Barlow fuels her passion at refinery

A BLUFF woman thriving in a male-dominated field of the petroleum sector at Sapref Refinery encourages young women to consider science and engineering as a career path.

Thirty two-year-old Tiara Barlow, an area specialist at Sapref, began her career in 2004 when she took a leap of faith and applied for a learnership.

 
She was permanently employed in November 2007 in central zone as a half senior process technician. “Since then I have moved up the ranks and am now an area specialist which means I am qualified in all areas in my zone and a panel and a clearance issuer. I am currently on shift, running the plant and the panel on the fluid catalytic cracker unit (FCCU). Central zone works with mainly conversion processes and we make the main components for mogas or petrol. I am proud to be working for the largest refinery in Southern Africa and to be able to say that I play an important role in producing the petrol that you find at any Shell or BP garage,” said Barlow.

Being in the petroleum field has been a learning experience for Barlow and through gaining knowledge of the job, she gained a new passion for fuel. “I realised the drive for the job was the excitement of understanding where and how the products are made and friendships you make and the family you become when you work as a team,” she added.

With it being a male-dominated field, this encouraged the Bluff woman to work harder and prove gender is not a disability. With determination and perseverance, she has made her mark and gained respect among her colleagues. “It shows strong character. I speak up and am not afraid to ask for help. It’s this kind of attitude I think that make my colleagues respect me.

She urges young woman to take a chance like she did and apply for the learnerships, even in fields that are not typically for women. “It is challenging, I know. But you have to work really hard to reap the rewards. If you are hardworking, keen on learning new things, then this job is a breeze.

It’s different, it’s exciting and most important, it’s insightful. I entered Sapref via the learnership programme and I took every opportunity to learn from my colleagues, mentors and leaders and this helped me to progress in my career.

Sapref offers great career progression opportunities but it is up to each individual to grab these opportunities by working hard, staying committed and being disciplined. No opportunity is a wasted one, grab every opportunity as a stepping stone to further progression,” she said. She urges youngsters to take every negative comment and doubt and treat it as a challenge. “It’s part of life. Always strive to do better and develop. By growing you face those challenges head on, you take that negativity and turn it into your strength,” she advises.

The driving force and inspiration that kept her going throughout the years is her mother. “She inspires greatness, has a caring heart and is the most supportive person I know. She has taught me to never give up, never be afraid of failure and to always be prepared to try again. I love her, admire her and always pray to be just like her with my family,” she said.