Leading talent in the offshore industry was recognised last night as the Offshore Contractors’ Association (OCA) hosted its annual Challenge Awards dinner at the Marcliffe Hotel in Aberdeen.
The black-tie event was attended by more than 200 guests and saw trainee project manager for Fabricom Offshore Services (FOS), Leila Benomran, 26, named OCA rising star for 2013.
After joining FOS with a first-class honours degree in civil engineering, with disaster management, Ms Benomran is now on a fast-track development programme and a member of the Aberdeen firm’s training academy.
OCA said her achievements at FOS and her commitment to training and development, including her studies towards a masters degree in project management, made her the best choice for its rising star accolade.
Health and Safety Executive energy chief Susan Mackenzie presented the award for health, safety and environment to the brownfield developments team at Amec in recognition of a strong record over the past year.
The dinner also marked the first formal engagement for the OCA’s new chairman, Amec managing director Alan Johnstone, who presented the hotly-contested technology and innovation award to Aker Solutions.
OCA president Bill Murray said: “The UK offshore industry is a global leader in developing new technology and establishing the best safety practices and our awards aim to help recognise and promote that status.
“The standard of nominees was extremely high and I extend my congratulations to all of the winners.”
Aker’s honour celebrated the company’s latest monitoring technology, Integri-Tech, which models the life and history of process plants and structures and generates accurate data about critical factors affecting their use.
Mike Forbes, managing director of the Norwegian group’s maintenance modifications and operations business in the UK, said: “Asset integrity management is one of the key issues in the UKCS today.”