Dimitra Vlachou
Making a career change
In the summer of 2011, Dimitra Vlachou (MSc Metals and Energy Finance 2012) decided to submit her resignation to Heineken (Athens) to enrol on my MSc at Imperial. In doing so, she made a total industry and career change from fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) to oil and gas and has never regretted it.
She currently works as a Petroleum Economist for Wood Mackenzie, a global energy, metals and mining research and consultancy group.
“The MSc field trip to South Africa was one of my fondest Imperial memories.
"Visiting a different mine every day (I have gone down in underground mines and visited diamond mines), lodging at places of a wide variety of luxury levels (one day I had a jacuzzi in my room and the next my shower was a pipe ending in a pierced metallic bucket) and having a night safari with my classmates during the weekend was an experience that was hard to beat.”
My Imperial experience
I arrived for the first time in London one day before my MSc was officially starting. I lived the full Imperial experience, residing at Clayponds Village, Imperial's postgrads hall at South Ealing [no longer available].
Studying at Imperial was very demanding, which made me capable of effectively handling work pressures and made me unafraid of taking on new challenges."
My first day in a class full of international students was overwhelming. We were just two girls graduating in a class of 25 students in my year – not that it was ever an issue.
I spent time between petroleum engineering and mineral deposits classes at the Royal School of Mines and derivatives and portfolio management lectures at the Imperial College Business School.
Combining these disciplines and shifting mentally from one to the other was academically challenging and kept me on my toes through the whole year. But I learnt a lot!
From getting an overview of all the aspects of the oil and gas industry and understanding how the financial instruments are used in real world to cooperating with people of totally different cultures and idiosyncrasies, studying at Imperial was a constant exposure to something new.
The MSc field trip to South Africa was one of my fondest Imperial memories.
Visiting a different mine every day (I have gone down in underground mines and visited diamond mines), lodging at places of a wide variety of luxury levels (one day I had a jacuzzi in my room and the next my shower was a pipe ending in a pierced metallic bucket) and having a night safari with my classmates during the weekend was an experience that was hard to beat.
My career so far
Imperial and more specifically the Royal School of Mines, have an excellent reputation in the oil and gas sector. I used this card to launch my first job in the competitive London market.
On leaving the College, I gained oil industry experience in due diligence and M&As as well as in corporate and economic modelling.
I currently work as a Petroleum Economist for Wood Mackenzie, a global energy, metals and mining research and consultancy group.
I focus on economic and fiscal modelling of international oil and gas assets. In other words, I evaluate oil and gas projects to help oil companies in their investment decisions. I also assist governments to analyse and design their petroleum fiscal systems and oil companies to negotiate beneficial fiscal terms in the countries of their operations.
I am in the SPE Young Professionals committee in London, organising industry focused events and promoting networking between young professionals in the oil and gas sector.
I would like to continue building my experience in the sector so I can become an independent consultant for governments and strategy departments of oil companies.
Advice to future Imperial students
Establish a network while at the College – many of your classmates will be highly accomplished individuals worth knowing in the future.
When you get into the business world be willing to offer your help to your network without expecting direct reciprocation. It will be paid back to you when it’s most needed.