As you move through your career, it’s natural to want to stick with what’s familiar. The thing is, careers, like batteries, can sometimes run down without fresh energy. What if your next spark comes from exploring a new opportunity in an evolving industry?
We spoke with two women who entered a new industry (the energy industry!) later in their careers. What did we discover? It’s never too late to make a change.
After feeling inspired to change, Kim Newman and Georgie Wright joined one of Australia’s largest energy infrastructure company, Jemena, and trusted service partner provider Zinfra,). Kim, a Graduate Engineer, shares:
“Your skills are so much more transferrable than you think. Changing industries as a mid-to late-stage professional can be so rewarding and could be the best thing for your career.”
Georgie, who is currently the General Manager – Business Operations for Jemena‘s Gas Markets business, adds:
“Often, the opportunities you least expect can be the most impactful and transformative. After you take the time to invest in your understanding about whether a change or opportunity aligns with your values – be open to saying ‘yes’ and take the leap of faith.”
Amped for change: What did their pivots look like?
At 27, Kim returned to university to study chemical and environmental engineering. She missed the challenge of STEMM (in which she’d excelled in high school) and wanted a career with a positive social impact.
“I knew I wanted to work in the processing and energy industries. They’re such big carbon emitters, yet they’re the building blocks of daily life. My cautious side saw this as job security. My ambitious side saw the opportunity to have a huge, positive impact and leave things better than I found them.”
As she searched for graduate roles, she focused on opportunities that involved hands-on operations and technical consulting.
“My honors thesis involved designing a plant using common agricultural wastes to grow biodegradable plastics. I was inspired by an article about Jemena‘s Malabar biomethane plant – which took a wastewater stream and harvested its byproducts for energy. Bingo! I discovered it was a gas company with assets around the country and had a graduate program looking for engineers. I thought, ‘energy industry, here I come,’ and successfully joined as a Graduate Project Engineer.”
Georgie’s journey looked a little different. Previously working in the Oil and Gas sector in refining and supply, her journey took more of a side-step to her current role. One of her former colleagues had joined Jemena and encouraged her to consider a General Manager of Business Operations role.
“While I’d been with my employer in the oil and gas industry for 15 years, I thought it was worth exploring and applied. Funnily enough, I learned I was successful the same week my employer announced the closure of the manufacturing site.”
The changes didn’t stop here. A few days after signing her contract, she discovered she was pregnant with her third child.
“It was a challenging time to navigate. Despite knowing I wasn’t obliged to disclose my pregnancy with Jemena, openness, and honesty are a core part of my values and beliefs. When I shared my situation, I was so relieved when their immediate response was that they still wanted me to take on the role. A response like this is probably an exception versus the norm. It gave me confidence that Jemena truly valued their employees, and it was the right career move for me to take.”
Be part of an organization where support and professional growth are non-negotiables – no matter what stage of your career you’re at.
Compare benefits and policies at Jemena and Zinfra and explore current job openings.How to gain an advantage with transferable skills
For others looking to transition into a new industry, Kim promotes the value of drawing on your transferable skills. Years of working in retail and customer service enabled her to develop critical customer relationship and communication skills.
“I spent more than ten years honing my people skills, empathetic communication, and ability to give and receive feedback. Additionally, I improved my financial acumen, tracking sales targets, working with P&L statements, and managing inventory. I also managed teams, some with members decades older than me. It taught me invaluable skills such as time management, prioritization, and discipline… all things I’m doing now as an engineer. It’s so helpful, as I’m busy learning everything new.”
Now, she’s entrusted with project engineering and project management responsibilities:
“As I’ve demonstrated interest and capacity, I’ve been consistently rewarded with development opportunities.”
Diversity, inclusion, and flexibility can support your growth
Being part of an organization that values diversity and inclusion has made a huge difference for both women. Kim shares:
“Joining my first virtual interview, it was a relief to interact with male and female managers. From then on, diversity and inclusion were discussed openly and honestly. We have a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination. Compared to other companies, Zinfra really ‘walks the walk.’ My team is incredibly diverse and better for it.”
From Georgie’s perspective, being hired while pregnant was a huge testament to the company’s inclusive culture.
“I was one of the first to take up Jemena‘s policy of no minimum service requirement to access paid parental leave and have superannuation paid for this period. Despite being in a senior role, I also had the option to transition back in a part-time capacity. This greatly eased the pressure at home and is an example of true support in action.”
The company supports equality, diversity, and inclusion through flexibility. Many senior women work in a way that suits their circumstances, such as part-time or compressed working arrangements. Kim advises:
“Visibility is a big factor. Seeing women in leadership and technical roles makes a huge difference – whether talking about or taking up parental leave frequently, without bias, or being part of industry bodies, working passionately to encourage more women to enter STEM and leadership roles. Respect at work is a non-negotiable.”
The value of career development and mentorship for your success
Kim and Georgie have benefitted from career development initiatives to excel in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Kim, for instance, was assigned a mentor.
“Their advice and support were invaluable. It’s also common for people to be seconded into roles temporarily before transitioning into new or returning to previous roles. I’m very encouraged by testing the waters in different teams.”
She appreciates her team’s willingness to share their insights into projects, roles, and sites. Outside her role, she’s benefited from the company’s membership in the Australian Pipelines and Gas Association (APGA), which includes activities organized by the Young Pipeliners Forum (WPF) and Women in Pipelines Forum (WPF).
On the flip side, Georgie has had the opportunity to act as a mentor for others:
“I’ve really enjoyed being a part of our internal mentoring program, supporting employees throughout different business areas. I love how it allows me to understand the scope of our business better while helping others in their professional journey.”
She appreciates the company’s deliberate planning and investment in her career development and its leaders’ actively seeking opportunities that align with her growth.
“For instance, I received an opportunity outside of my direct functional area as a Steering Committee representative for company-wide initiatives, with latitude to drive change organization-wide. The company is continuously evolving its approach to career development by listening to feedback from employees.”
How can you make a successful career change?
If Kim and Georgie’s career changes inspire you, you can make your move a success, too. Georgie shares her experience of finding the right balance:
“A senior colleague once gave me the advice, ‘If things aren’t right at home, they won’t be at work.’ Particularly for working parents, having the support to balance life and family commitments outside work is really powerful. When I started my new role, I put a lot of pressure on myself to perform immediately, but there were things I needed to prioritize at home with my family. Jemena enabled me to do so, which was crucial in helping me do my best at work.”
For Kim, it’s about being open to taking hold of the opportunities when they present themselves and not putting off a decision until the ‘perfect’ time:
“There’s value in deliberation. But my biggest takeaway is this: The time will pass anyway. In five years, five years will pass. You can either be closer to your goals in that time or in the exact same spot, still thinking about a change. So decide your best course of action, and go for it!”
