How to Build a Career in Decommissioning with Francis Norman | Energy Sector Heroes

If you work in energy whether you're early in your career, considering working overseas, or thinking about where the sector is heading this conversation matters to you. Many of us started in oil and gas, new builds, commissioning, or brownfield projects. Now the landscape is shifting. Decommissioning is accelerating globally. Sustainability expectations are rising. International mobility is more complex. And younger engineers are asking different questions about purpose and long term opportunity. In this episode, I speak with Francis Norman, CEO and Managing Director of the Centre of Decommissioning Australia (CODA). We explore how he moved from traditional engineering into decommissioning, why this space is far more technically complex than many realise, and what advice he would give to engineers starting out today. We also talk honestly about working abroad, building confidence early in your career, and why flexibility may be the most valuable skill you can develop in the energy sector. **🔎 What We Cover** - Why decommissioning should be viewed as its own industry not just the “end of life” phase - The technical complexity behind plugging wells, removing platforms, and dismantling offshore infrastructure - Why unknowns and incomplete documentation are part of the engineering challenge - The long term global outlook for decommissioning careers - The realities of working abroad including the self doubt and growth that come with it - Why energy careers in the future will demand flexibility across hydrocarbons, renewables, and carbon capture **🎯 Three Key Takeaways** 🔹 **Decommissioning is technically demanding and long term** This is not a short cycle phase. It will span decades globally and requires deep engineering judgement under uncertainty. 🔹 **Early career engineers should prioritise learning over positioning** Your first 4–5 years are about mastering fundamentals, not chasing titles. 🔹 **International experience accelerates maturity** Working abroad forces decision making, builds resilience, and expands perspective in ways office based roles rarely do. **🛠️ Three Actionable Takeaways** ✅ **If you are in new build or brownfield ask to shadow a decommissioning scope.** Exposure builds optionality. Even one project gives you transferable experience. ✅ **In your first five years, say “yes” more often than “no.”** Secondments, site work, overseas assignments these experiences compound over time. ✅ **Broaden your definition of “energy.”** Oil, gas, offshore wind, carbon capture, decommissioning, hydrogen your core engineering skillset can transfer across all of them. The energy sector is changing, but the need for skilled engineers is not disappearing. The engineers who thrive will be those who stay curious, technically grounded, and adaptable.