March 27, 2026 • 2 min read
Engineering success
off the beaten path
Worley’s flexibility has meant I’ve always been able to learn, stretch and adapt – and never feel boxed in.
When Tom Douglas joined our team almost 10 years ago, he was a Chemical Process Engineer looking for new horizons. Drawn to New Zealand’s open spaces and our reputation for technical excellence, he found more than the winning combination of technical expertise and a seaside lifestyle: a workplace that gave him the space to grow.
“I was backed from day one,” Tom says. “If I wanted to try something new, Worley found a way to make it happen.”
Those early years were spent learning the business, leading projects for major energy customers and quickly stepping into leadership roles. With every stretch assignment came trust, guidance and a growing sense of purpose.
A turning point for growth
Mentoring younger engineers opened Tom’s eyes to the power of people development. Showing growth is about more than delivering projects, it’s about empowering others to succeed.
“It was about helping my team find their strengths, just as my leaders and mentors had done for me,” he says. “That’s what makes Worley different – the support is always there, but you’re given ownership too.”
From managing a process engineering team to taking on corporate roles, Tom is one of many shaping a career his own way. Programs like the ‘Leadership, Engagement and Performance’ (LEaP) course and continuous digital e‑learning courses gave him the confidence and skills to explore new challenges.
Positive impacts, endless opportunities
“For me, it’s about the changes we make, big or small, that improve how we work and how our customers operate. Even though I’m not currently in an operations role, the strategic decisions I help senior leaders make can lead to a positive, lasting impact.”
That impact includes leading the process design of a large onshore compression facility, driving investment prioritization in our transformation initiatives, project managing our re-brand and supporting potential acquisitions that expand global capability. And yet, Tom can sum up his experience in just one word: opportunity.
“Worley has given me the opportunity to define my career – to grow as a person, a leader and a professional. That’s what keeps me inspired.”
Thinking, and working, outside the box
Moving from engineering into a corporate role was a leap. Tom’s last role in internal project portfolio management and capital allocation and new role in mergers and acquisitions demanded fresh knowledge in strategy, finance and governance. It wasn’t a straight line, and that’s the point.
“My career hasn’t been linear,” Tom says. “But Worley’s flexibility has meant I’ve always been able to learn, stretch and adapt – and never feel boxed in.”
Today, Tom is part of a small but high-impact mergers and acquisitions team working across regions to identify opportunities that align with our strategic direction. It’s a role that brings together his engineering mindset and his passion for collaboration – linking people, processes and ideas across the business.
One team driving global progress
Although his team is small, Tom’s work is powered by collaboration. Each acquisition opportunity involves partnerships with leaders across finance, legal, growth, consulting and operations. It’s a living example of our ‘one team’ ethos – breaking down silos to build sustainable value together.
“We might be small in number,” he says, “but every decision we make involves the collective expertise of people across the business, globally.”
His experience supporting major projects shows how partnership drives progress, creating opportunities for people, customers and communities.
