meet the team
SARAH CLARK - CO-CHAIR
Throughout her career, Sarah has held a variety of process engineering and project management positions in the UK and Poland, which includes design, offshore and site-based roles, as well as corporate consulting positions within O&G and military sectors. Sarah is passionate about the promotion of women in business and women in engineering and volunteers her time leading Wood's gender equality group and plays a key role within AXIS-Network promoting gender parity. Sarah holds an Executive MBA April '22, currently works as Chief of Staff for Wood CEO and lives in Aberdeen with her partner and their two cats.
EMMA BEHJAT - CO-CHAIR
Emma is a graduate from Imperial College London and holds both a master’s degree and PhD in Chemical Biology. After leaving the academic sector, Emma moved into scientific communication roles with a focus on international business development. Emma currently works as the Interpret Business Development Manager for Intertek where she concentrates on the oil and gas sector.
As a woman of mixed race, Emma is passionate about creating inclusive workspaces. Also, as a mother and aunty to young girls, promoting gender equality within the STEM workplace is one of her top priorities.
CATHERINE PATERSON – EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Catherine is a fully qualified finance professional with over 17 years’ experience, the most recent of which is within the energy industry. She is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. Catherine enjoys continuously broadening her mindset around diversity, equity and inclusion. She strongly believes having a broad range of the people at the table, is not only the right thing to do, but it can only enrich the workplace by providing a range of different perspectives.
KAREN BLANC - PLEDGE LEAD
Having lived and worked in the oil and gas industry in Malaysia, Vietnam, and the UAE, Karen is now settled in Aberdeen with her young family. A fellow of the IChemE, Karen is operations director for engineering consultancy firm Kent and is passionate about supporting her team to reach their potential. Her work with AXIS reflects her desire to achieve a future where potential isn’t defined by gender. An engaging leader, her motto to live by is “Make it happen”!
RACHEL MACKAY - MENTORING LEAD
Rachel has an extensive background in leading local and global teams within the Pharmaceutical industry. She now runs her own business delivering a wide portfolio of activity including career transition coaching & mentoring, outplacement support, team building, change management and understanding communication preferences. She has been fortunate in her career to receive superb coaching and mentoring support and is compelled to empower others to develop their own career in a way that feels authentic.
Rachel leads the mentoring sub-group which delivers the AXIS' mentoring programme.
JUDITH RENNIE - CONTENT GENERATION LEAD
Judith leads the AXIS Content Generation sub-group, which delivers all the Role Model, Case Study and Thought Leadership articles.
JUDITH RENNIE - CONTENT GENERATION LEAD
Judith leads the Content Generation sub-group, which delivers role models, case studies and thought leadership articles.
STEFANI DUNCAN - PLEDGE SUPPORT
Stefani graduated in 2019 from the University of Aberdeen and is currently a Process Engineer at Worley. Her experience so far has included working on large scale projects and working offshore. Getting into Engineering was heavily influenced by the Shell ‘Girls in Energy’ scheme at school, which highlighted what the Energy industry has to offer. As a result, Stefani is now a STEM Ambassador and tries to volunteer as much time as she can to influence people into STEM and all that it offers. Stefani is passionate in diversity, equity and inclusion and firmly believes that a diverse workforce can provide the best results.
Stefani supports our Pledge Leadership activities and is an active member of our Content Generation sub-group.
SUSAN GRAYSON – EVENTS LEAD
Susan Grayson is the award-winning Founder of Younique Inclusion, a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) consultancy passionate about creating and implementing DE&I strategies to help organisations foster a culture of belonging.
With over 30 years of experience in the energy industry, spanning technical, commercial, and latterly – senior HR roles, Susan has a unique insight into DE&I within corporate environments and draws on this expertise to successfully engage with stakeholders at all levels from technical and functional teams to leaders and boards.
Susan has a firm belief that by hearing and understanding the lived experiences of others, then putting that information to work, to create an inclusive environment, diversity will follow, enabling innovation and creativity in the workplace.
Susan leads the Events sub-group, planning and delivering all AXIS Network events.
SOPHIE NEALE – COMMUNICATIONS LEAD
After graduating with a master’s degree in Chemistry Sophie began working in the Oil and Gas industry in 2016 based in Aberdeen, she is currently working as an Environmental Advisor. Throughout her career Sophie has been passionate about inclusive workplaces with the hope that everyone can come to work as their authentic selves. She has volunteered in a range of roles, most recently as the Chair of EnQuest’s DE&I group. In her free time Sophie likes to explore the Scottish Highlands with her partner & two dogs.
Sophie leads AXIS Network communications, including social media.
PADRAIG McCLOSKEY - GENERAL COUNSEL
After graduating from Imperial College in 2002, Pádraig joined Shell, initially working on the Pernis Refinery in the Netherlands in a technical role. After three years in Holland Pádraig made a significant career move into communications when he moved back to Ireland for the first of two spells working on the Corrib Gas Project. Pádraig has subsequently worked in the US and Canada before moving to Aberdeen in 2012 where he is currently External Relations Manager, UK Upstream. Padraig has been an active member of Shell’s Balance network since 2013 and joined the Axis committee in January 2020. Outside of work Pádraig is a keen golfer, a passion he shares with his young family.