Qatar Shell has stressed that it provides an “ideal platform” from which science and engineering female graduates can launch their careers.
As leading energy companies continue to promote the inclusion of women in their workforces to bridge the gender imbalance that permeates the industry, the outlook is promising in Qatar.
According to the Social Statistics report published last year, 66 out of 100 freshman students enrolled in scientific and applied specialisations in the 2011/12 academic year were females.
“With a growing number of science and engineering female graduates expected to enter the national workforce in the near future, Qatar Shell provides an ideal platform from which they can launch their careers,” the company has said in a statement.
The statement highlights the example of Fatima Ahmed al-Mulla, who joined Qatar Shell in 2013 and, in an industry that typically remains male-dominated, “continues to carve out her own successful path”.
Having developed an interest in the oil and gas sector from a young age thanks to her father, who also worked in the industry, Fatima graduated from Texas A&M University at Qatar with a Bachelor of Science degree in petroleum engineering.
“I chose to pursue an engineering career within the energy industry because I knew it would allow me to contribute to the most crucial element of Qatar’s economy - the oil and gas sector,” she says. “And what better place to do this than within an international organisation, which already contributes to the success of this industry within Qatar, such as Qatar Shell.”   
Fatima began her career at Qatar Shell as a reservoir engineer on the subsurface team in the development department, and was quickly impressed by the company’s commitment to expanding the skills sets of staff members, according to the statement.
“Shell offers numerous professional development opportunities,” she says, “which gave me the advantage to go offshore.”
Fatima became the first Qatari woman from within the organisation to spend two weeks on the Al Khor jack-up rig offshore Qatar. Despite the potentially daunting task ahead of her, Qatar Shell’s health and safety policy meant that she was fully prepared.
“I reassured my family that safety is a deeply held value for Shell, with a Goal Zero vision for causing no harm and no leaks that would ensure my privacy and security while being offshore. The challenge turned out to be a tremendously valuable learning experience that has led to greater opportunities.”
Fatima’s ambition to continue her professional growth within Qatar Shell resulted in another opportunity to undertake an international assignment at the Shell headquarters in the Netherlands, working on a complex multidiscipline project.
“With the chance to be based in the Netherlands, I’ve consciously stepped out of my comfort zone, which has resulted in even more professional and personal growth,” she says.
Ever mindful of the state’s support for educational opportunities for women, Fatima believes her success within the energy sector at Qatar Shell has the potential to inspire other Qatari women to give back to their country.
As part of her ambition to champion the success of Qatari women within the energy industry, Fatima is also a member of the organising committee of Qatar Shell Women’s Association Network (QSWAN) – a voluntary group seeking to promote diversity and inclusion of staff, focusing specifically on maximising the potential of its female members.
“At QSWAN, we try to tackle specific issues of concern to working mothers and their integration back into the workplace after maternity leave, by lobbying for flexible working hours and so much more,” she explains.