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+44 749 486 2650
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London, United Kingdom.
Welcome to the 3rd edition of the Energyz Black Community Spotlight series, a periodic publication aimed at highlighting, engaging with, and empowering Black professionals in the energy sector.
Meet Titi Oliyide CEng, MIET, a Chartered Engineer with a background in chemical engineering and over a decade of experience in safety engineering for major projects in the energy, transport infrastructure, and green hydrogen industries.
She is also passionate about demystifying and encouraging diversity in the engineering profession. She does this by leading STEM outreach programmes, authoring blog articles, and mentorship of other engineers on their professional registration journey in her spare time. Titi has received awards such as the 2023 IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year Award and the Women’s Engineering Society’s Top 50 Women in Engineering Award.
Titi Oliyide
Can you share a bit about your journey into the energy and sustainability sector and what initially drew you to this field?
I have a background in Chemical Engineering – I hold a first class Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from University of Lagos, Nigeria and a MSc degree in Advanced Chemical Engineering (with a specialization in Process Systems Engineering) from Imperial College London. Growing up in oil-rich Nigeria, the energy sector held great appeal for me from an engineering perspective. I got an opportunity to do a 6-month internship at Shell, whilst completing my undergraduate degree. During the internship, I contributed to the team solving flow assurance challenges and improving the profitability of deepwater assets. Since then, I have gained experience on a wide range of projects – from large scale refineries and operational assets to innovative green hydrogen electrolyser technology. I really enjoy and I am drawn to this field as energy is a topic that affects us all facets of our daily lives. The energy transition is a complex technical, economic and social challenge that requires a collaborative and agile approach to achieve viable solutions.
What excites you most about your experience in the energy industry and how does it align with your vision for the future of sustainable energy?
My experience in the energy industry has been quite exciting because of the wide range of skills it requires to solve challenges. In addition to my technical engineering skills, I have grown to understand and appreciate the value of communication, systems thinking and an appreciation of the social context to energy. This aligns with my vision that the future of sustainable energy will be enabled by a collaboration of various stakeholders and a diverse workforce for a just, secure and sustainable energy transition.
In your experience, what are the most significant barriers that may limit the growth of women and black talents in the energy industry?
The main barriers to growth include inadequate sponsorship into leadership roles, which stems from inadequate representation of women and black talent in leadership positions. Another challenge is the microaggressions and negative perceptions faced by women and black talents in the workplace.
How have you been able to thrive in such a male-dominated field?
I strive to always produce excellent work and do the best I can in every position. It is also important to be flexible, adaptable and resilient, in the face of complex challenges which we often face in the energy industry. This helps me stay optimistic and seek solutions within my network.
Could you share insights from your work with AFBE UK and other initiatives you volunteer in that help address this important issue? How can Energyz Black play a more Strategic role in addressing these issues?
AFBE-UK curates and organises very impactful events across the engineering career lifetime to promote attraction, retention and progression. From the Making Engineering Hot Programme to introduce students to an engineering career, the Transition Programmes that aim to mitigate the drop off of BME talent from university to the graduate workforce and the Transcend programme that promotes progression into leadership roles. The AFBE Live! Conference, which I have had the privilege of organising for 2 editions, were fantastic platforms for networking, job and mentorship connections and increased knowledge about the importance of D&I within the engineering industry.
I also volunteer with other organisations such as the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering to encourage people to achieve professional registration and inspire the next generation to consider STEM careers.
Energyz black is uniquely positioned to champion and showcase the profiles of energy industry professionals – this promotes an understanding of the wide variety of the roles available in the energy industry and the diversity required to enable a just sustainable and secure energy transition.
What has been one of the toughest challenges you’ve encountered in advancing sustainability initiatives and how did you address it?
One of the toughest challenges in advancing sustainability initiatives has been navigating some polarized debates around energy solutions—especially on the part hydrogen plays in the energy transition. Some advocate for dismissing hydrogen entirely. However, the reality is that the energy transition requires a diverse mix of technologies tailored to different applications. The deployment of hydrogen is viable for hard-to-abate sectors. It is important to engage in constructive, data-driven and pragmatic conversations to help advance the energy transition.
Can you throw more light on your award as the Young Woman Engineer of the Year 2023, awarded by the Institution of Engineering and Technology?
It is an incredible honour to have been awarded the 2023 Young Woman Engineer of the Year Award by the IET, joining an incredible line-up of accomplished female engineers that have won the award since its inception in 1978. The award afforded me an amazing platform to inspire and share my enthusiasm about engineering careers with younger people. It is important to get the next generation excited about careers that will help us to achieve truly sustainable and relevant solutions to societal challenges in areas such as energy.
What advice would you give to young professionals who want to pursue a career in energy and sustainability?
It is an exciting time to contribute to the solution space of one of the greatest global challenges. My advice would be to jump straight in! The energy landscape is evolving fast, so stay curious. Seek knowledge of the key players in the energy mix from a technical, commercial and regulatory perspective. Seek out opportunities to connect with other professionals in the field. In doing this, you get to learn, exchange ideas and contribute to discussions and projects. It is also important to be flexible and resilient in this fast-paced and challenging industry.
Which skills and experiences do you consider essential for success in this field?
It is important to develop technical expertise, problem-solving and communication skills. It is also necessary to remain aware of the wider industry context (regulatory and policy development and changes) and how your area of expertise fits into the overall energy industry. Finally, I believe everyone should adopt a systems thinking approach. The energy transition and sustainability challenges are interconnected, and the ability to analyze problems holistically and proffer scalable solutions is essential.
How can young professionals make a meaningful impact early in their careers, even without extensive experience?
To make a meaningful impact early in their careers, professionals need to be proactive – seeking opportunities to learn, volunteer and contribute meaningfully to projects. It can be quite challenging, but growth happens outside the comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to take initiative and stretch projects.
How do you see the energy transition evolving over the next decade?
The energy transition over the next decade will be shaped by a mix of technological advancements, policy shifts, and market dynamics. This will be driven by rapid action to meet the defined targets for 2030. These include the UK’s commitments to achieve, by 2030
– 68% reduction in emissions
– 10GW Hydrogen production capacity
– capture and storage of 20-30million tonnes of CO2 per year.
I foresee a few key trends playing out:
– Solar and wind will continue to dominate new renewable energy capacity additions, driven by falling costs and improved efficiency. However, grid flexibility and energy storage will need to scale rapidly to handle intermittency and optimise energy production.
– Green hydrogen will move from small-scale pilots to commercial scale deployment, especially in hard-to-abate sectors like steel, chemicals, and heavy transport. Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) will also continue to gain momentum as a process for industrial decarbonisation.
– More sectors will shift to electrification. Energy efficiency will become an even bigger priority, especially as demand rises.
– Government incentives, carbon pricing, and corporate sustainability commitments will be key enablers. Developing economies will also strive to achieve a greater percentage of energy access while balancing sustainability goals.
– Securing raw materials for batteries, wind turbines, and solar panels and the supply chain will need to be optimised. I expect there will be a greater focus on circular economy solutions and localized manufacturing.
The next decade requires rapid action and execution. I am excited to be a part of it, as engineering and innovation will play a crucial role.
What role do you believe innovative financing and technology will play in driving the global shift toward net-zero targets?
Innovative financing and technology are key to the achievement of net-zero targets globally. This is an ongoing shift from traditional funding models to more creative approaches that de-risk investments in clean energy projects. Green bonds, sustainability-linked loans, blended finance, and carbon pricing mechanisms will be key in mobilizing capital at scale. Public-private partnerships will also play a bigger role, especially in emerging markets where upfront costs remain a barrier. Institutional investors and venture capital will increasingly flow into clean technology projects, but the challenge will be to ensure that these funds are deployed for not just large-scale projects but also early-stage innovations.
Technology-wise, breakthroughs in the deployment of renewables, energy storage, hydrogen, nuclear, CCUS, and digitalization will determine how quickly we can decarbonise. AI and data analytics will optimize grid management, predictive maintenance, and energy efficiency, making systems smarter and more resilient. The rapid scaling of green hydrogen and other energy storage technologies will be game changers for hard-to-abate sectors.
Ultimately, financing and technology must work hand in hand. The best technology cannot scale without the right financial mechanisms, and capital needs to flow toward solutions that are both innovative and commercially viable.
How would you encourage other black talents and professionals looking to work in energy?
I would encourage them to learn more about the industry, build expertise and seek out opportunities to interact with other energy professionals. Build a network and start contributing to the industry, we need your contributions!