September 18, 2025 • 3 min read
The big picture:
How aligned teams
achieve success
“Prepare yourself so you’re ready when opportunity comes.”
When projects become complex, timelines tighten and specialist teams need to align their activities, our Thailand-based engineers turn to Weerapa Ekphalakorn. Because she listens.
“My job isn’t to know everything,” she says. “It’s to connect people who do. To help the team stay focused on what matters.”
Weerapa first joined our team in 2004 as a graduate engineer. Over time, her ability to bridge disciplines, absorb technical problems and move projects forward led her toward a management position. It wasn’t a role she sought, but her aptitude for seeing the bigger picture was clear to her peers.
“I was asked to support a project. Then another. Then to work more closely with a client,” she says. “It wasn’t a plan. I just said ‘yes’ and kept open to opportunities.”
Shepherding projects through complexity
After a brief period working elsewhere, Weerapa returned to our team in 2019 to work on a central processing platform in the Gulf of Thailand involving brownfield modifications and new offshore modules. The project was technically complex, fast‑moving and required precise coordination across multiple teams and stakeholders.
“I didn’t know how it would go,” she says. “But I trusted the people. I brought in some team members that I had worked with before and focused on communication, transparency and delivery. That was the turning point for me.”
She remembers the early weeks clearly. “There was pressure,” she says. “But we stayed calm. Once the team saw we were working as one, things shifted.”
Today, Weerapa splits her time between two functions as our Engineering Manager in Thailand and Project Manager for major works. In the former role, she oversees a team of around 150 engineers and designers across disciplines like electrical, instrument, process, piping, structure, pipeline, safety and mechanical.
Managing such a varied group requires a deft hand. “A lot of challenges that I encounter in my work aren’t purely technical. They’re about understanding; perhaps one group doesn’t quite see the other’s priorities,” she says. “I listen, realign and bring in subject matter experts if we need them. That’s how we keep moving.”
Alongside her official responsibilities, she helps guide approximately 20 graduate engineers in our Thailand office through tri-weekly catchups. Her sessions focus on confidence, clarity, growth and new technical skills. “I tell them not to wait for the perfect opportunity. It might never look perfect,” she says. “But if you’re prepared and open, you can grow quickly.”
Finding balance outside work
Weerapa appreciates the trust built into our operations and the freedom to manage her workload, affording her opportunities to spend time with family and prioritize balance while staying accountable. “That kind of flexibility makes a difference, especially when you’re trying to support others, whether at work or home,” she says.
When it comes supporting herself outside of work, Weerapa finds balance through mandala painting – a quiet, focused practice that clears her mind. “You have to be patient,” she says. “It’s detailed and slow. That helps me reset.”
As she looks to the future, Weerapa is keen to continue delivering complex projects and helping others thrive. “I still enjoy the technical side,” she says. “But I also like creating the conditions for people to succeed. That feels just as rewarding.”
