People in Energy - Neil Brady - Energy Transition - Director, Worley

Neil has worked on large engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) projects alongside operation and maintenance (O&M) contracts for over 20 years. Neil joined Worley in 2017 as the Managing Director of Scopus (a Worley subsidiary), followed by moving into the role of Managing Director of Operations - Sweden. During Neil’s time in Sweden, he discovered his passion to drive the energy transition movement forward and is delighted to now take on the role of Energy Transition Director. Neil is focused on how Worley capitalise on the vast experience within the EPC and O&M business operations and transfer this experience into the wider energy transition, and how this can be used to achieve net-zero and deliver a more sustainable world.  

How did you get into the energy sector and how long have you been working in it?

Whilst I am delighted to be working within the energy sector, my career began within the legal industry. I then made the decision to go back to University at 27 and studied for my master’s in Information Technology, where I satisfied my passion for technology and digital transformation. Through this learning, I realised how the world of digital could change the energy sector. After finishing my degree and moving into energy, I decided to study for my master’s degree in project Management with the School of Engineering at Aberdeen University.

What does your job involve on an average day?

The most overused word in our industry right now is collaboration, but it is at the heart of everything we do at Worley and what I do every day. I am currently sponsoring a portfolio of projects in Sweden, which encompasses successful collaboration between our offices in Aberdeen, Doha, India, and Sweden. A lot of my day is spent communicating with the different offices and finding solutions for our customers to solve their challenges. I am also part of the Aberdeen leadership team, where we oversee all operations within Aberdeen.

Is upskilling a key focus for the energy sector right now? If so, is there enough communication about this?

Upskilling is a key focus as there are a lot of opportunities for people to transition from working in conventional energy, into new energy roles. For those who wish to transition, I encourage them to have the courage to leave their comfort zone and apply their skillsets to these new emerging projects. It is also a liberating time for the next generation, who have a passion to change the Energy sector and there has been a lot of communication within the industry on how the younger generation can be involved. We have recently hired graduates and apprentices, which shows Worley’s commitment to the next generation who we believe can drive change. Unlocking brilliance in these people and supporting them to make change, is a key driver within our company. There can never be enough communication on the importance of the people within our industry, as without the people we cannot go through the transition.

What does the next 5 years look like for the energy industry?

The next five years are going to be incredibly exciting. Aberdeen is going to be a key renewable hub within the Energy industry. I think everyone in the industry would agree that COP26 in 2021 was a game changer. It highlighted to achieve net-zero, we need change, and we need it to happen at a rapid pace. This is going to require a huge amount of collaboration and cooperation. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that global collaboration can be achieved on a scale we probably would never have thought possible. The key to progress is to collaborate across the whole supply chain. We need to develop repeatable-scalable modular solutions with a ‘design once, build many times’ mentality. It is also key that as we go through the changes needed within the energy sector, safety remains at the forefront of our minds.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

I was thrilled to be a finalist for the 2019 Industry Leader Award at The Press and Journal Energy Voice Gold Awards. However, I would say the highlight for me is to currently be at the forefront of changing the future for our clients. It is a great time to be involved within the energy sector as we see so many positive changes which will make the world a greener place to live.

Given the experience you have now, what advice would you give a graduate just starting their career in the energy sector?

Do not be afraid to drive change. If you have an idea, share it. The energy sector has gone through so many changes, you can never fear change. Also, be confident enough to plan out where you want to be in 5 to 10 years and move roles to gain new learning experiences. Lastly, ensure you learn about the other projects, disciplines, and people you are working with. Expand your knowledge so you can see how your decisions affect others.

What ambitions have you still got to fulfil professionally in your career?

My focus right now is to develop an in-depth knowledge of the energy transition, focus on how I can help drive change and more importantly how Worley can become an industry leader within the UK. To fulfil my career, I hope that by 2050, we will still be driving cars, flying planes and heating our homes, but our cars will be electric and gliding silently around our cities. I envisage our planes will be zero emission, allowing us to fly guilt-free and our homes will be heated by cheaper, reliable, and power drawn from the winds of the North Sea. I firmly believe Worley has a huge part to play throughout this journey.

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