Julian's Story
Working in the Fossil Fuel Industry
I came into the fossil fuel industry because it was intellectually demanding and central to the real economy. I was drawn to the scale of the markets, the speed of decision-making, and the need to understand both financial structures and the physical systems behind them.
Over time, I developed experience in oil derivatives, risk management, market analysis, and commercial strategy. I learned how to think about probabilities, how to price uncertainty, and how to make decisions under pressure. I also gained a deep appreciation for the importance of structure, liquidity, and hedging in markets where volatility can quickly become destabilising.
Some of the most important learning came from working alongside strong traders, analysts, and mentors who understood the market from the inside. The environment was both stimulating and demanding, and it provided a solid grounding in commercial reality.
At the same time, I became increasingly aware of the broader limitations of the sector. A significant amount of talent, capital, and analytical effort was being directed into a system that was becoming more difficult to justify in a changing world.
When I realised it was time to leave
The decision to move on was not a single moment, but a gradual shift in perspective.
First, I began to see that the fossil fuel industry was facing structural change rather than temporary cycles. Second, I increasingly wanted my work to reflect not only my capabilities but also my values.
Over time, it also became clear that the skills I had developed—market analysis, hedging, risk thinking, and investment judgment—were not limited to oil and gas. They could be applied across airlines, market-making, funds, insurance-style hedging, and broader advisory and investment contexts. That realisation changed the question from what I was leaving behind to what I could build next.
Leaving was not without uncertainty. The fossil fuel sector carries momentum, familiarity, and financial gravity, and stepping away from that structure required a degree of confidence and patience. What helped most was recognising that skills are portable even when industries are not, and focusing on building forward rather than looking back.
What I'm doing today
Today, I work across consultancy and investment-related advisory projects spanning airlines, market makers, funds, private equity, and insurance-style hedging. The common thread is risk, pricing, capital allocation, and structured commercial decision-making.
This cross-sector perspective suits me well, as it draws directly on the analytical and commercial foundations developed earlier in my career, but applies them in a broader and more flexible environment.
I have also had to unlearn the idea that expertise must remain tied to a single industry. In reality, much of the value comes from combining experience across domains and translating complexity into practical decisions.
A key part of my current work is Energovis Limited, founded in 2024. It represents the integration of many years of experience into a more independent and future-facing platform. It allows me to apply what I have learned in a way that is commercially serious, but not constrained by a single sector.
Overall, I would say I have gained clarity, autonomy, and ownership over my work. While I have left behind some familiarity and structural certainty, I have gained alignment, flexibility, and a stronger sense of direction.
Parting Reflections
I do not disown my past. It provided a rigorous education in markets, discipline, and commercial thinking, and much of it remains directly relevant to what I do today.
At the same time, it is important to recognise when a chapter has served its purpose. The fossil fuel industry gave me the tools, but not necessarily the final context in which I wanted to use them.
One of the most important lessons I have learned is that leaving an industry does not mean starting from zero. It means recombining existing skills in new ways.