Q: Tell us your background and when you first became interested in energy?
Growing up in Trinidad and Tobago, energy was always part of the national conversation. The country’s economy is closely linked to oil and gas, so it was a sector many young people were aware of and interested in. I was initially drawn to that industry and had hoped to study Petroleum Geoscience at the University of Aberdeen. Unfortunately, the cost of studying abroad made that path difficult at the time.

Based on my A-level subjects, Environmental and Natural Resource Management was the degree programme I was qualified to pursue locally, so I began there with the idea that I might eventually transition into the oil and gas sector. However, during my studies I found myself becoming increasingly interested in environmental sustainability and natural resource management, and I quickly realised that this was a field I was genuinely passionate about.

That search led me to energy management, which immediately caught my attention as a field that combined environmental thinking with practical energy use and efficiency.

After graduating, I briefly worked in the aviation industry as a flight attendant, but it quickly became clear that it wasn’t the career path I wanted to pursue.

At the time there were very few environmental roles available in Trinidad, so, like many of my classmates, I began looking at postgraduate options. While I was flying with Caribbean Airlines, I started an energy management MSc programme and realised that this was where my interests truly lay. Soon afterwards I joined Energy Dynamics in Trinidad.

My boss, Andre Escalante, was, and still is, a leading figure in energy efficiency work across the Caribbean. He played a major role in shaping my early career. He trained a small team of us – including two other female engineers – and that experience laid the foundation for everything that followed.

Some of my best early professional experiences were conducting energy audits in hotels across the Caribbean, particularly in Barbados. Those projects were incredibly hands-on and gave us the opportunity to learn quickly. One of my colleagues, an electrical engineer who has since become a close friend, taught me a great deal about the technical side of energy auditing as we worked through those projects together. That was the point where I knew I had found my place in the energy management field.

Q: How did you first hear about the Energy Institute (EI) and what motivated you to join?
I first learned about the Energy Institute while studying for my MSc in Energy Management. At the time, it was clear that the EI represented the leading professional body for energy professionals globally.

What motivated me to join was the opportunity to work toward Chartered Energy Manager status and to be part of a professional community that values technical knowledge, best practice and continuous development within the energy sector.

Early in my career I was focused on building both technical knowledge and credibility within the field. Energy management covers a wide range of disciplines, from engineering and data analysis to policy and carbon management, so professional recognition was important.

Q: Tell us about your current job and industry, and how your work is contributing towards a just transition to net zero? 
In 2015, after gaining several years of experience in the field (and following a second MSc degree, in environmental engineering), I achieved Chartered Energy Manager status and became an ESOS Lead Assessor through the Energy Institute. It was a significant milestone for me professionally and gave me confidence that I was progressing in the right direction within the industry.

With that, I started working in Scotland supporting organisations with ESOS compliance. I then moved into higher education, working at the University of Oxford and later at King’s College London, before transitioning into healthcare estates within the NHS. Experiencing energy use across such different sectors and regions has given me a broad perspective on how organisations approach energy management and the importance of tailoring solutions to each environment.

Becoming a Chartered Energy Manager and ESOS Lead Assessor through the Energy Institute significantly strengthened my professional credibility within the sector. Employers and organisations recognise the level of experience and knowledge required to achieve chartership.

I currently work as Energy Manager at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, where I am responsible for managing energy performance and supporting the Trust’s journey toward net zero.

The NHS has ambitious net zero targets and hospitals are particularly complex, energy-intensive environments. My work focuses on improving energy performance across the estate through better data, monitoring and operational improvements.

One of the key areas I have been working on recently is strengthening the Trust’s energy management framework and preparing the organisation for a ISO 50001 certification pilot, focusing on a single site that is fully managed by the Trust and does not have PFI [private finance initiative] involvement. This allows us to establish the foundations of an energy management system in an environment where we have clearer operational control.

My work has focused on strengthening the key elements required for an effective energy management framework. This has included updating the Trust’s energy policy, improving governance and reporting structures, and strengthening how we monitor and analyse utility data across the estate. A major component of the work has been improving data visibility.

One piece of advice I would give aspiring energy managers is to keep track of the achievements and projects you contribute to throughout your career. There will be times when progress feels slow, but reflecting on those milestones can remind you how far you have come and help you stay motivated.

Q. Having acquired the Chartered Energy Manager qualification, you then went on to acquire the American Certified Energy Manager qualification. First, what attracted you? And what processes did you follow, and what value did you gain from each?
 

I actually first attempted the Certified Energy Manager qualification relatively early in my career. Looking back, it was probably a little too early, and it was certainly a humbling experience. The breadth and depth of technical knowledge required for the examination quickly showed me that I still had a great deal to learn.

That early experience stayed with me and became something of a professional goal. As my career progressed and I gained more practical experience, I returned to the qualification with a much stronger foundation. Passing the four-hour CEM examination later in my career was a challenge I was genuinely proud to overcome.

The Chartered Energy Manager route through the Energy Institute and the CEM certification through the Association of Energy Engineers take slightly different approaches. Chartered Energy Manager status focuses on demonstrating professional experience, competence and contributions to the profession through a detailed assessment of one’s career. The CEM certification, on the other hand, is heavily examination-based and tests a wide range of technical energy management knowledge.

Both qualifications are valuable in different ways. Chartered Energy Manager status is widely recognised within the UK energy sector and demonstrates professional maturity and experience. For me, the two together reflect both practical experience and technical knowledge developed over the course of my career.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are strictly those of the author only and are not necessarily given or endorsed by or on behalf of the Energy Institute.

If you’re keen to follow in Omega’s footsteps, click here to find more about how to become a Member of the Energy Institute (MEI). For more information about becoming a Chartered Energy Manager, click here.