She Goes Offshore launches in Mexico, showing women what is possible

Turning visibility into opportunity

She Goes Offshore is built on a simple belief: women already have the skills, responsibility, resilience and experience that offshore roles demand. However, talent needs opportunity, and opportunity begins with visibility. The initiative connects women with the offshore market, celebrates those already building successful careers at sea and creates clearer pathways for women who aspire to work offshore. Following its successful launch in Mexico, Atlas NextWave plans to develop She Goes Offshore into a global initiative. “One of the most important takeaways was that the women who participated could see that it is possible for them to thrive while working offshore,” said Alma Quintero, Business Manager for Mexico at Atlas NextWave.

Making offshore careers feel achievable

The programme brought together women from across the offshore oil and gas industry to speak openly about their careers, the challenges they have faced and the opportunities they see ahead. Margrethe Sandvik, Rig Manager and Onshore Planner at Transocean, shared a candid perspective on the reality of working offshore. She spoke about professional growth, the demands of the industry and how a successful offshore career and a balanced life can go hand in hand.

Julia González Romero, Vice President of WEN México, highlighted the importance of collaboration and professional networks in accelerating women’s participation across the energy sector. The panel discussion, “Working Offshore in Mexico: Evolution from a Human Resources and Operational Perspective”, brought together Berenice Martín, Senior HR Business Partner at Woodside; Guadalupe Montenegro, Senior Environmental Specialist at Harbour Energy; and Wendy Montero of Hornbeck Offshore. Together, they explored how offshore employment in Mexico is evolving from both a people and operational perspective.

Participants also heard personal testimonies from women working offshore, including Marlene Ortega, Diana Beristain Colorado, Dulce Konstz, Andrea Mendoza and Valeria Córdoba. Their experiences gave the audience an honest and inspiring view of what a career at sea can look like.

Inspiring the next generation

Among the participants were 30 cadets from the Universidad Portuaria y Marítima de México (UPMM), alongside Petroleum Engineering and Marine Biology students from Universidad Veracruzana and Universidad del Valle de México. Captain Samy Carrillo, Head of Undergraduate Studies at UPMM, and Teresa García, Head of Postgraduate Studies, discussed the academic pathways available to young people considering offshore careers. Their contribution helped connect education with the practical opportunities developing across the maritime and energy industries. For the students in the room, meeting women who are already succeeding offshore made those opportunities more tangible. It showed that an offshore career is not simply an ambition for the future, but a realistic path they can begin preparing for today.

The first chapter of a global initiative

She Goes Offshore was led by Lourdes Landa, Business Director for Latin America and Mexico at Atlas NextWave, together with Alma Quintero. The event demonstrated what can be achieved when employers, educators, professional networks and experienced offshore specialists work together. A heartfelt thank you goes to WEN México and UPMM for partnering with Atlas NextWave on this first event, and to every speaker, panellist and participant who joined, made connections and shared her story.

Creating a more diverse offshore industry requires more than opening doors. It requires visibility, connection, opportunity and action. Veracruz, Mexico, was the first chapter. Guyana will follow on 7 November, but the ambition extends much further. Atlas NextWave will take She Goes Offshore to other offshore markets around the world, connecting more women with opportunities and building a stronger, more diverse global talent pipeline for the industry.