EDITOR INTERVIEW
In conversation with...
Jacquie Berryman, VLS Chair and Infineum Industry Liaison Manager
Tell us a bit about your early years. Where/ when were you born, and what is your family background? I was born in Birmingham in 1964, the third child of my Mum, Janet and Father, Albert Manson. My Dad was a plasterer and we moved around quite a lot as children following his work until we settled in Birkenhead when my parents bought a newsagent shop with a small inheritance. I stayed in Birkenhead until I left school and moved “South” to find work. 1980’s Birkenhead didn’t have much opportunity – more of that below...
What did you want to be growing up? I wanted to be a nurse until I went into hospital as a teenager for a minor operation and soon realised I wasn’t cut out to be a nurse! So then I started to look at other health care options and decided on food science and nutrition so applied to Nottingham University to do dietetics but my grades were not good enough to get in so I decided I had better get a job which there weren’t many of in the mid 80s in Birkenhead. I wrote to a few companies in Oxfordshire, where my Mum was originally from, and was invited for an interview for a lab technicians role by Esso Petroleum at the Esso Research Centre in Abingdon, and Ive been there ever since.
Education – where did you go, what subjects did you choose and why?
What was your path to higher education? I was fortunate to have the opportunity to study on a day release scheme with Esso Petroleum and PARAMINS so did an HNC in Chemistry Oxford FE College.
First job – where and when, what did you like about it and what did you not? So my first role at Esso Petroleum was as a lab technician working in the Analytical and Inspection labs. I spent around 2 years running a range of physical and chemical property testing; sulphated ash, viscometrics and seals testing before joining PARAMINS in 1986 in the lab blending oils for the testing Id just been doing. I loved being part of the “crew” in Esso Petroleum and PARAMINS, we even had a smoke filled crew room that you could go to for your breaks. I made some very good friends during that period and feel like the things I learnt there was a great basis for my career going forward.
Career mapping how has it lead to where you are now?
I don’t feel like I have ever really had a career plan I have just taken opportunities as they presented themselves and not let fear of the unknown stop me. I have had roles in technology, sales, supply and now I am in Infineum’s Industry Liaison team where I have responsibility for our relationship with a number of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and represent Infineum in the Additive Technical Committee, ATC the technical association for lubricant and fuel additive manufacturers in Europe, of which I was President from 2021 – 2023. I have learnt that experience you have gained can always be useful in new roles and even if you are not an expert then you can bring a new perspective to a new role.
Are you a lifer? If yes, how do you see your career panning out over the next 20/30/40 years? Last year was my 40th year working for Infineum (PARAMINS / Esso Petroleum) so yes so yes, I am a lifer and my next career move is likely to be retirement!
52 LUBE MAGAZINE NO.179 FEBRUARY 2024
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