Jackie 's Story
Working in the Fossil Fuel Industry
I joined BP in 2013 through a summer internship during my Chemical Engineering degree. During my internship, I worked on the Fischer–Tropsch process, which gave me an early exposure to complex chemical systems. I then moved into a graduate role as a process safety engineer, working on deepwater projects in Angola. From there, my career involved frequent moves and a wide range of projects: Sunbury, Aberdeen with offshore work in the North Sea, Grangemouth on an LPG project, back to London, and later Georgia on a gas pipeline project.
I loved working on site and still strongly believe that engineers need to physically see the reality of what they design. Being offshore or on construction sites brings a level of understanding that cannot be replicated from an office. The learning curve was steep and sometimes daunting, but also incredibly rewarding. Across these roles, I worked with people who were fascinating, warm, and genuinely motivated to do good work and to do it safely.
At the same time, even while enjoying the travel, technical challenge and camaraderie, I gradually became uneasy about the wider impact of my work. In social settings, I often avoided saying exactly where I worked, referring instead to the “energy industry.” That discomfort did not arrive suddenly, but it stayed with me and slowly became harder to ignore.
When I Realised It Was Time to Leave
By around 2019, I began questioning my long-term direction more seriously. I moved into a role as a Low Carbon Development Engineer, where I worked on decarbonisation studies and low-carbon designs for fossil fuel projects. I hoped that incremental improvements could add up to something meaningful over time. When BP announced its net-zero ambition in 2020, I felt genuine hope. I truly believed that the major energy companies were needed to help deliver the energy system transition.
I spent three years working on early-stage project developments, but over time it became clear that many emissions “savings” simply enabled more gas to be sold and burned elsewhere. This is a structural issue for fossil fuel producers, particularly when it comes to scope 1 reductions. While the intent behind the work was often genuine, I was not having the impact I had hoped for, and I became increasingly anxious about my contribution.
Wanting to move further away from oil and gas, I joined the New Energy team. This allowed me to pivot while staying within the company and to build experience in hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, and biofuels project development. I gained a strong understanding of the global business, the challenges facing low-carbon projects, and the difficulty of competing against established fossil fuel investments.
Over time, however, a contradiction became impossible to ignore. While communications focused heavily on net-zero ambitions and low-carbon initiatives, progress was slow and the hurdles were significant. As the global transition advanced more slowly than many had predicted, and shareholder patience waned, strategy shifted back toward the core oil and gas business.
At that point, I saw three realistic options: join one of the few low-carbon projects progressing, return to oil and gas, or leave the company. After spending around half my career trying to push for change from within, often with limited impact, I decided I needed to explore alternatives. Leaving was difficult, particularly because it meant walking away from colleagues I deeply respected, many of whom continue to push for better outcomes today. Ultimately, though, I felt there was far too much to be done in the transition to stay somewhere I could no longer fully stand behind the direction of travel.
What are you doing today?
I left BP in May 2025, just shy of eleven years after joining, and now work in the industrial decarbonisation team at Carbon Direct Inc. My role involves supporting organisations to reduce emissions and evaluating carbon removal projects using a science-first approach.
Working in a smaller organisation has given me far greater breadth across sectors and technologies. In just eight months, I have worked on projects spanning carbon capture in waste-to-energy and bioenergy, direct air capture, industrial mineralisation, geothermal energy and other emerging areas. I engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including technology innovators, project developers, investors, governments, carbon credit buyers and large corporations navigating their decarbonisation pathways.
It has been energising to work directly on solutions progressing toward net zero. My decade in major project development has proved highly transferable. Many organisations entering low-carbon project development are doing so for the first time, and practical delivery experience matters. Understanding how projects are built, where risks sit, and the importance of thorough early-stage planning is critical across all sectors.
In the lead-up to leaving BP, I experienced moments of real anxiety about losing friendships, my professional track record, and the support system that comes with working for a large organisation. While I was sad to leave my colleagues, my network has only expanded since then. Eight months on, I can say honestly that I have no regrets. The challenges remain significant, but I feel closer to the outcomes I care about and genuinely proud of the work I do.
Parting Reflections
I do not regret my time in oil and gas. It gave me skills, perspective and credibility that I draw on every day. However, I do wish I had realised earlier how many options exist outside the industry where real impact is possible.
For anyone considering a move, I would encourage making the time to explore alternatives. Speak to people who have already left. Go to events. Learn about the range of paths available. Within oil and gas, many people have spent their entire careers within a single company, and as a result our professional networks can be narrower than we realise.
Leaving can feel daunting, particularly when it involves stepping away from stability and a strong professional identity. But it is worth remembering that the skills developed in major energy companies are highly valuable elsewhere. There is no single right path, and change does not need to happen overnight, but it is important not to let fear close off possibilities.
Ultimately, work takes up a large part of life. Finding roles that align with your values and that you are proud to look back on matters. Do not miss the opportunity to pursue work that feels meaningful and fulfilling, and to make choices you will be glad you made.