Spotlight On…

When I graduated with a degree in Chemistry from the University of Surrey in 2001, I swore I’d never work in a chemistry lab again. Famous last words. After a short stint with the University of Surrey and the NHS IT departments, I landed a job in the laboratory at the Humber Refinery.

I was a Shift Production Chemist for ten years – testing all kinds of products from the Refinery, ranging from crude and intermediate products at one end, all the way through to final components and finished fuels at the other.

Next came a Laboratory Shift Leader role, where my focus was blending retail-grade fuels and fuels for export, along with assisting with testing. I then did some project work in Production Planning, and, in 2016, the Product Quality Manager role (based in Warwick) opened, so I applied and got the job. I would do a weekly commute – Warwick during the week, back home for the weekend – and that lasted until the Warwick office closed at the end of 2017, when I was relocated back to Humber.

I loved the Warwick office, but I didn’t love living out of a suitcase, and I’d definitely had enough of bad hotels. When you find socks from the previous occupant in your room, you know it’s time to go!

I am responsible for the quality of the products we supply to the inland UK market.

This means different things for different products. For example, with domestic fuel, there are procedures at the terminals to ensure that the fuel they receive from us hasn’t been contaminated and is still of the same quality as when it left the Refinery. Beyond the terminals, it’s about supporting our inland customers. This includes our JET branded forecourts, supermarkets, and resellers, including our Authorised Distributors (who sell gas oil and kerosene for home heating, crop drying, and general agricultural use, liquid petroleum gas, and marine gas oil) and major oil companies.

It’s a long and varied list that stretches the length and breadth of the UK. For all those customers, if they have a problem, I support them in investigating and resolving it.

Having worked with fuel from start to finish—from Refinery to end user and everything in between— it really helps me get to the root of the problem.

I like my job because no days are typical! Unless I’m on holiday, my phone is on 24/7, 365 days a year, and sometimes (though not often) that means getting called at silly hours of the night.

A ‘normal’ working day starts with me checking emails and prioritising those that might indicate a problem. Then, I might review the quality control charts from different terminals, look into ongoing projects, and coordinate any customer-focused work with my UK boss, Stuart Cufflin. When the US wakes up, I might connect with my other boss, Paul Ryder, who leads the US Fuel Qualities team. It’s a chance to talk through any issues I’m facing. It can be a lonely role, so checking in with him and his team, who do the same job, is invaluable. It’s a support network we all lean into and are grateful to have.

The day may also include meetings with JET Commercial and Retail Account Managers who are looking to sign new contracts or need technical advice for customers. I also speak with traders who need product insights or information about fuel grades they wish to trade.

On top of the day-to-day, I represent Phillips 66 Limited (for fuel quality) at Fuels Industry UK (FIUK), which is a trade association that brings together UK companies involved in refining, lower carbon fuel production, terminal operations, and filling stations. I also represent FIUK at the British Standards Institute (BSI) – the group that oversees fuel standards for the UK – and, to top it off, I represent the UK at a European level (CEN, the European Committee for Standardisation), since all of our fuels are matched to, or derived from, European standards.

With 33 countries making up the CEN membership, it’s a truly diverse mix of cultures, working environments, and professional approaches. Navigating this space requires a different set of skills—adaptability, cross-cultural awareness, and the ability to collaborate effectively across varied perspectives—all while staying focused on fuel and quality. I also support Phillips 66 Limited in ASTM International (formerly known as American Society for Testing and Materials) for Aviation Fuel – the American counterpart to CEN. It’s still all about fuel and quality but requires a totally different approach and skillset.

A lot of fingers in a lot of pies – and I love it!

It’s very gratifying (and often frustrating!) to be pushing for the very highest standards, and it reflects well on Phillips 66 Limited. I’m very proud that Phillips 66 Limited is known for its high quality standards.

I’m going to struggle with this one because I’m not big on ‘defining moments.’ Generally, I’m happy when the customer is satisfied, and when a problem has been thoroughly resolved.  I really don’t like being unable to solve a problem. For me, it’s always good to be able to find the root cause because, at the end of the day, I’m a data-driven scientist and I like the truth.

I’m not sure how many people realise this, but Games Workshop is a bit of a hidden British treasure. Based in Nottingham, they produce plastic and metal miniatures for fantasy war games — the kind you paint and then use in battle. I’ve been into it for around 35 years now, and it’s still one of my favourite ways to unwind, although my painting skills are still as bad as when I first started!

I’ve also always been fascinated by the weather. I used to run weather stations at school, especially after witnessing Michael Fish’s infamous comments ahead of the 1987 Great Storm — that moment really stuck with me. Growing up, I wanted to be a meteorologist, ideally working at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, tracking hurricanes. There’s something about the sheer power and complexity of those storms that completely captivates me. I even imagined being on one of those flights into the eye wall – despite not liking fast rides – which is a bit ironic given I’m a lifelong Disney fanatic!