What's your job about?
I currently work within bp’s Asia Pacific green energy team (specifically within regions, corporations and solutions) as a commercial analyst based in Melbourne, Australia. I am originally from the South Island of New Zealand and completed the bp graduate programme in Auckland. I relocated to Melbourne, Australia for my first role in the programme and have now been here for one year. Whilst I was in the bp graduate program I completed two rotations (one year each). My first role was within the b2b team working a lot with customers and my second role was within the convenience retail team working with bp’s franchise owners. While I was completing the graduate programme, I had a passion to improve my commercial skills and learn more about the green energy space. Within my current role, I work mainly across bp’s electric vehicle (EV)charging brand bp pulse, strategy, and competitors. I really love my current role, there is a lot to learn as well as a lot of interesting projects and a great team!
What's your background?
I grew up in Dunedin, New Zealand (a small town at the bottom of the South Island), and I completed high school and University here (I attended the University of Otago). While I was at university I worked in customer service, completed a marketing internship, and taught ice skating. I was also fortunate enough to complete a student exchange at the University of Exeter in Devon, England for the last six months of my degree. This was my first time travelling alone, coming from a small town I learned a lot about myself, saw a lot of amazing sights and made lifelong friends from all over the world! When I came home from England, I relocated to Auckland for the bp graduate programme. I was in Auckland for five weeks before the covid pandemic meant New Zealand went into lockdown and I had to move back to Dunedin for six months. I look back on my first few months at bp and feel grateful to the amazing team I had, being in my first corporate role they were very supportive and made working from home that little bit easier!
What advice would you give to someone who is interested in a similar role?
If someone has the passion and curiosity to work within the green energy space, bp is a perfect place to start. There is a lot to learn, which is a lot of fun to learn, read and understand new energy vectors. I really love my job; I love learning about the green energy space and no day is the same!
What's the coolest thing about your job?
Picking the coolest thing about my job is a tricky question! I would have to say the team I get to work alongside every day. They are passionate, kind, hardworking and hilarious. No matter what question you have, there is always someone who is willing to help you, explain and assist you with your query/ question.
What are the limitations of your job?
The biggest limitation of my job I would say is working from home. For me personally, I like to come into the office as much as possible but not everyone is able to come in every day. On the flip side the flexibility to work from home should the need arise is very easy to do. When planning meetings, I try to pop them on a day when I know people will be in the office so we can be face-to-face when possible.
3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...