AFBE-UK advisory board honour for Denis Pinto

An inspirational figure in the oil and gas industry has been appointed to the advisory board of social enterprise AFBE-UK.

AFBE-UK is a not-for-profit organisation that seeks to inspire all young people, particularly those from a black and minority ethnic background, to consider a career in engineering.

Denis, managing director at Caledonian Flow Systems, is a leading flow measurement and hydrocarbon allocations expert. He has supported the AFBE-UK’s Scottish chapter since 2012.

In addition, he was chairman of the Aberdeen, Highlands and Islands Branch of the Energy Institute. He developed the Energy Institute’s Young Professional Network and is currently helping young members in the organisation’s UK and international branches. He is also a member of Robert Gordon University Industry Board for the School of Engineering where he has been involved with helping to develop industry relevant courses.

Dr Ollie Folayan, chairman of Aberdeen-based AFBE-UK Scotland, said: “Denis has consistently supported and advised our programmes in the past few years.

“Few people in the energy industry possess the breadth and depth of business experience and technical know-how that Denis can bring to bear in the areas of organisational development, STEM promotion, event planning and career building. Denis is true veteran of the industry and is respected nationally and beyond. It therefore gives us great pleasure to welcome Denis to the AFBE-UK advisory board. “

Denis said: “I’m delighted to receive this honour. The work AFBE-UK does is truly inspiring and I know that many young people are grateful for the time and advice given to them at the organisation’s events. I’m flattered to be invited to join the advisory board and look forward to using my industry experiences to help AFBE-UK continue its good work.”

As a member of the advisory board Denis joins a distinguished team. They are James Smith CBE, former chairman of the Carbon Trust; Chi Onwurah, MP for Newcastle Central and shadow minister for industrial strategy, innovation and science; Patrick Clarke OBE, director of network operations, UK Power Networks; Professor David Mba, vice-chancellor and dean of computing, engineering and media at De Montfort University; Dr Safia Barikzai, associate professor at London South Bank University; Sandra Kerr OBE, race equality director at Business in the Community and Myrtle Dawes, transformation director, planning and dispatch at Centrica.

The advisory board meets with the AFBE-UK’s executive board twice a year to provide guidance and support. AFBE-UK is based in London.

AFBE-UK Scotland has three engagement programmes: its schools programme, NextGen, in which industry professionals give up their time to highlight engineering as a career choice to pupils; Transition, where again industry professionals give up their time to pass on career advice to students and recent graduates and Real Projects, which gives graduates and young engineers the opportunity to engage with seasoned industry veterans, usually with UK and international project expertise.

AFBE-UK Scotland has engaged with more than 2,000 young people in Aberdeen since being launched in the city in 2011. The organisation held its first event outwith the city earlier this month when Transition was staged at Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt University.

For more information on AFBE-UK, http://www.afbescotland.org/