Carolyn Barnes has been working with the Hebron project for almost three and a half years and with ExxonMobil for over 15 years.
Is working in NL's oil and gas industry rewarding?
Absolutely. Hibernia contributed to the Province in a very positive way at a time when the fishing industry was struggling. I am proud to be working in our industry, which develops the resource in a way that’s not only socially responsible, but it’s also a huge contributor to the quality of life of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
Why do you choose to live in NL?
Newfoundland is home for both me and my husband. While we love traveling and seeing other parts of the world and experiencing different cultures, there’s just no place like home. It’s where we grew up. It’s where our families are. I think Newfoundlanders, in general, always have this draw to come home. And with the industry here, we’re fortunate to have the opportunity to have a meaningful career at home.
What’s your role at ExxonMobil?
I’ve had a lot of different roles over the years and each one has challenged me in different ways. But my current role as the Safety, Security, Health and Environment Supervisor for Hebron has been a pretty incredible ride. It was likely a once in a career chance to be part of the Hebron project as it transitioned from the construction phase in Bull Arm through the tow to field and into production. It’s been exciting and challenging, but it was also fun.
Part of what I do now is supporting the day-to-day execution of our operations integrity management system. That covers a lot of different things from risk management to how we manage our work offshore, from incident investigations to emergency response. But ultimately it all comes back to keeping people safe and protecting the environment.