“There’s nothing like standing on a job site, seeing your design concept come to life, knowing too, that it helped the client. I feel a deep sense of pride at times like that, and it brings a strong sense of purpose to what I do for a sector that is the backbone of our economy”.
Despite, or perhaps because of the financial and personal struggles which Nicholas Mahadeo saw his mother, a single parent, have to overcome, he promised himself to use the opportunities which she made possible, to ensure that he excelled in his chosen field. Today, Nicholas has done her proud and is a level 2 Mechanical Engineer at BECM at just 30 years old.
To compound this determination to secure a good life for himself, he recalls his boyish fascination with how things worked and the design element of things like aircrafts. Having a cousin who was a Maintenance Manager at Atlantic was the final push, to move him in the direction which he took: a National Engineering Technician’s Diploma at UTT in 2014, followed by a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering at University of the West Indies in 2019.
Nicholas’ work focuses primarily on mechanical design engineering and project management, including on-site management during plant turnarounds. BECM has operations in Suriname and exports its services to clients in the USA; Nicholas leverages his knowledge and experience to collaborate with these companies in Houston, Texas, engaging in cross-border coordination of projects. He also supervises and coaches junior engineers and designers at BECM. Before joining the team at BECM, Nicholas was an intern at IPSL and had some exposure to the CNC plant. He later worked as a technician at National Flour Mills for one year, his only professional experience outside of the energy sector.
There’s a thoughtful, measured reflection when Nicholas talks about the energy sector; admittedly, being a part of the energy sector gives him a strong sense of purpose especially because of how important the industry is to Trinidad and Tobago. A day in Nicholas’ life might include visiting a plant at Point Lisas Industrial Estate to assess the optimal solution for issues that a client may be having with equipment and providing recommendations and then engineering drawing packages to support his proposals. Even after more than 5 years on these sites, there is still a tremendous feeling of awe when he steps on the plants; the level of expertise and the sheer talent to keep these plants operational safely over time is not something he will ever take for granted. He has worked with the full gamut of companies in the sector, including NGC, Proman, Nutrien and PLNL.
There’s a great deal of planning behind Nicholas’ work, especially when turnarounds are on the horizon. As he explained, his role in a planned turnaround could start years in advance, consulting with engineering teams to identify issues and source solutions. While this may be very demanding, Nicholas looks forward to what he must do, knowing that “each project is unique and so there is constant learning, adaptation, and problem-solving”. An infrequently talked about reality which Nicholas also considers an unwritten perk of his job, is the exposure he has, to numerous very knowledgeable and skilled professionals he gets to connect with. This includes his very own CEO, Kirk Aanensen, his mentor and for whom there is a very deep admiration. The privilege to share professionally and learn from Kirk and a former colleague, Beau Bachu are evident highlights of Nicholas’ career. Nicholas states without hesitation that these gentlemen have shown him “the importance of being a well-rounded engineer who combines strong design skills with practical field knowledge, while also understanding the role of safety and efficiency in design work.”
Nicholas derives a strong sense of pride in seeing his designs come to life, knowing that they contribute to improved operations for the company’s clients. He hopes that the on-going sense of wonder and “the relevance of the energy sector, will inspire and motivate young professionals to never stop learning; stay humble, and seize opportunities for both technical knowledge and practical experience”. One such young person with whom he shares his experience and from whom he is also able to draw not just support, but advice and guidance, is his spouse, a civil engineer. Although not employed in the energy sector, there is a lot from her professional life that has brought value to Nicholas as he continues to grow and learn in a sector that he is excited to be a part of.