Maree's new mission

When Esso Australia’s Regulatory and Stakeholder Consultation Lead, Maree Holden took on a six-month temporary role at ExxonMobil Australia in 1988, she never expected to still be with the company 33 years later.

“I’ve had a really varied career at ExxonMobil, which has taken me down many new paths,” Maree explains.

“My work has taken me to both the UK and Papua New Guinea, and I’ve also enjoyed roles supporting our business in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Fiji and New Caledonia. Through all this I had the opportunity to learn about both the Upstream and Downstream parts of our business, which is almost akin to learning to speak two languages,” said Maree.

Her current role involves consulting with the community about Esso Australia’s plans for decommissioning in Bass Strait and fostering relationships with a wide variety of people and stakeholder groups.

“Throughout my career, I have always enjoyed working with people, so I’m thrilled to be doing that extensively in my current role,” said Maree.

“Decommissioning offshore facilities is a complex task that involves many years of planning, including consulting with a wide range of stakeholders, from fishing groups and regulators, to local community members.

“It’s my responsibility to work closely with our stakeholders and community members and make sure that everyone understands our current and future plans, as well as the approach we are developing to responsibly decommission our Bass Strait facilities,” Maree explained.

Starting her career as a Marketing Assistant, Maree has progressed through various roles with the company across retail, real estate, planning, restructure, communications, socioeconomics, and lender interface.

Her career advice to those starting out in the industry or thinking about a role with ExxonMobil, is to be open to new opportunities.

“The most rewarding part about my career has been the varied experiences I’ve been afforded,” said Maree.

“I’ve travelled extensively both within Australia and globally, meeting many people and experiencing things I likely would not have if I had not been open to the opportunities.”