January 19, 2026 • 2 min read
Four roles. Three countries.
An ever-evolving career inside Worley.
“I’ve never needed to look outside Worley for opportunity – it’s all been here.”
Nine years after joining us as a graduate process engineer in Wellington, New Zealand, Harriet Philipsen is in The Hague. An Associate Management Consultant with Worley Consulting, she’s helping customers make key investment decisions in the energy industry.
“I started as a graduate doing basic process work, and now I’m advising global customers on major projects. I never imagined my role could evolve like this,” she says.
Empowered to explore
Harriet’s career is a story of seizing opportunity. What began as a short-term assignment turned into a series of moves across sites, disciplines and countries – from engineering design in New Plymouth and HSE advisory in Wellington, to hands-on project work at New Zealand’s oil refinery and later Gladstone, Australia.
“Worley has always supported me when I’ve wanted to try something new – whether that’s site experience, a career change or moving across the world,” she says.
Balance, belonging and growth
Starting with our team at 22, Harriet says she’s ‘grown up with Worley’, being met every step of the way with support, flexibility and balance. “As I’ve matured, I’ve learned that while saying yes to as many different opportunities as I could early on in my career opened so many further doors, it’s also important to have the confidence to say no when the timing isn’t quite right, and that’s always been respected here,” she says. “It’s empowering to be in a culture that values both your work and your wellbeing as well as your life outside of work.”
She’s also found growth through connection, taking part in programs like the Future Leaders program, Women of Worley and the Pollinate Fellowship in India. “No one has ever said no to a chat or a coffee. That’s what makes our culture so empowering – it’s about helping each other grow.”
Making an impact together
Now, in The Hague, Harriet works with global teams on projects that support energy investment and project developments. “When our customers come to us with big challenges, it feels like together we can make anything possible,” she says. “We’re not just talking about the change – we’re helping to make it happen.”
For Harriet, the people are what make work special. “We have some of the brightest minds in the world. It’s inspiring to be one of them.”
Looking ahead
Harriet is living proof that careers don’t need to follow a straight path. “When I started, I thought I’d stay for two years,” she laughs. “Now it’s been almost nine, and I’ve had four very different roles and lived and worked in three different countries. I’ve never needed to look outside Worley for opportunity – it’s all been here.”
