Meet Bianca, Country Manager for Australia at Global Maritime. With over 12 years’ experience across offshore engineering, renewables, project management and business development, she leads the Australian entity and is responsible for all aspects of local operations, including business development, financial performance and the safe delivery of projects.
Having spent eight years with Global Maritime, Bianca has developed broad experience across engineering, marine warranty and marine services, giving her a well-rounded perspective on the offshore energy sector and its evolving challenges.
In this Q&A, Bianca shares insights into her career journey from Naval Architect to Country Manager, reflecting on the projects that have shaped her experience and the collaborative culture that makes Global Maritime feel like family. She discusses the growing focus on decarbonisation, the opportunities emerging across offshore wind and decommissioning, and the importance of innovation and collaboration in addressing the sector’s challenges. Bianca also highlights the need to attract more women into the industry and shares her advice for the next generation of offshore professionals.
What does a day in the life of a Country Manager look like?
Ensuring that all facets of Global Maritime’s Business in Australia from Business Development, Legal, Reporting, P&L, to the safe and timely execution of projects are delivered with excellence.
Can you walk us through your career path to date?
I Started at a small Naval Architecture firm in Fremantle before moving to Scotland and working with Global Maritime on mooring, marine warranty and walk to work analysis. I then moved to Technip where I worked in the new builds department on the new build of a 24 man Sat Dive Vessel and various Charter Vessels. I then returned to GM in 2000 to lead up our Perth operations.
How has your career evolved at Global Maritime?
I started as a Naval Architect in Aberdeen and have moved through the different facets of the business from Engineering, Marine Warranty, Marine Services and now management.
If you could describe your role in three words, what would they be?
Lead, Collaborate and Deliver.
What inspired you to pursue a career within our industry?
I had a deep love of the ocean from an early age, spending my weekends as a child growing up on Cable Beach in Broome – that connection with the sea never leaves you.
What’s your favourite thing about being part of the Global Maritime team, beyond the day-to-day work?
The people that I work with are like family.
What’s something exciting you’re currently working on?
We have just completed independent verification to support our client for the first offshore top side and jacket removal in Australia’s history. A flagship project and a positive step in decarbonisation and the full life cycle of the industry in returning the locations to their formative state.
What standout projects have you worked on, and how have they helped shape your career journey?
Offshore attendance for Laggan Tormore on Thialf. One of the biggest heavy lift vessels in the world installing large subsea manifolds early in my career seeing engineering at that scale internationally shapes you as an engineer.
If you could change one thing about our industry, what would it be, and how does Global Maritime play a role in shaping that future?
The lack of representation of females in the industry and entering the industry. I think it needs an overhaul to attract more women to the industry.
In your opinion, what’s the key challenge facing the Energy Sector right now, and how do GM’s capabilities help overcome it?
I would say that the volatility of energy globally is challenge facing all nations at this time. GM has a long history of solving some of the toughest challenges offshore and I believe will be part of the solution to these challenges.
How are the trends we’re seeing right now affecting your role as a whole?
We see a big focus on decarbonisation projects and energy volatility.GM locally has been involved in decommissioning projects in Australia and we have provided early support to the offshore wind industry in Australia and globally to provide versatility in the energy sector.
What’s one trend in the offshore world right now that excites you the most?
I think the collaboration between contractors, consultants and operators is at an all time high. It is going to take innovation and collaboration to solve these challenges and right now we are seeing that globally both within GM and amongst the industry.
What advice would you give to someone entering the offshore energy sector today?
To be a part of a problem-solving industry focused on safety, environment and people there are few career paths with such diversity and international opportunities.
As the decommissioning market continues to evolve, how can operators reduce uncertainty early – and where can Global Maritime add value in shaping safer, more executable project strategies?
The key to reducing uncertainty lies at the front end of the project in accurate weight estimates, survey and marine growth as well as estimating the structural integrity of the components of the asset. Care and detail taken at the front end pays off in dividends later in the project
