Committees
The Society of Petroleum Engineers Aberdeen Section
Student Development Committee
The Student Development Committee (SDC) engages with all university student activities at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and it is our mission to encourage all these students to pursue and develop a successful career in the energy sector.
SDC is formed by industry members, officers of the SPE Student Chapters and academic sponsors from the following four universities registered under SPE Aberdeen Section;
- University of Aberdeen www.abdn.ac.uk
- Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen www.rgu.ac.uk
- Herriot Watt University, Edinburgh www.hw.ac.uk
- University of Dundee www.dundee.ac.uk
Our core values and activities include:
- To collect, disseminate, and exchange technical knowledge
- To provide opportunities for students to enhance their competence
- Encourage and aid the formation of SPE Student Chapters and to further liaise with industry to provide support to the universities and their Chapter.
- SPE Aberdeen Section has long encouraged high standards of academic achievement among petroleum engineers and we annually provide bursaries to students studying petroleum engineering-related subjects.
- We also support attendance at technical events, assist students obtain internships, organise company tours and technical speakers.
Our 2025 Student Bursary Award winners have just been announced! Keep an eye on our social media channels for the announcement that SPE Aberdeen Section will be inviting applications for their student bursary awards that will be awarded early in 2026.
If you are a member of one of our four student chapter universities: Aberdeen, RGU, Heriot Watt and Dundee, then you are eligible to apply.
For all enquires email aberdeen.admin@spe-uk.org
Committee Members
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Graham Skinner
Chair - Student Development
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Graham Skinner
Chair - Student Development
Graham Skinner is Health & Safety Manager, for Offshore Energies UK and is responsible for the management of health and safety issues while fostering collaboration between members to enhance offshore safety in the UK. This role also includes aviation safety, local resilience, and security matters. Graham is a Chartered Engineer and member of the Energy Institute.
Graham’s start in the energy industry came with a drilling contractor and led to roles in the Middle East and Africa on land rigs and mobile offshore drilling units. During this time, he took on varied roles from drilling operations management to safety and risk management. Moving in 2013 to the UK Health and Safety Executive he regulated the safety of offshore well engineering and operations within the UK as a Specialist Inspector during which time he investigated high potential incidents, inspected well designs and well integrity management systems. Graham joined OEUK in February 2023 and has been busy developing strategies for emerging industry issues such as Process Safety Leadership and Maintenance Backlog reduction.
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Grace Uyanwanne
Vice Chair - Student Development Committee
Grace Uyanwanne is a recent MSc Drilling and Well Engineering graduate from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. She has gained experience through roles with ABL Group and Halliburton, where she supported asset integrity projects, wireline operations, pipeline services, and carbon capture studies. Grace has also led as President of the SPE Aberdeen RGU Student Chapter.
In her current roles with SPE, she supports early-career engagement as Vice-Chair of the Student Development Committee and is leading the Early Careers Professionals session at the CO₂ Storage Conference. Passionate about energy transition and carbon storage, she is building a career at the intersection of engineering, integrity management, and sustainable energy solutions.
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Grace Uyanwanne
Vice Chair - Student Development Committee
Close
Graham Skinner
Chair - Student Development
Graham Skinner is Health & Safety Manager, for Offshore Energies UK and is responsible for the management of health and safety issues while fostering collaboration between members to enhance offshore safety in the UK. This role also includes aviation safety, local resilience, and security matters. Graham is a Chartered Engineer and member of the Energy Institute.
Graham’s start in the energy industry came with a drilling contractor and led to roles in the Middle East and Africa on land rigs and mobile offshore drilling units. During this time, he took on varied roles from drilling operations management to safety and risk management. Moving in 2013 to the UK Health and Safety Executive he regulated the safety of offshore well engineering and operations within the UK as a Specialist Inspector during which time he investigated high potential incidents, inspected well designs and well integrity management systems. Graham joined OEUK in February 2023 and has been busy developing strategies for emerging industry issues such as Process Safety Leadership and Maintenance Backlog reduction.
Close
Grace Uyanwanne
Vice Chair - Student Development Committee
Grace Uyanwanne is a recent MSc Drilling and Well Engineering graduate from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. She has gained experience through roles with ABL Group and Halliburton, where she supported asset integrity projects, wireline operations, pipeline services, and carbon capture studies. Grace has also led as President of the SPE Aberdeen RGU Student Chapter.
In her current roles with SPE, she supports early-career engagement as Vice-Chair of the Student Development Committee and is leading the Early Careers Professionals session at the CO₂ Storage Conference. Passionate about energy transition and carbon storage, she is building a career at the intersection of engineering, integrity management, and sustainable energy solutions.
