Graduate Message:

Brief description of your day-to-day job at INEOS:
- analysis/optimisation/replacement of rotating equipment concerning energy savings & cost of maintenance
- project lead engineer for rotating equipment: INEOS new cumene asset in Marl
- development of strategies, standards, and KPIs for RE (e.g. maintenance strategy, mechanical seals, MTBF)
- root cause analysis and development of a repair strategies
- development and optimisation of the technical documentation for RE

Your interests, hobbies (sport and otherwise!), special skills...
- Running
- Diving
- Basketball

What are you most looking forward to about the Namibia trip?
I’m looking forward to outgrow my personal limits together with my colleagues and to get unique impressions of the nature and the environment in Namibia.

What are you most apprehensive about?
I’m most apprehensive about the different climatic conditions and their impact on my performance.

What do you hope to achieve from the challenge?
Through the challenge I want to prove to myself that you can achieve a lot with effort and work. Even things that at first seem to be impossible.

Graduate Message:

Brief description of your day-to-day job at INEOS:
I am in the Kinneil asset support team, based in Grangemouth in Scotland, and I am the Process Engineer responsible for the safe, efficient and continued operation of Gas Sweetening/Drying/Export and Instrument Air. I troubleshoot day-to-day issues, and improve ongoing performance and efficiency of the asset.

Your interests, hobbies (sport and otherwise!), special skills...
I love the outdoors, nothing better to clear your head than climbing a Munro! I also love visiting new places, and learning about different people, cultures and tasting new foods!

What are you most looking forward to about the Namibia trip?
Challenging myself, finding new limits and succeeding along with other like-minded people.

What are you most apprehensive about?
The heat – especially after training through a Scottish winter!

What do you hope to achieve from the challenge?
A rekindled love for running, and being a part of a fantastic network of people who would be keen to do more challenges like this in the future 

Graduate Message:

Brief description of your day-to-day job at INEOS:
As part of the TAR team I plan the I/E scope for upcoming outages. This includes planning all statutory work as well as emergent work when each event becomes closer. During the events the role involves all I/E scope and ensuring that all deadlines are met.

Your interests, hobbies (sport and otherwise!), special skills...
I used to enjoy cycling but stopped this a few years ago. I hope it is easy to pick this back up again.

What are you most looking forward to about the Namibia trip?
I am looking forward to the atmosphere and ensuring that everyone gets the challenge done.

What are you most apprehensive about?
The temperature, it is difficult enough running on a warm day in Scotland.

What do you hope to achieve from the challenge?
I hope to treat Namibia like a reward from all the hard training that I will be putting in. The main aim before this is to be able to say I have completed a marathon.

Graduate Message:

Brief description of your day-to-day job at INEOS:
Manage procurement of raw material feeds across the Nitriles sites

Your interests, hobbies (sport and otherwise!), special skills...
Run, Cycle, Hike, Surfing when I can
What are you most looking forward to about the Namibia trip?

The challenge seems great, I’d like to see the cave paintings on the Brandberg

What are you most apprehensive about?
Staying injury free in the build up

What do you hope to achieve from the challenge?
Get to the end of it

Graduate Message:

Brief description of your day-to-day job at INEOS:
I work in the Polymers technical support team working on a variety of different tasks such as projects, day-to-day monitoring, process safety, plant improvements etc.

Your interests, hobbies (sport and otherwise!), special skills...
I enjoy Crossfit, running and climbing Munros. During the summer, I compete at tug of war with my local young farmers club, at both local and national level.

What are you most looking forward to about the Namibia trip?
I am looking forward to getting up in the morning in the middle of the desert and having nothing else to focus on that day apart from getting myself and the rest of the team to the finish line. I am looking forward to pushing my body to its limit, and seeing how training has improved my fitness levels.

What are you most apprehensive about?
The heat! As a born and bred Scottish girl, the heat is not something I am used to, so adapting to the temperature will be one of the most challenging aspects for me.

What do you hope to achieve from the challenge?
I am a very competitive person so I am looking forward to putting this aside and working as a team to get to the finish line. I hope to gain more confidence in myself that I can and will be able to finish the challenge.

Graduate Message:

Brief description of your day-to-day job at INEOS:
My day to day job at INEOS involves maintaining the process control systems applications on site in order to ensure safe, reliable and optimal plant operation. This often involves making modifications to control systems configurations to solve arising process issues or business needs. I am also responsible for control systems design and delivery on a number projects on site.

Your interests, hobbies (sport and otherwise!), special skills...
I enjoy spending time with close friends and family (having a laugh) and eating together. I love listening to Gospel music (various genres dependent on my mood but usually hip-hop contemporary with a great dance beat) and watching movies.

What are you most looking forward to about the Namibia trip?
I’m looking forward to visiting Namibia, seeing wonderful sites, getting to know the teammates better and most of all being strong enough to complete the challenge.

What are you most apprehensive about?
I’m most apprehensive about doing these extreme sporting events back to back daily without a proper recovery.
What do you hope to achieve from the challenge?
I hope to attain a high level of sustainable fitness and the thrill of achieving a massive challenge.

Anything else you'd like to share?
I’m really grateful for the opportunity to do this!

Graduate Message:

Brief description of your day-to-day job at INEOS:
Managing a portfolio of hauliers contracts, managing suppliers and negotiating prices and contract changes; working on implementing a change in culture with the Inovyn Innovation team

Your interests, hobbies (sport and otherwise!), special skills...
Swim training, free-diving, travelling whenever I have time, music festivals

What are you most looking forward to about the Namibia trip?
Visiting and exploring a new country and enjoying its landscape and nature in a unique and special way; the team spirit and sharing the experience with fellow graduates; to achieve what sounds very crazy at first thought

What are you most apprehensive about?
Running and cycling in the heat after training for it in the very different climate of Northern England and doing all of that on consecutive days

What do you hope to achieve from the challenge?
Having a unique once in a lifetime mind-changing experience that I cannot get anywhere else; pushing myself to overcome personal limits and realising they were not really limits and having that sense of achievement at the end of the challenge

Graduate Message:

Brief description of your day-to-day job at INEOS:
Follow up daily operations of the PP plant in Lillo, Antwerp. I am also responsible for the training program for the operators.

Your interests, hobbies (sport and otherwise!), special skills...
Football, cycling, running, swimming, skiing, …

What are you most looking forward to about the Namibia trip?
Running my first marathon, being sporty in an exceptional landscape

What are you most apprehensive about?
Body injuries

What do you hope to achieve from the challenge?
Getting better physical performances. I hope I can challenge myself to do even more sporting challenges afterwards.

Anything else you'd like to share?
I want to thank INEOS that I may take part of this amazing, once in a lifetime opportunity.

Graduate Message:

Brief description of your day-to-day job at INEOS:
In my job I am responsible for the gas turbine and steam turbine in the Cologne CoGen Project.

Your interests, hobbies (sport and otherwise!), special skills...
When I am not at work I like to go rock climbing, swimming and paragliding and of course now running and cycling have become part of my frequent free time activities as well. In my holidays I like to travel to see other countries and get to know people from all over the world.

What are you most looking forward to about the Namibia trip?
The challenge seems to be the hardest thing I have ever committed to do. Also I have not been to Namibia or even to the African continent yet, so it is going to be a lot of new experiences for me – if not of the kind you make once in a lifetime.
What are you most apprehensive about?
Getting injured while training and having to cope with the heat of the desert

What do you hope to achieve from the challenge?
Being given the chance to participate in this challenge together with the rest of the graduates team is a great opportunity to get to know each other away from the working environment and to strengthen body and mind for future challenges. Also it is a very good driver to get fit and look after yourself and the others in the team.

Anything else you'd like to share?
Big thanks to INEOS for giving us the chance to participate!

Graduate Message:

Brief description of your day-to-day job at INEOS:
Together with my colleagues I'm responsible for the computer network, telephone system, radio system, cameras, etc at the INEOS Oxide site in Antwerp. In addition to the daily work and interventions I participate in Telecom projects at the Oxide sites in Antwerp, Plaquemine and Hull.

Your interests, hobbies (sport and otherwise!), special skills...
Baseball, cycling, reading books, music, travelling..

What are you most looking forward to about the Namibia trip?
The overall experience, the beautiful nature and the sense of achievement afterwards.

What are you most apprehensive about?
Injuries during preparation and the heat in Namibia.

What do you hope to achieve from the challenge?
I hope to increase my overall health and to complete the challenge without any injuries.

Graduate Message:

Brief description of your day-to-day job at INEOS:
Weekly site economics – marginal cost of production analysis, ethane break-even, market summary, cracker economics
Production planning – feed stock appraisal/optimisation and availability setting
Economic evaluation of plant/asset planned and unplanned events/issues

Your interests, hobbies (sport and otherwise!), special skills...
Rugby
Weightlifting
Scuba diving
DIY / property renovation

What are you most looking forward to about the Namibia trip?
Challenging myself
Beers on top of the Brandberg

What are you most apprehensive about?
The heat (and sunburn!)

What do you hope to achieve from the challenge?
Completing something that I’d never thought I’d do

Graduate Message:

Brief description of your day-to-day job at INEOS:
As a production engineer for Alkox, I’m the final responsible for everything that concerns my unit. I do the follow-up of daily production, starting from creation a production plan and checking raw material availability, up to the loading of finished product for delivery to the end costumer. For this is co-operate with various other disciplines within the company. Besides the daily production, I also elaborate various modifications and projects to improve my unit in terms of safety, asset care, reliability, etc. I also take part in various workgroups, such as the site-certification of ISO50001.

Your interests, hobbies (sport and otherwise!), special skills...
Having fun on two wheels (i.e. on my motorcycle, road bike and mountain bike) together with friends, as well as travelling around the world with my wife to experience different cultures and see nature’s most beautiful creations. On these trips, I prefer hiking and exploring over lazy days by the pool.

What are you most looking forward to about the Namibia trip?
Being able to take part in this crazy once-in-a-lifetime experience, as well as to experience for myself all the amazing stories the graduates from previous years have told me. I’m also looking forward to see how far I can push my own limits (both physically and mentally).

What are you most apprehensive about?
Getting an injury that would prevent me from participating or finishing the event. Especially since I have a long history of knee & leg injuries and physiotherapy visits.
The big difference in climate between Belgium and Namibia is also something to keep in mind, since it is not something you can really prepare for.

What do you hope to achieve from the challenge?
Being able to complete the IN-NAM challenge (one that many people would deem impossible) and having the memories of an amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience to look back on. Increasing my physical condition (and mind set ), and hopefully sustain it for years to come.

Anything else you'd like to share?
I hope to prove to myself (and others) that with dedication and proper preparation, nothing in life is impossible.
 

Graduate Message:

Brief description of your day-to-day job at INEOS:
- Coördination maintenance of a chemical unit.
- Improvement of maintenance
- Coördination of shutdowns of a chemical unit
- Execution of small projects.

Your interests, hobbies (sport and otherwise!), special skills...
- Badminton
- Running
- Cyclism
- Snowboard
- Hiking

What are you most looking forward to about the Namibia trip?
The experience, the nature, reaching goals together with the group

What are you most apprehensive about?
The endeavours in the consecutive days and the impact of it both physically and mentally

What do you hope to achieve from the challenge?
An unforgettable experience

Graduate Message:

Brief description of your day-to-day job at INEOS:
Part of the Technical Team on the Ethanol plant. Provide process and technical support to the asset engineers; act as nominated engineer for both short and long term projects; and oversee, update and control local documentation (P&IDs / line lists etc.). Also assist with troubleshooting asset problems and undertaking process safety related reviews and projects.

Your interests, hobbies (sport and otherwise!), special skills...
Hobbies: Football (watching and playing), Scouting and keeping fit (running, hiking, cycling etc.)
Interests: I enjoy being outdoors and travelling. Also like listening to Country music.
Special skill: I can play the bagpipes.

What are you most looking forward to about the Namibia trip?
The once in a lifetime challenge; sharing the experience with likeminded people; experiencing the Namibian desert first hand.

What are you most apprehensive about?
The heat and how to prepare for it. The mental strength and barriers that come alongside the physical challenge. Also, the continuous endurance exercise with little rest in-between.

What do you hope to achieve from the challenge?
I hope to complete the challenge, push myself out of my comfort zone and create unique memories.

Graduate Message:

Brief description of your day-to-day job at INEOS:
I am the interface between the O&P North business and the team tasked with the delivery of Project ONE – the largest investment ever made by INEOS. My job is to ensure alignment in various commercially related topics and decisions as well as leading a number of business development opportunities. There’s plenty to do, never a dull moment!

Your interests, hobbies (sport and otherwise!), special skills...
When I was younger, I played handball at a half decent level; trialling for the Great Britain Olympic team and captaining Scotland. While I longer compete, I try to keep myself in half decent nick by exercising regularly, be it the odd run, spin or weights session. I love getting outdoors, so hiking and hillwalking are always a contender for weekend plans. I’m also a keen golfer although my ability certainly doesn’t reflect my enthusiasm!

What are you most looking forward to about the Namibia trip?
There’s a few things I’m really looking forward to, standing atop the Brandberg will definitely be a highlight alongside that sense of accomplishment as I hopefully cross the finish line on the final day. But I’m also looking forward to getting to know some of the grads in my year a little better.

What are you most apprehensive about?
I’m confident that I can put in the hard graft and maintain a regimented training programme to ensure I’m in good condition for Namibia. What I am apprehensive about is the stuff I can’t control like injuries and cramp, especially in the desert heat. To put in hundreds of hours of training only to fall foul to cramp or injury is a real worry so I’ll be managing this as best I can with my fingers crossed.

What do you hope to achieve from the challenge?
To do all that I can to make sure that both I and the full cohort of grads make it over the line on the final day together.

Anything else you'd like to share?
Big thanks to INEOS for this once in a lifetime opportunity!

Graduate Message:

Brief description of your day-to-day job at INEOS:
Project Engineer supporting heater reconfiguration projects (environmental burner upgrades to reduce NOx emissions). Principal project contact for responding to technical queries and engaging with site Integrity Team and Technical Authorities for deviations / clarifications. Scheduled rotation to Asset Care Team (Oct 2019) where responsibilities will involve maintenance of refinery tankage and off-site pipelines.

Your interests, hobbies (sport and otherwise!), special skills...
I enjoy playing squash, cycling and reading.

What are you most looking forward to about the Namibia trip?
The opportunity to work towards a challenging physical target in an untouched African landscape.

What are you most apprehensive about?
The physical endurance required to cover the distance in the harsh desert climate. Having never run a 5k until July 2019, I’m concerned whether I can build up to the fitness level required to complete the challenge in time.

What do you hope to achieve from the challenge?
Motivation to maintain regular running and a better appreciation of my physical limits.

Graduate Message:

Brief description of your day-to-day job at INEOS:
Provide engineering support to both Olefins units at CBW, specifically focusing on the production of butadiene, butenes, benzene and gasoline, as well as the operation of the steam, flare and cooling water systems. This includes daily troubleshooting as well as longer-term projects aimed at maintaining process safety and maximizing production.

Your interests, hobbies (sport and otherwise!), special skills...
I love spending time outdoors running and biking, as well as playing tennis. I am a big sports fan and enjoy watching American football, hockey and baseball. I also love to cook and try new foods.

What are you most looking forward to about the Namibia trip?
Pushing myself physically and appreciating a part of the world I have never experienced before

What are you most apprehensive about?
The unknown – potential injuries, challenges I am unaware of, etc.

What do you hope to achieve from the challenge?
I hope to explore new limits of what I am capable of, as well as develop friendships with fellow INEOS employees all over the world.

Graduate Message:

Brief description of your day-to-day job at INEOS:
Working on the process design of a new Propane Dehydrogenation (PDH) plant that will be built in Antwerp.

Your interests, hobbies (sport and otherwise!), special skills...
Running, MTB (enduro), skiing and football- also following one of the most hopeless clubs in Europe, the great 1. FC Köln.

What are you most looking forward to about the Namibia trip?
It should be good fun to push through the daily struggles in the desert heat together as a group.

What are you most apprehensive about?
Staying injury free- and I do feel slightly more comfortable in climate conditions depicted in above picture.

What do you hope to achieve from the challenge?
Test my physical and mental boundaries.

Graduate Message:

Brief description of your day-to-day job at INEOS:
I´m part of the operations team and responsible for the whole day-to-day work which is necessary to run our crackers safely and reliably, e.g. supervision and solving of production issues, initialising necessary maintenance. In middle and long term I´m involved in planning and implementation of turn arounds and projects.

Your interests, hobbies (sport and otherwise!), special skills...
I used to play football since I´m six years old but quit last year to start with triathlon just to try something new. In general I really enjoy doing different activities and sports like snowboarding, surfing, cycling tours etc.

What are you most looking forward to about the Namibia trip?
I think the trip will be an unique adventure and I´m happy to do it with a nice team! I´m looking forward to do running und cycling in a completely new environment.

What are you most apprehensive about?
My calves… and other possible injuries.

What do you hope to achieve from the challenge?
Achieving a fitness level that I`m able to enjoy the whole Namibia trip!

Graduate Message:

Brief description of your day-to-day job at INEOS:
I work as the unit controls engineer for the C4s and Utilities units. My day is spent commissioning projects and optimizing control schemes.

Your interests, hobbies (sport and otherwise!), special skills...
I enjoy playing tennis, volleyball, and cooking.

What are you most looking forward to about the Namibia trip?
Getting to experience another country in a way that I’d never be able to as a tourist.

What are you most apprehensive about?
Getting injuries

What do you hope to achieve from the challenge?
Higher levels of fitness and stronger will