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John McDonald

John McDonald was appointed UK managing director of oil and gas skills organization OPITO in September 2013.

Faces of the Industry

Previously the director of international workforce development for OPITO

International, where he worked with a number of oil majors and lead- ing on the organization’s work in building agreements with governments and industry around the world; McDonald is the former director of the

Scottish Quali? cations Authority (SQA) where he led the development of new products and services and created new markets in Asia and the

Middle-East.

An alumni of Harvard Business School, he has also worked at ministerial level in several countries on capacity building projects in education and training and was a director of ACTVET, the government body charged with creating a vocational education and training system in Abu Dhabi.

market trends such as the world in our drive for the the skills and career pathways I can play a successful part in anticipated increases in implementation of com- within the oil and gas indus- that I’ll be a happy person.

decommissioning activity and mon global safety standards. try across the UK. Targeting a John aspires to leave a lasting the ongoing development of These standards are proven variety of audiences, it took imprint on how the offshore new technologies designed to deliver positive changes in everything from science, oil & gas sector addresses to maximize oil recovery, in behavior leading to a safer engineering and math events, and improves its workforce, we expect to continue to see workforce, but OPITO can specialist workshops and with an eye on upgrading increasing demand in drilling, only lay the groundwork. careers sessions to debates, skills and adapting to an ever well appraisals and marine/ Employers will ultimately interactive challenges and changing and innovative naval sectors among others; drive the long-term, high much more at venues across industry. At the end of the and we anticipate the number value change and this needs Scotland and England from day, it is all about the people of workers spending time on strong, committed, coura- November 11-14th. in the industry and equipping overseas activities to also rise geous leadership. Our hope is that it has pro- them with what they need to over the next ? ve years. New ways of doing things vided the avenue for everyone be successful. When this hap-

While a percentage of will only actually happen if from school pupils, gradu- pens everyone wins. the North Sea workforce is people understand why they ates and teachers through to expected to retire between need to change and the bene? t mid-career changers and those Faces of the Industry will now and 2019, progress is that change will have on them returning after a career break feature individuals who do being made to address ongoing and those who work with to see ? rst-hand what the oil extraordinary things for issues, notably with the suc- them. and gas sector can offer. It also the industry and outside cessful increase in recruitment gave the industry a platform the industry. If you would

Tell us about more about of apprentices and graduates.

to celebrate its achievements like to nominate someone,

National Oil & Gas Skills and for individual companies please send an email to Kelli

Can you give us an update week? What are your key to showcase what they are Lauletta. on OPITO International’s objectives? doing, the opportunities they vision to roll out common

This is a signi? cant oppor- offer and the skills they need Kelli global safety standards? tunity for the industry to do going forward. Lauletta is

How is that going?

something really different and an HR

Despite improvements, powerful to tackle the skills consultant

What do you hope to accomplish in your tenure too many major and minor issue head on and we received with 17 as Managing Director at incidents and accidents are fantastic support from a wide years

OPITO? Finally, what kind still happening from the variety of industry organiza- experience. of legacy will you leave

Gulf of Mexico to the North tions, government bodies and She also behind?

Sea, from the Middle East to independent companies of all serves as an editor for

Southeast Asia. sizes. I want to work collaboratively OilOnline.com. If you have

As a proponent for change, National Oil & Gas Skills with the industry to do some- story ideas please email Kelli

OPITO works all over the Week was designed to explore thing about the skills issue. If at [email protected].

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