Suzannah Vaughan

Offshore Installation Manager and Captain of FPSO Ddhirubhai, India Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award Winner 2007

The late Suzannah Vaughan’s love of the sea saw her circumnavigate the world. At 16, she took the helm of Australia’s largest Sail Training vessel. In 1991 she represented Australia on the national square rigged sailing ship STS Young Endeavour, on a world voyage to celebrate the quincentenary of Christopher Columbus’ discovery of America.

In 2002 at age 29, she began her career with Australian FPSO Management, and became the first Australian female Facility Supervisor (Master) of a Floating Production Storage and Offtake (FPSO) facility. She led the fastest ever conversion of an oil tanker to FPSO in charge of more than 700 men of different nationalities in the Keppel Shipyard, Singapore.

In early 2008 Suzannah completed an Executive MBA at the University of Western Australia. She was also awarded a ‘Top 40 under 40’ Business Leaders Award in Western Australia and won the Western Australian Business Newspaper Award for creating strategic alliances in business.

In August 2008, Suzannah took on the position of Offshore Installation Manager on the Aker FPSO Ddhirubhai, the first deep water FPSO to operate in India, a vessel able to disconnect to remain safe during the ferocious typhoons that ravage the Bay of Bengal. The project is set to change the face of energy supply to India forever by doubling domestic gas supply. This supply of clean gas is expected to improve living standards throughout India.

In October 2008, Suzannah passed away at sea as the result of a virus, whilst in command of her ship. Her life, her spirit, her courage and achievements are an inspiration to all of us at the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award.

Vale Captain Suzannah Vaughan.

How can a leader be both daring and caring at the same time?

Great leaders display a unique combination of courage and compassion. They can stay unrelentingly focused on goals, model the way ahead by acting with integrity at all times, whilst warming to the human factors that are so very important in the way we experience business today.

Winning the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award has...

changed my life. I now set higher goals and aim to engage in business activities with the scope to improve life for a greater good.

What has been a defining moment in your career?

The first time I successfully disconnected a ship, evaded a tropical cyclone to keep our crew and the vessel safe and then returned to the field and reconnected the ship using a system that had never been used anywhere in the world. It gave me the confidence to take on many more challenging roles.

What is your greatest extravagance?

I shared my Veuve Clicquot with close friends on an Austrian mountain top in the purest of white powder snow with a brilliant blue sky stretched overhead and nothing but the mountain silence to accompany the perfect taste.

What words of advice would you give to someone starting their own business, especially in the current economic environment?

Research well, invest time in your strategy and involve your workforce in strategic planning. Engender the cultural values that form the core of your business to create lasting meaning. Ensure you have financial backup. If need be, start small and take regular small yet positive steps ahead. Map your strategy and celebrate your success and milestones along the way, and constantly review your strategic outlook to stay abreast of changes and developments that may offer new opportunities as well as challenges. Always seek advice wherever you can and never, ever, ever give up.