Kathryn (“Kat”) Masterson is an experienced geoscientist with over a decade of expertise in exploration and development geology, who returned to the energy sector in 2025 after taking a 10-year career break to raise a family. Her technical background spans reservoir characterisation, geomodelling and asset evaluation across the UKCS and Norwegian North Sea. Kat returned to the industry in the role of Technical Data Engineer and has become a valuable member of THREE60 Energy’s well engineering team, supporting multi-well platform and subsea decommissioning projects. Since joining, Kat has also been able to apply her legacy capabilities in geoscience to support the THREE60 Subsurface group, providing an important link between the wells and subsurface teams during well P&A planning.
Olayinka Atomeji
After a career break and a transition across sectors and disciplines, returning to industry through the STEM Returners programme with EDF Nuclear has been a defining chapter in my professional journey. My career spans over a decade across regulated environments, beginning in sales and marketing roles before progressing into business analysis and change delivery. This varied background provided a strong foundation of stakeholder engagement, commercial awareness, and problem-solving skills, which I have successfully transferred into the nuclear and energy sector. Over the past ten months, I have embedded quickly within a complex, safety-critical environment at EDF Energy - Hinkley Point C, contributing to change and transformation initiatives that support operational resilience, regulatory compliance, and business continuity. I have applied my experience in stakeholder engagement, process improvement, and change impact assessment to support teams in adopting new ways of working, while developing a strong understanding of nuclear-specific governance, assurance, and regulatory requirements. The transition required adaptability, resilience, and a clear commitment to continuous learning. Through targeted upskilling, mentoring, and hands-on delivery, I have demonstrated how returners and career transferers can add value rapidly when supported by inclusive programmes. My contribution has helped bridge gaps between business and technical teams, improve clarity around change impacts, and support effective decision-making within a highly regulated setting. This award entry reflects my return-to-work journey and demonstrates how inclusive returner programmes unlock experienced talent, enabling transferable skills to strengthen the offshore and energy industry’s future.
Tuoyo Shackleton is a remarkable engineer and an inspiring role model who has navigated the challenges of a predominantly male-dominated industry with resilience and creativity. After graduating in 2009, she built her career at prestigious companies like Panasonic and GE, but faced significant hurdles, including the impact of motherhood and stringent workplace expectations. After a career break during which she discovered her passion for baking culminating in an award for her delicious cake. This inspire Tuoyo returned to engineering with renewed vigor and confident to put herself out there. Now, she is a valued member of the joint design office, where she ensures safe and compliant plant designs while managing non-conformance issues with a smile. Her mission extends beyond her workplace, as she actively volunteers for the Women in Nuclear initiative and the STEMazing outreach program, inspiring young girls to pursue careers in engineering. Above all, Tuoyo credits her success to the unwavering support of her husband Graham, her kids (Macee and Michaela) also friends and family, who keep her grounded and provide abundant love and laughter. Embodied with a light-hearted spirit and a determination to make engineering more inclusive, Tuoyo is not just an engineer; she’s a champion for change, proving that with family support and a sprinkle of creativity, anything is possible!
