Member profile: Galina Livingstone CEnv MEI

"Being a CEnv provides a credible professional recognition and motivates you to continuously develop your skills."

When did you first become interested in environmental issues?

I am 63 years young and I have always been interested in the environment.

Tell us a little about your current job

I am an environmental consultant and started my own consultancy company over 10 years ago. I also sometimes work as Environmental Manager for some major international engineering projects. Every new project is a challenge and a new learning curve, and I am enjoying the discoveries and experiences along the way.

What inspired you to pursue this career, and what path did you take to get there?

I graduated with an MSc in Physics 40 years ago and began working as a researcher in the upstream oil & gas industry where I encountered and addressed a variety of environmental issues alongside my main area of research in petroleum geochemistry.

I was very lucky to win an international competition for a scholarship in Environmental Sciences and Policy in the UK later in my life, which helped me to change the direction of my career and start working as an Environmental Engineer and Environmental Consultant in the oil & gas industry. It was a challenge changing my career mid-life. I changed not just my career, but also the country I was living in, which made establishing myself in the new profession even more difficult. However, this improved with time. I have been fortunate enough to take part in many interesting major international oil & gas projects in various countries.

My career development was not always smooth, as I lived through a few periods of economic and political downturn with consequent loss of my employment. However hard it was, I never gave up and continued improving my skills and knowledge of the profession to increase my job options. This approach paid off and helped me to return to work. I am grateful to many highly professional and kind people for their generous support in my career.

Over the years, I progressed to managing environmental departments within a few major international oil & gas projects as well as taking a leading role in a vast number of environmental projects as a consultant. These experiences led me to start a consultancy company and work as an Environmental Consultant, mostly for energy industry clients.

What one piece of advice would you give to an aspiring CEnv?

Never give up on reaching your goals, however hard it might be getting there.

Away from work, what do you like to do in your spare time?

I enjoy gardening, cycling and spending time outdoors with my dogs. I am interested in various aspects of science, culture, arts and history.

And finally… What does your CEnv accreditation truly mean to you?

Having the CEnv title rounds up my achievements and adds confidence and credibility when dealing with my clients in the energy sector.