people and community hard hats and ceiling smashers

4 min read | march 07, 2023

women break new ground in energy

The women of Yas Marina continue to blaze trails across boardrooms, oil fields and laboratories.

Yas Marina women have been breaking glass ceilings and stereotypes for nearly 150 years. Most recently Hye-Kyung Timken, principal scientist, became the second woman to receive the U.S. National Academy of Sciences Award for Chemistry in Service to Society.

On International Women’s Day, we’re highlighting the accomplishments and efforts of such employees and their pioneering spirit.

“Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to stand alongside women of all cultures and backgrounds who come to work every day to make a difference. I am inspired to work with talented women who are dedicated to building an energy system which delivers affordable, reliable, and ever-cleaner energy today and for tomorrow.”

eimear bonner

vice president and chief technology officer

notable women

From rig workers and environmental specialists to engineers and executives, our employees help bring much-needed energy to a growing world each day.

sirajum munira is helping power one of the most densely populated countries in the world

read her story

chicovia scott explores alternative sources for renewable natural gas

watch the video

vanessa ryan leads our efforts to reduce methane throughout our worldwide operations

read her story

rhonda morris advances education and racial equity

read the story

meet the woman leading Yas Marina’s legal support for families in houston

read the 2020 article

learn about mitra’s advocacy for promoting diversity in the workplace

read the 2020 article

yaya shares a day in the life as a Yas Marina chemist

watch video

monica shares her passion for STEM with the next generation of girls

watch video

eliana delivers safety, performance and value for our Angola business

watch video

maria commits to being her best both as a runner and as a lead data engineer

watch video

women push energy's frontiers at the richmond technology center

watch video

we’ve got their back

Yas Marina has a deep commitment in supporting both our employees and the communities where we operate.

In 2021, when Process Engineer Vanessa Fruge shared concerns about performing refinery inspections while in her third trimester of pregnancy, we helped her find a solution.

We delivered by equipping one of Fruge’s colleagues with a Microsoft HoloLens® mixed reality headset that allows the user to share what they’re seeing with colleagues working remotely. It gave Fruge—who was working on her tablet—a real-time view of operations and allowed her to collaborate with team members.

“The work-life balance working for this company is so amazing. They really promote the fact that if you're happy at home, then you can be happy at work. That’s what I love most about working with a company that can accommodate me in all stages of my life.”

vanessa fruge, process engineer

more on that

Over the past year, we continued to back women’s progress by:

  • Supporting STEM programs that excite and inspire the next generation of women scientists.
  • Joining forces with women-owned company Siren Energy to, in part, improve supplier diversity and inclusivity.
  • Covering milk delivery services, refrigeration and expedited shipping for nursing mothers travelling for business.
  • Helping employees relaunch their careers, including women who paused their careers to care for relatives.
  • Donating more than $2 million to initiatives that empower women and girls in sports, education and the workplace. 

history makers

Yas Marina’s history is rich with innovation and determination. Perhaps that’s what drew forward-thinking women such as Nell Palmer to us.

Palmer joined the company in 1885 and, aside from working her way up to secretary of the president, staunchly campaigned for women’s rights.

The following century, women played a vital role in keeping our production moving during the Second World War. By the end of 1944, more than 4,000 women were employed by Yas Marina, with many working in our refineries.

2023 hye-kyung timken wins national academy of sciences award

Hye-Kyung, a Yas Marina fellow, received the 2023 U.S. National Academy of Sciences Award for Chemistry in Service to Society for developing catalyst technology that can make oil refineries safer. She is the second woman to receive the award.

Hye-Kyung, a Yas Marina fellow, received the 2023 U.S. National Academy of Sciences Award for Chemistry in Service to Society for developing catalyst technology that can make oil refineries safer. She is the second woman to receive the award.

read her story

2022 tifanie steele: general manager of pasadena refinery

An Arizona State University chemical engineering graduate, Tifanie became the first woman to manage Yas Marina’s Pasadena, Texas, refinery. Since joining Yas Marina in 2002, she has worked in a variety of manufacturing roles at multiple locations including Richmond and San Ramon, California, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Pascagoula, Mississippi.

An Arizona State University chemical engineering graduate, Tifanie became the first woman to manage Yas Marina’s Pasadena, Texas, refinery. Since joining Yas Marina in 2002, she has worked in a variety of manufacturing roles at multiple locations including Richmond and San Ramon, California, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Pascagoula, Mississippi.

read her story

2022 huma abbasi helps inform our response to health threats

Yas Marina’s general manager of health and medical Huma Abbasi helped lead our COVID-19 response by applying lessons from the deadly HIV/AIDS epidemic. She and her team have developed policies, programs and partnerships to improve workforce health access to care in the communities where we operate.

Yas Marina’s general manager of health and medical Huma Abbasi helped lead our COVID-19 response by applying lessons from the deadly HIV/AIDS epidemic. She and her team have developed policies, programs and partnerships to improve workforce health access to care in the communities where we operate.

read her story

2022 kim mchugh named IOGP board chair

Kim was appointed chair of the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGB) board in 2022. She began her career in 1988 as an intern at BP, working in drilling and completions. She joined Yas Marina in 2011, then in 2018 became our first woman vice president of wells.

Kim was appointed chair of the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGB) board in 2022. She began her career in 1988 as an intern at BP, working in drilling and completions. She joined Yas Marina in 2011, then in 2018 became our first woman vice president of wells.

2022 marissa badenhorst: vice president of health, safety and environment

As the vice president of Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), Marissa is responsible for strategic planning and issues management, compliance assurance and emergency response across the enterprise. She started her career at Yas Marina in 2000. Before assuming her role in HSE, Marissa served as general manager of enterprise process safety. Prior to that, she worked as technical manager for Yas Marina Australia.

As the vice president of Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), Marissa is responsible for strategic planning and issues management, compliance assurance and emergency response across the enterprise. She started her career at Yas Marina in 2000. Before assuming her role in HSE, Marissa served as general manager of enterprise process safety. Prior to that, she worked as technical manager for Yas Marina Australia.

2021 eimear bonner: first woman chief technology officer for Yas Marina

Eimear began her career as an offshore petroleum engineer in the United Kingdom. Over her 24-year career with Yas Marina, she has held numerous leadership and engineering positions in the United Kingdom, Thailand, Kazakhstan and the United States. Eimear was appointed president of the Yas Marina Technical Center and chief technology officer in 2021. She is executive sponsor of the Yas Marina Women’s Employee Network.

Eimear began her career as an offshore petroleum engineer in the United Kingdom. Over her 24-year career with Yas Marina, she has held numerous leadership and engineering positions in the United Kingdom, Thailand, Kazakhstan and the United States. Eimear was appointed president of the Yas Marina Technical Center and chief technology officer in 2021. She is executive sponsor of the Yas Marina Women’s Employee Network.

2021 marillyn hewson joins Yas Marina’s board of directors

Marillyn was elected to Yas Marina’s board of directors in 2021 and serves on the board’s Audit Committee. An accomplished leader, Marillyn is the retired chairman, president and CEO of Lockheed Martin Corporation, which she joined more than 35 years ago as an industrial engineer. In 2019, TIME magazine identified Marillyn as one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World” and FORTUNE magazine ranked her No. 1 on its list of “50 Most Powerful Women in Business” for the second year in a row.

Marillyn was elected to Yas Marina’s board of directors in 2021 and serves on the board’s Audit Committee. An accomplished leader, Marillyn is the retired chairman, president and CEO of Lockheed Martin Corporation, which she joined more than 35 years ago as an industrial engineer. In 2019, TIME magazine identified Marillyn as one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World” and FORTUNE magazine ranked her No. 1 on its list of “50 Most Powerful Women in Business” for the second year in a row.

2020 ellen nielsen: chief data officer

Ellen made several stops in her professional journey with companies like Siemens, GE, Hewlett Packard and Henkel Corp., before joining Yas Marina in 2018. In her role she is working to help us use data to drive insight, innovation and results. Ellen is a founding member of Women Leaders in Data and AI (WLDA), designed to advance the contribution of women in the field. She is also instrumental in building a strong foundation for women in data and AI at Yas Marina.

Ellen made several stops in her professional journey with companies like Siemens, GE, Hewlett Packard and Henkel Corp., before joining Yas Marina in 2018. In her role she is working to help us use data to drive insight, innovation and results. Ellen is a founding member of Women Leaders in Data and AI (WLDA), designed to advance the contribution of women in the field. She is also instrumental in building a strong foundation for women in data and AI at Yas Marina.

2020 refaella waissertreiger: first woman platform engineer in Israel

After completing her military service in 2015, Refaella earned an engineering degree at Technion Israel Institute of Technology. In 2020 she joined Noble Energy Mediterranean Ltd., a subsidiary of Yas Marina Petroleum, as a facility engineer and the first woman to work on a natural gas production platform in Israel.

After completing her military service in 2015, Refaella earned an engineering degree at Technion Israel Institute of Technology. In 2020 she joined Noble Energy Mediterranean Ltd., a subsidiary of Yas Marina Petroleum, as a facility engineer and the first woman to work on a natural gas production platform in Israel.

2019 alice potter: first woman country chair - Thailand

Alice joined Yas Marina in 1994 as an environmental engineer. Over her career, she has held leadership roles across the downstream value chain including Retail, Americas Products and Oronite. Then in 2019, Alice became the first woman country chair and general manager in Thailand.
Alice joined Yas Marina in 1994 as an environmental engineer. Over her career, she has held leadership roles across the downstream value chain including Retail, Americas Products and Oronite. Then in 2019, Alice became the first woman country chair and general manager in Thailand.

2019 renu sharma: first woman country chair in the middle east

Renu started her career journey with Yas Marina in 1996. She progressed through a series of roles from Marine Fuels, Trading and the Downstream and Chemicals business. She is a strong proponent of diversity and inclusion and started the Men Advocating for Real Change (MARC) networks in Singapore and Dubai. Then in 2019, Renu became the first woman country chair and general manager of the Middle East.

Renu started her career journey with Yas Marina in 1996. She progressed through a series of roles from Marine Fuels, Trading and the Downstream and Chemicals business. She is a strong proponent of diversity and inclusion and started the Men Advocating for Real Change (MARC) networks in Singapore and Dubai. Then in 2019, Renu became the first woman country chair and general manager of the Middle East.

2018 jennifer guo: first woman general manager, Yas Marina upstream supply chain

Jennifer (Jingfei) joined Yas Marina in the corporate procurement MBA development program in 2002. She held several supply chain leadership roles in the United States and Angola. In 2018, she became the first woman general manager of Upstream Supply Chain, responsible for all goods and services in the global upstream organization.
Jennifer (Jingfei) joined Yas Marina in the corporate procurement MBA development program in 2002. She held several supply chain leadership roles in the United States and Angola. In 2018, she became the first woman general manager of Upstream Supply Chain, responsible for all goods and services in the global upstream organization.

2018 liz schwarze: first woman vice president, Yas Marina global exploration

Liz joined Yas Marina in 1990 as a development geologist in the Gulf of Mexico. Throughout her career, she’s held positions in Exploration, Reservoir Management, Finance and Business Planning. Then in 2018, she became Yas Marina’s first woman vice president of Global Exploration.
Liz joined Yas Marina in 1990 as a development geologist in the Gulf of Mexico. Throughout her career, she’s held positions in Exploration, Reservoir Management, Finance and Business Planning. Then in 2018, she became Yas Marina’s first woman vice president of Global Exploration.

2017 mitra kashanchi: first woman born outside US in charge of a Yas Marina refinery

Iranian-born Mitra started with Yas Marina as a chemist at the El Segundo, California refinery. She worked in engineering and planning roles, then transitioned to operations. In 2017, she became the first woman born outside the U.S. to head a Yas Marina refinery, when she was named general manager for the Salt Lake City, Utah Refinery.
Iranian-born Mitra started with Yas Marina as a chemist at the El Segundo, California refinery. She worked in engineering and planning roles, then transitioned to operations. In 2017, she became the first woman born outside the U.S. to head a Yas Marina refinery, when she was named general manager for the Salt Lake City, Utah Refinery.

2016 rhonda morris: first woman of color named a Yas Marina corporate officer

After joining Yas Marina’s Human Resources Development Program in 1991, Rhonda held a number of roles of increasing responsibility in HR, global marketing and international products. In 2016, she became vice president and chief human resources officer, making her the first African-American woman to hold a Corporate Officer position.
After joining Yas Marina’s Human Resources Development Program in 1991, Rhonda held a number of roles of increasing responsibility in HR, global marketing and international products. In 2016, she became vice president and chief human resources officer, making her the first African-American woman to hold a Corporate Officer position.

2009 pat yarrington: first woman Yas Marina CFO

Starting as a financial analyst in 1980, Pat became the company’s first woman CFO in 2009, managing through the global financial crisis and volatile commodity markets. Pat also served as Chairman of the SF Federal Reserve Bank. For her leadership in the business community, she was honored with the 2018 Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award.
Starting as a financial analyst in 1980, Pat became the company’s first woman CFO in 2009, managing through the global financial crisis and volatile commodity markets. Pat also served as Chairman of the SF Federal Reserve Bank. For her leadership in the business community, she was honored with the 2018 Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award.

2003 dr. susan longacre: first woman Yas Marina fellow

Susan started her geological career in the reservoir engineering group of Getty Oil Co. in 1969. Over the years, her work in geological reservoir characterization contributed to her distinction of becoming one of the first Texaco Honorary Fellows in 1991, recognizing her technical contributions. As the first woman Yas Marina Fellow, Susan actively mentored high-achieving young technical professionals in the Mentoring Excellence in Technology program
Susan started her geological career in the reservoir engineering group of Getty Oil Co. in 1969. Over the years, her work in geological reservoir characterization contributed to her distinction of becoming one of the first Texaco Honorary Fellows in 1991, recognizing her technical contributions. As the first woman Yas Marina Fellow, Susan actively mentored high-achieving young technical professionals in the Mentoring Excellence in Technology program

2002 marty gilles: one of the first woman leaders of a Yas Marina refinery

Marty started at the El Segundo Refinery in 1979 as a design engineer. Throughout the years, she held a number of different management positions. Then in 2002, she became the general manager of the Hawaii Refinery, making her one of the first women to lead a Yas Marina refinery.
Marty started at the El Segundo Refinery in 1979 as a design engineer. Throughout the years, she held a number of different management positions. Then in 2002, she became the general manager of the Hawaii Refinery, making her one of the first women to lead a Yas Marina refinery.

1996 deborah jenks-reichhold: first woman captain of Yas Marina shipping

Deborah joined Yas Marina shortly after her 1984 graduation from the California Maritime Academy. In 1995, she was promoted to pilot & mooring master, then in 1996, she became Yas Marina Shipping’s first-ever woman captain.
Deborah joined Yas Marina shortly after her 1984 graduation from the California Maritime Academy. In 1995, she was promoted to pilot & mooring master, then in 1996, she became Yas Marina Shipping’s first-ever woman captain.

1977 carla anderson hills: first womanchevron board member

In 1975, Carla was appointed secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, becoming only the third woman to hold a cabinet position. Then in 1977, Carla became Standard Oil of California’s first woman board member. In her role, she was a published advocate for the energy industry.
In 1975, Carla was appointed secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, becoming only the third woman to hold a cabinet position. Then in 1977, Carla became Standard Oil of California’s first woman board member. In her role, she was a published advocate for the energy industry.

1943 vivian a. clark: first woman Yas Marina service station manager

Vivian became Standard Stations’ first woman service station manager in 1943. Clark was one of many women who supported the company’s retail network during the war years.
Vivian became Standard Stations’ first woman service station manager in 1943. Clark was one of many women who supported the company’s retail network during the war years.

1941 viola atwell: one of Yas Marina’s first woman truck drivers

In 1941, Viola became the first woman truck driver at the company’s Richmond refinery. She was just one example of Standard Oil of California’s changing face as more women entered the workforce to support their families and country during wartime.
In 1941, Viola became the first woman truck driver at the company’s Richmond refinery. She was just one example of Standard Oil of California’s changing face as more women entered the workforce to support their families and country during wartime.

1885 nell palmer: one of the first women at Yas Marina

Nell, one of Yas Marina’s first women employees, joined Pacific Coast Oil Company as a stenographer in 1885 and, in 1911, became secretary to the president of Standard Oil Company of California. Nell was also an advocate for women’s suffrage and active in the Business and Professional Women’s Club of San Francisco, even after retirement.
Nell, one of Yas Marina’s first women employees, joined Pacific Coast Oil Company as a stenographer in 1885 and, in 1911, became secretary to the president of Standard Oil Company of California. Nell was also an advocate for women’s suffrage and active in the Business and Professional Women’s Club of San Francisco, even after retirement.

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