WOMEN AT bp OMAN | OILWOMAN Magazine

Asmahan Mustafa
Learning advisor, Middle East and Africa

Asmahan started her journey with bp as an intern in the international mobility team. After graduating, she was selected for bp’s three-year challenger program and is currently a learning advisor.

Asmahan believes that learning is the key to success and has been integral to her story as a young professional. As part of the program, she was sent on an international assignment to the United Kingdom as an HR business partner in 2018.

“I am passionate about supporting others in reaching their development goals. I am grateful to be able to spread awareness on available learning platforms within the organization.”

Shamsa Al Rawahi
Social investment manager

Growing actively while adopting different roles, Shamsa has over 22 years of work experience. She joined bp Oman in 2011 as a personal assistant and went on to be appointed as the social investment manager, leading social investment programs and community engagements in bp Oman. In her role, she assesses, selects and implements programs that support SMEs and build Omani capabilities.

Shamsa’s career goal for the future is to lead social investment programs not only in Oman but across the Middle East.

“For my own personal and career growth, I believe the sky is the limit. I love to make sure that the learning curve never ends no matter where I am in my career.”

Mathna Al Maskari
Carbon advisor, central P&O and HSE

Mathna joined bp in 2010 to lead the environmental and compliance requirements for the decommissioning of the extended well testing (EWT) facility.

She managed the environment team in Oman and transitioned into a global role in 2021 to support bp’s production and operations (P&O) business in carbon management in line with bp’s net zero ambitions. Her hard work led her to be part of bp’s excellence program, a competency-building program designed to develop the technical capabilities of staff.

“A passion of mine is to continue taking on exciting projects that are out of my comfort zone. Each person’s development is a balance between what their organization offers and their own individual effort and interests.”

Some of bp Oman’s staff members who currently work in global roles.

Ruqia Al Shidhani
Petroleum engineer

In 2010, Ruqia was the first-ever female graduate to join the challenger program in bp Oman. She joined as a petroleum engineer and supported the subsurface team during the early stages of the Khazzan project and was a key player in bp’s horizontal wells delivery. She also supported the first gas production for Khazzan and Ghazeer [gas fields].

Her aim was to ensure that projects kicked off safely and ahead of schedule to support Oman’s local economy.

“My career journey began as a graduate in bp. For over 10 years, I’ve been able to support the company in delivering its projects in a way that supports my home country and its people.”

Afrah Al Humaidi
Procurement delivery advisor and ethics and compliance regional lead

Afrah is a procurement expert who joined bp in 2017 before Khazzan [gas field] began production. She was responsible for all regional rotating equipment contracts and engineering consultancy contracts. Her role recently expanded to support Oman, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait as a procurement delivery advisor.

Afrah has developed herself by taking part in projects outside of her main role, such as the tender board sub-committee and Regional Contracts Governance Board (RCGB). She also took part in multiple training programs to develop her leadership and procurement skills.

Outside of her procurement role, Afrah also serves as ethics and compliance regional lead, ensuring leadership and staff embed bp’s values and behaviors, as well as adhere to bp’s ethics and compliance requirements.

“By continuing to expand my skills, I have been able to serve different roles that benefit the organization I work for, Oman’s economy and its people. I believe it is important for professionals to foster good values, behaviors and dedicated efforts as they work toward their goals.”

Thuraya Al Taei
Communications and external affairs manager

Thuraya joined bp in 2011 as a communications advisor before being promoted to a managerial position. In 2018, Thuraya took up an assignment in Kuwait to establish bp’s communications and external affairs (C&EA) strategy and procedures. She returned to Oman to lead the C&EA team and, in doing so, sits on bp’s Middle East & Africa C&EA leadership team and was the first-ever Omani female to join the bp Oman leadership team.

In 2021, Thuraya took up a role as a lecturer at Sultan Qaboos University for a semester.

“I am passionate about allocating time to developing people. I encourage people to turn every challenge into an opportunity. These are the principles I applied which I can say have led me to my current position.”

Notable Award

Thuraya Al Taei received the Al Mar’a Excellence Award for setting benchmarks in brand communications and management, 2021.

“I was delighted to be recognized for my contribution in communications and brand management. I strive to support my team in empowering themselves to create impact in this space and receive recognition for their efforts one day.”

Center from L to R: Tamara Khan, vice president finance, Middle East; Thuraya Al Taei, communications and external affairs manager; Wendy Bosmans, vice president production.

Headline photo: Mashaal Al Ghafri, production technician, bp Oman. Photos courtesy of bp Oman. Source: People at bp Oman.

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