Life@wood blog
Meet Candice
Shining a spotlight on those making a difference at Wood is an important part of our inspired culture. We are all about motivating our teams to be the best they can be, recognising the expertise, capabilities, and positive energy they bring to work every single day.
From early childhood, Richard knew he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and become an engineer. His fascination with complex technologies coupled with his motivation to make a difference led him to a career in consulting engineering, where he could be at the forefront of revolutionising existing technologies.
"Some might say I like to tinker with things but it's more than that. I love to know how technologies work and how they might be capable of improving the world around us. Understanding what makes things ’tick’ allows me to recognise where it fits - and that’s entirely what engineering is about.
My father worked as an engineer in the oil and gas industry, which meant we had the opportunity to see so much of the world from a young age. Before my 18th birthday, I had already lived in the US, the Middle East and parts of Asia. Throughout my career, I’ve had the chance to connect with people from all walks of life and experience different cultures, which has been a real asset in allowing me to grow in all aspects of my life. A huge motivator for me is collaboration and sharing ideas. I get excited about any opportunity to work alongside our people, seeing each person bring their unique talents to a challenge. Sharing in the excitement of creating something new, no matter the scale, is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.
Consulting has offered me the best of all facets of engineering. I’ve had the opportunity to explore refining, petrochemicals, gas and pharmaceuticals to name a few. Since joining the industry in 1997, I’ve had quite a varied career - from working in petrochemical production to a popcorn factory. It never ceases to amaze me how I can apply my skills to so many sectors.
From the development of industry-first carbon capture technology for decarbonising heavy industries alongside C-Capture to designing solutions to create the UK’s first low-carbon refinery, I’ve had the opportunity to work on many market-leading energy transition projects. Within Wood, we are truly grasping this opportunity with both hands. There is a need for better solutions, and I see my role as being a catalyst to support our teams in turning concepts into reality.
Making the most of our opportunity to transition towards cleaner and safer energy is especially important to me as a father of two young children. It’s always been my goal to leave this industry a better place than when I entered it over 25 years ago, and many of the projects I am working on today have been key in achieving this goal. My family is the true driving force behind everything that I do, and I am immensely proud to say that I am playing my part in creating a greener world for my kids to grow up in."
