next 50 years. They are exploring new frontiers in areas such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy, shape memory, and more to optimise energy production, distribution, and consumption.
Leena’s team is currently exploring the versatility of Hydrogen, advancement of which she believes ’will significantly shape the energy industry’. She hopes for women to continue resiliently the pursuit of excellence in the sustainability space. “We all have the power to make a difference, no matter our role. Dream big and never underestimate the power of your potential,” she adds.
Lisa’s team is working on optimising the custom solutions portfolio, improving the overall quality and reliability of the solutions they deploy, paying down technical debt and investing in growing the technical capabilities of our digital engineering teams.
Meanwhile, Noriani Yati, who recently became the first woman appointed to lead PCSB Sarawak Asset since the operations started 37 years ago, is optimistic that women will continue to thrive in PETRONAS. Quoting Kamala Harris' acceptance speech, she said, “I may be the first woman to hold this office. But I won't be the last”
Like undeveloped energy sources, women represent an enormous potential resource that can find a new way forward into the energy transition’s uncharted territory. They wish for women in PETRONAS to continue breaking barriers and achieving new heights in their careers, while also mentoring the next generation of women in the energy sector.
“I wish to inspire other women in STEM by providing 'representation'. I am a firm believer that representation matters as it sends the message to other women that 'you too, can do the same’. Never stop learning, no matter what stage we are in our career. The world is rapidly changing, and we must keep up with it, in terms of knowledge and capability to remain relevant,” Noriani Yati added.
As for Lisa, she wishes for women to support each other more in the workplace. “We shouldn't practice favourites, but we need to praise our female colleagues and help them visualise how they can be part of the leadership team one day,” she said.
Tomorrow’s Bright Future
Now more than ever, diverse perspectives, experiences, and talent are crucial to the energy sector amidst challenges of the energy transition and the trilemma around energy sustainability, affordability, and security. By investing in diversity, equity, and inclusion, we are investing in a future that drives innovation and sustainable growth for generations to come.
The story of PETRONAS is enriched by the dynamic women who have shaped its success. As the company celebrates its significant milestone, it also sets its sights on new horizons that will set its path for the next 50 years. The future promises advancements in technology led by women who are not just participants but pioneers. PETRONAS' dedication to fostering an environment where women thrive is a testament to its vision of a future where innovation and inclusivity go hand in hand.
