Cookie Settings

Aurélie & Olivier, respectively at Axens since 2014 and 2007.

Aurélie is now Supply Chain Coordinator and Oliver is Principal Package Engineer.

Cookie Settings

Anne-Sophie, at Axens since 2007.

Questions for… Gerardo, at Axens since 2019

What was your background before joining Axens?
I earned a Chemical Engineering degree from the National University of Colombia, at Bogota, a master’s degree from the University of Barcelona and certification as a PMP® Project Management Professional. I worked for 13 years in a Detailed Engineering company before joining Axens. My experience is mostly in refining and gas processes for both grassroots and revamps, from the conceptual/feasibility studies, through Process Design Package development to large EPC projects.

What is your job at Axens?
As a Process Design Team Manager, I am in charge of a team of Process Design Engineers and Project Managers who develop Process Design Packages for Axens conversion and clean fuels projects.

What drives you every day?
Having the feeling that my team and Axens’ teams are fulfilled, making them grow to become better engineers, better people. Helping our clients to meet their needs. In other words, supporting great people to do extraordinary things.

What do you like about working at Axens?
The multicultural environment, the good work-life balance, the team spirit between colleagues, the diverse projects and technology portfolio we have.
 

Questions for… Alexis, at Axens since 2012

What was your background before joining Axens?   
After earning a bachelor’s degree in Processes and Environment, I did an apprenticeship program during my DUT and professional license. I joined Axens in 2012 as a Schematic Drafting Technician, thrilled to start my professional career working for an international company.

What is your job?
In my day-to-day job, I am in charge of realizing different types of plans for designing the units of Axens’ clients for many different processes. For this, I work on several softwares (AutoCad, SmartPlan ou Microstation for example), which I can choose regarding the optimal design advised by my engineer-ing colleagues I work closely with. I am also in close contact with our subcontractors to precisely define our needs and constraints.

What drives you every day?
I love being able to work on many different topics for the plans I am responsible for, being free to choose the right software and manage projects.

What do you like about working at Axens?
I like the fact that Axens is an innovative company with many strong technical activities. I can contact Axens’ experts whenever I need them, which lets me to learn a lot and develop my technical skills. 
 

Questions for… Tulio, at Axens since 2017

What was your background before joining Axens?
After earning a bachelor’s degree in Control and Automation, my past experiences before joining Axens were in the Food and Beverage and Automotive sectors. Thanks to the help and experience of my colleagues, I had a quite fast transition to the energy sector. And now, I’m able to contribute to and participate in Axens growth.

What is your job at Axens?
As an Automation Engineer, myself and my teammates, we develop and manage Automation Solutions, supplied globally. We work through the entire chain of supply, starting from scratch with the system up to the equipment start-up onsite: our scope covers design, project management, development, programming, testing, commissioning and field service.
This range of activities allow us to have a pretty good vision of our constantly changing client needs and apply innovative solutions, to achieve client satisfaction.
The overall work requires me to learn about the various technologies of Axens’portfolio and thus interact with different departments, improving my technical and personal skills.

What drives you every day?
Automation is a broad field for curious people: I have to look into a particular technology and dive deep. Collaboration, both internally and with our partners, is a big part of our business. As for most engineers, problem-solving is our main skill and pleasure; this learning through interaction makes this task even more satisfying.
In addition, at the end of each project, you get to see the impact of something that you have participated in from the very start.

What do you like about working at Axens?
You can quickly get responsibilities to accelerate your learning curve, have contacts with highly demanding and skilled clients, learn from various experts internally in several fields and participate in the development of innovative solutions. Particularly in my case, I have always thought that multicultural environments drive growth. Axens has offered me plenty of multicultural exchanges and technical challenges all along, and it has already been an amazing journey.

Questions for… Pierre, at Axens since 2004

What was your background before joining Axens?
After graduating from a process engineering school, I started my career in the nuclear industry. Then I joined the Axens Group as a Process Design Engineer, working in gas treatment technologies. I was in charge of the design of process units in the field of natural gas treatment. I evolved by taking on responsibilities, reaching the position of Process Leader/Project Manager, and managing teams of Process Engineers.

What is your job?
I head a group composed of managers and experienced engineers. 

• I am responsible for managing the start-up activities and all the technical assistance activities of the units.
• I am responsible for managing the offers and the projects and studies execution.
• As a manager at large, I am responsible for the skills management, maintenance and development of work tools and the organization of my Group.

What drives you every day?
I am motivated by mentoring and coaching my teams, building and leading a team to success, and finding ways to solve problems or overcome challenges. My job forces me to develop new skills that I never would have attempted on my own: coming up with creative ideas to improve things, learning new things every day. I have a great degree of freedom within my job: I never know what I’m going to experience on any given day.

What do you like about working at Axens?
For me, Axens is more than a company, it’s a “tribe”: one never feels alone when facing an issue since there’s a real spirit of solidarity between colleagues and different departments. We work hard, no doubt about it. But Axens truly values people on a personal level, which makes the hardest days just as great.
 

Cookie Settings

Dimitrios, at Axens since 2008.

Cookie Settings

Azin and François-Xavier, respectively at Axens since 2015 and 2017.

“I’m never in a routine, I've held a variety of different positions, sometimes strategic, sometimes technical, and now in Sales. Responding to customers and following the market on the international scene are my primary motivations.”

Emilie, at Axens since 2009.

"Having chosen a career in science, I have an opportunity to tell myself that in ten years’ time I’ll be doing a job that doesn’t exist yet! Passion, the desire to respond to my clients in the best possible way in a highly competitive environment and, above all, pride in seeing my teams grow and develop professionally: this is what drives me on a daily basis. At 38, I have already experienced four jobs in the Axens engineering family: each time it means starting from scratch, even though we have solid foundations that are built up year after year. It means challenging yourself and leaving your comfort zone, but above all it means benefiting from incredible opportunities within the Group.”

Noémie, at Axens since 2011.

Questions for… Varun, at Axens since 2015

What was your background before joining Axens?
I had worked as a Design Engineer & Sales Manager in the refining and petrochemical industry.

What is your job?
As a Business Development Manager, I am responsible for promoting Axens’ renewable technologies for biofuels and biochemical production. I assist clients worldwide in adopting profitable and sustainable solutions that help reduce GHG emissions and contribute to a cleaner and greener future.

What drives you every day?
Every day in the office brings a new challenge, and this motivates me to perform and deliver. Also, my activities involve interacting with customers from different backgrounds, which I like very much.

What do you like about working at Axens?
Axens is a progressive organization that provides rich opportunities to its employees. The knowledge and experience within the organization are appropriate for dealing with the current energy and sustainability challenges faced by the world.
 

Questions for… Florent, at Axens since 2013

What was your background before joining Axens?
My first job after graduation was Process Engineer in an Axens Group position for 3 years before becoming a Proposal Manager, first dealing with studies offer and then revamp/new heater supply offers. 

What is your job?
I build commercial and technical industrial furnaces offers to answer inquiries from clients (EPC companies or end users), within the framework of revamp or grassroot projects. To do so, I lead a proposal team formed by several engineers coming from many disciplines, and I interact with top management to validate the execution plan foreseen for the potential project to come and to validate the budget. I also organize and take part, alongside the sales manager and legal team, in technical and commercial meetings with clients.

What drives you every day?
The target of getting contracts in order to guarantee the workload of the business unit for the months to come. I also love being part of a heterogeneous team and the number of interfaces I have with all the departments I interact with.

What do you like about working at Axens? 
I like working for an international group in which the "French touch" remains present. The integrity rules are in line with my own ethics, and I always find an open ear when I talk about environmental issues.
 

Cookie Settings

Yvon, at Axens since 2014.

Questions for… Phuong Pham, at Axens since 2004

What was your background before joining Axens? 
After earning an engineering diploma in Applied Chemistry, Refining and Petrochemicals from Da Nang Polytechnic University (Viet Nam), I obtained a scholarship to follow the Energy and Process master’s at IFP School. As I am curious with a taste for challenge, I joined Axens after graduating from IFP School. 
 
What is your job?
My job consists of two principal activities: piloting start-up & follow-up activities; and team-leading.
I ensure that all the start-up missions take place in the best conditions for a smooth and safe start-up and most importantly, that a skilled team is mobilized in line with a client’s request. It is a sometimes challenging job, which looks like a game of musical chairs because delays usually happen and may af-fect the availability of the chosen team.
I also provide support and coaching to team members, during a start-up mission or a follow-up activi-ty for their skills training, as well as personal development. Together with my colleagues, I improve on knowledge management and seek to make our job evolve: for example, the COVID-19 crisis has led us to operate differently and to support our customers 100% remotely. Faced with this constraint, we adapted quickly and successfully!

What drives you every day?
Working with clients all over the world is a daily enrichment: coming into contact with different cul-tures, ways of thinking and ways of operating and reaching a common goal together is an exciting chal-lenge!
And also giving the best of myself to my team and to everybody with whom I work, to stimulate them as best I can. As Gandhi said, the sign of a good leader is not how many followers you have, but how many leaders you create. 

What do you like about working at Axens?
Axens offers a friendly working environment and opportunities to work on inspiring topics.
 

Questions for… Mohamed, at Axens since 2015

What was your background before joining Axens?
After graduating from IFP School in 2010, I worked as a Process Engineer in the engineering field for a large chemical company. My last two years were dedicated to the commissioning and start-up of a torrefied pellets production plant in Mississippi, USA. I joined Axens in 2015 as a Technical Services Engineer.

What is your job?
My job consists of ensuring that all the end users of the technology I am responsible for receive the best technical support from Axens. Part of my role is also to drive the continuous improvement of this technology by coordinating internally with the different people involved.

What drives you every day?
Making sure to satisfy clients’ requests and trying to anticipate their potential needs in order to build a strong relationship. Each problem encountered by the licensees is an opportunity to show them how essential it is to stay close to the licensor.

What do you like about working at Axens?
Its international portfolio that provides an opportunity to travel worldwide and come into contact with different cultures and ways of thinking. Working at Axens also means working on our own adaptability.
 

Questions for… Nilson, at Axens since 2019

What was your background before joining Axens?
I hold a BS in Mechanical Engineering, and worked as a Welding Engineer and Fabrication Process Manager for 12 years in a pressure vessels, heaters and boilers fabrication company. Afterwards, I worked as a freelancer for the Axens Group as a Quality Assurance/Quality Control Manager and Site Construction Manager.

What is your job?
Managing and leading the Construction Team, ensuring security on the site of the employees and proper execution of our procedures and standards.

What drives you every day?
Construction is a job of challenges and I want to participate in the most difficult projects in terms of schedule, size, space constraints and technical difficulties.

What do you like about working at Axens?
I like the innovation and I feel proud to work in a company that actively looks for solutions to solve the impact of the oil and gas industry on the environment in the form of CO2 emissions and plastics
 

Questions for… Kimberly, at Axens since 2015

What was your background before joining Axens?
I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering. Before joining Axens, I worked as a Pressure Vessel Design Engineer, more mechanically related. So I was really glad when I got the opportunity to join Axens as a Technical Services Engineer since the position is more closely related to my studies.

What is your job?
My main job is to provide technical services and assistance to Axens licensed technology units and non-Axens licensed units operating with Axens catalysts. I go on site to provide technical assistance for process units start-up and when I am back in the office, I perform unit follow-ups to monitor operating unit performance. Occasionally, I am also involved in providing training for clients. 

What drives you every day? 
The fact that this job has given me so many opportunities to learn and discover new things is really motivating. All the knowledge and experience I have gained has helped me to build up my confidence day after day, and this makes my every day really exciting.

What do you like about working at Axens? 
I like the diversity in the working environment here. Axens, a multinational company, is a friendly, culturally diverse and employee-oriented company. People at Axens are nice; we respect and value each other. Though we are all from different backgrounds and culture, we all work together with the same goal in mind.

Questions for… John, at Axens since 2019

What was your background before joining Axens? 
I have a master's degree in Applied Mathematics. After several internships, I worked for 6 years as a mathematician, in research and innovation, in the Cosmetics sector.

What is your job? 
I am a Data Scientist. Data Science is an interdisciplinary field that uses scientific methods, processes, algorithms and systems to extract knowledge and insights from data. Therefore, my job is to understand the problems of experts that cannot be solved via classical approaches, and use state-of-the-art machine learning and deep learning algorithms in order to help them.

What drives you every day?
What I really love about my job is the diversity of the different problems I am dealing with. I like working on various, challenging projects, whether it’s Industry 4.0 or our clients’ needs.

What do you like about working at Axens?
Never before had I worked in the oil & gas industry. It was quite challenging at first, before I got the hang of it. I like optimizing production chains: the goal is to produce more while consuming less and therefore polluting less. It’s an honor to be part of a team that tries to innovate and be creative about new types of energies.
 

Questions for… Baptiste, at Axens since 2017

What was your background before joining Axens?  
I have a pretty standard chemical engineering academic background. I got my degree in Process Engineering from ENSIC in 2013. After graduating, I wanted to specialize in oil & gas processes so I found an onsite refinery internship with a major, followed by a master’s degree from IFP School in apprenticeship with an engineering company. These two experiences led me to begin my career as a Process Design Engineer with a consulting company. My first assignment was for Axens in the Linear Programming department: I worked on several feasibility studies, refining scheme optimization, crude oil selection, etc.

What is your job? 
As a Project Manager in the Digital Applications group, I am in charge of orchestrating the development of Axens’ key digital solution: Connect’In®. The goal of the platform is to provide both clients and our engineers with a web interface allowing them to follow the process unit Key Performance Indicators in real time. On a daily basis, my job involves listening to all these users, understanding the pain points they are facing, and building specifications for a digital solution that will improve their working conditions. Throughout an iterative and agile process, I am in charge of guiding the web/software development teams that will deliver the end product.

What drives you every day?
The most interesting aspect of my job is definitely the creativity it requires. Our digital portfolio was built from scratch using technologies that we discovered, assembled and reshaped to our liking. Looking back at how we started with the first prototypes, we are now all very proud to call this product our own. 

What do you like about working at Axens?
The fact that the company is still shaped and operates internally like a small-size company makes it really easy to communicate with people from other departments. This is a key aspect of my job, as I often need to discuss with experts in a lot of different domains. It has allowed me to gradually acquire a broader skillset on which I can now rely.
 

Questions for… Filipa, at Axens since 2014

What was your background before joining Axens?  
I’m a Chemical Engineer with a PhD in Industrial, Mineral and Organic Chemistry. Before joining Axens, I held a R&D Project Manager position in the field of Heterogeneous Catalysis in Tokyo, Japan.

What is your job?
As Industrial Digital Transformation Manager, I’m the focal point for all matters related to the Digital Transformation of Axens’ plants worldwide. I bring together the people with the right skills to address the plants’ technical needs and ambitions, making sure that everyone works together towards a common goal and each contribution is recognized.
 
What drives you every day?  
I am passionate about my work. Every day, I aim to be better than the day before, learn new things and help others thrive. Challenges motivate me, and I view potential obstacles as new opportunities. 

What do you like about working at Axens?
The possibility to evolve in a multicultural environment, to pursue new challenges and be a part of a team where people truly care for each other.

“The heart of the digital transformation is to center the organization around the customers and the users of our products, processes and services. The digital transformation collects data generated through use of our products and services, in order to learn continuously about our customers and users. This continuous feedback process allows to constantly reinvent and refresh our offer, our sales and production strategy and our innovation. Data become the basis and the backbone of our company.”

Romain, at Axens since 2001

"The challenge of the digital transformation isn’t just deploying the tools: you also have to make technical and personal development support available to all employees. The objective is to enable them to stay connected, to maintain a watch and to train continuously and autonomously. Thanks to Axens Academy, dynamic and digital learning takes on real meaning."

Joao, at Axens since 2020.

Questions for… Dianne, at Axens since 2001

What was your background before joining Axens? 
Before working at Axens, I gained 5 years' experience as a Production Planner and Customer Service Representative for a paper printing company. I joined Alcan Chemical in 2000 and have been at this same location for 20 years now: first with Alcan chemicals and then Rio Tinto and now Axens Canada.

What is your job?
My job is Production Planner/International Customer Service Representative. I work alongside our Production Manager to ensure that all orders are scheduled and produced according to the clients’ specifications and delivery requirements. I liaise with supply chain teams of our manufacturing sites in North America, France and Saudi Arabia to schedule and supply inventory for intercompany orders. I also receive, enter, and coordinate (with our freight forwarder) the shipping schedule for all international orders at Axens Canada.

What drives you every day? 
I am driven by the challenges I face on a daily basis, of which there are many! I want Axens Canada to be known as a consistent, seamless supplier that provides quality product and service with every order, every time. I am lucky to be surrounded by an excellent and very competent team, which makes my job much easier.

What do you like about working at Axens?
We have great people at Axens, and I like working for a company that is well respected in the industry.

Questions for… Siddarth, at Axens since 2020.

What was your background before joining Axens?
First I was Project Procurement Manager in an engineering company and then Procurement Lead with an engineering design & consulting company. 

What is your job? 
I am in charge of Supply Chain Management for Axens India.

What drives you every day? 
The responsibility of achieving the goal of closing deals/orders for major project items with as much savings as possible for the company, gives me immense and unexplainable satisfaction. Devising strategies and successfully implementing them to ensure actions are most beneficial to the projects and their success.

What do you like about working at Axens? 
As far as purchasing is concerned, there is a system and plan in place which is adhered to. This is the basic fundamental for successful procurement actions.

Questions for… Céline, at Axens since 2001

What was your background before joining Axens?
I did my end-of-study internship for my Chemistry DUT in the analytical control laboratory at the Salindres site. A temporary assignment enabled me to complete the study I had started, then I joined the Group on an open-ended contract a few months later.

What is your job?
I work in the department responsible for the development and industrialization of new catalysts and adsorbents. To put it simply: bringing a new product to market is a multidisciplinary job. Our department is involved in the development phase in the laboratory, on a few dozen grams of product. Then, when the laboratory phase has gone satisfactorily in relation to the objectives set, we move on to the pilot phase, on a few scores of kilos of product, using tools that replicate the standard tools of our production lines. Once all development phases have been completed, we can start the industrial trial on the production lines.

What drives you every day?
There’s no room for routine in my job! Axens develops new products and addresses new markets, and the Chemical Technician is one of the links in this incredible chain. The daily work is made up of successes, failures, emergencies, surprises, questioning, adaptability, frustrations, sharing with other departments, etc... I have also had an opportunity to become acquainted with what is for me the “Holy Grail” of the Chemical Technician: the industrial trial of a solid that took months to develop. I took real pride therein and shared an incredible amount of experience with everyone involved in this trial, especially with the manufacturers.

What advice would you give to someone who would like to aim for a position like yours?
Are you bored with routine? Do you want to take up challenges? Do you like teamwork, but are you also capable of a good deal of autonomy? Are you rigorous? Then this type of job is for you! Working in industry is not limited to production or logistics: the Chemical Technician brings real added value to teams, whether in production, quality control or in the development and industrialization phases. There are opportunities for development within the Group, and with hard work and determination, you will quickly gain expertise.

Questions for… Khawlah, at Axens since 2015

What was your background before joining Axens? 
I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. I had previous experience in a food company as a technician, analyzing food chemicals, water and oil. I wanted to prove myself, so I decided to change my life: Axens was a good opportunity, it was my first experience in oil & gas. 
 
What is your job?  
I joined Axens in 2015, since then I have been in charge of quality at the Group’s production site in Saudi Arabia, at Dammam. I analyze all chemical and physical products concerning catalysts. I keep the equipment ready by checking and improve it.  
 
What drives you every day?   
My job is very challenging. It’s important to do the right thing at the best moment and quickly. It’s challenging myself, my personal thinking. I grow every day. 
 
What do you like about working at Axens? 
I like my working environment in Axens. I appreciate my colleagues in Saudi Arabia, in the US, in France. I like everything, we share the same interests and we advance in the same direction. 

Questions for… Carole, at Axens since 2011
 
What was your background before joining Axens?
After a specialization in quality and purchasing, I was hired by IFPEN in 1999. When I joined Axens in 2011, my first job was in the procurement team. I had an opportunity to evolve towards a position of buyer and to work for laboratory equipment and for pilot units categories.

What is your job? 
I am Lead Buyer for Engineering Projects within the Group. This means that as our commercial teams start to work on a new proposal, I am the main contact between the proposal manager and the category manager of the Business Partners’ teams. I am also Category Manager for cast pieces, internals and filters: I am in charge of the purchasing strategy and relations with suppliers. In addition, I work with the equipment team to develop new products and activities with our panel of suppliers or by certifying new suppliers.

What drives you every day? 
Exchanges with internal and suppliers' teams, finding solutions when we have problems during a project.

What do you like about working at Axens?
Axens gives me an opportunity to work with international suppliers and on challenging projects.
 

Questions for David, at Axens since 2018

What was your background before joining Axens?  
I completed a QHSE Risk Management master’s degree prior to spending 2-3 years in Australia, where I worked in civil construction HSE Management. After returning to France, I earned a specialized master’s degree in Safety Engineering. I had several experiences in different companies as Process Safety Engineer, HSE Advisor, Risk Quantification Engineer and Safety Engineer. Thanks to the expertise acquired in Occupational HSE and the safety design/process, I joined Axens as Global Customer Sites HSE Leader.

What is your job? 
The main part of my work is to evaluate risk levels concerning safety at customers’ sites and sanitary and security matters. With the HSE team, we also define actions to deal with any situation that Axens employees could encounter during their mission. Of course, we make sure to integrate new regulations into our work process so as to improve our HSE system with a view to ensuring the highest standards of safety. 

What drives you every day?  
Continuously improving the standards situation and adapting my knowledge to new situations are key points of my position. The willingness to plan and organize in advance reactions to unexpected context is a key motivating factor. The satisfaction of our teams at customers’ sites is a real source of satisfaction for me.

What do you like about working at Axens?
One simple thing that I enjoy about my position is that no two days are alike! Working with technical teams aiming at excellency through all aspects of their missions and working in a multicultural environment are motivating factors. Having an opportunity to join our teams at customers’ sites to solve complex situations with the help of our clients from all over the world is a source of professional and personal fulfilment.

Questions for… Mhand, at Axens since 2018

What was your background before joining Axens ?  
Before joining Axens, I spent more than 17 years in different supply chain segments, mainly in the automotive industry. I held several positions through all supply chain processes, from logistic engineer to leading warehouse operations and from single plant logistics manager to leading multi-plant supply chain operations for worldwide organizations.

What is your job? 
My job is to lead the Catalysts and Adsorbents Business Unit Supply Chain department towards achieving two main business challenges: 
- Ensuring full satisfaction of our customers by delivering the right product at the right time,
- Implementing a world-class organization by pursuing a high level of excellence in our supply chain processes.
I manage different activities such as production planning, precious metal, supplier and trading management as well as continuous improvement processes for the Supply Chain department. 

What drives you every day? 
Supporting our employees and helping them enhance their supply chain skills as well as empowering them are what motivates me. This also pushes me to always pursue excellence in my daily job. I do believe that our duty as business leader is to promote diversity, equal opportunities for everyone, and encourage trust and openness within our organization.

What do you like about working at Axens?
Axens offers a range of exciting supply chain challenges that few company do, such as implementing the most advanced warehouse in our industry, being part of an existing digitalization plan and also taking up the most ambitious environmental challenge in our field of activity: there are many reasons that make working at Axens exciting on a daily basis. The enthusiasm of the teams and their sense of pride are also strong markers of our company.

“I appreciate being able to bring my support and knowledge to various teams and at all levels of the company. I am proud to work for a company that is working for the future.”
 

Jessica, at Axens since 2010.