After nearly two decades of solving technical problems in the oil and gas industry, a major life event led Praveen Atmuri to trade his hard hat for an MBA. Here’s how Praveen stepped outside his comfort zone and embraced an entirely new path as SAMCo’s Technical & Commercial Business Strategist. 

Praveen Atmuri began his professional life as an engineer specialising in instrumentation, control and electrical (ICE) systems. Over 18 years, he amassed invaluable experience working on large-scale projects across the oil and gas industry.

“As a young engineer, I was very fortunate to be involved in a major expansion at a refinery in Brisbane,” he shares. “I also worked on an offshore gas field development project in the Bass Strait, where I had the unique opportunity to work on offshore platforms.”

After gaining firsthand experience in the design, construction, and commissioning phases of these complex projects, Praveen transitioned to a role at a coal seam gas (CSG) producer. There, he spent almost a decade managing the operations and maintenance of gas processing facilities, wells, and water treatment plants, honing his skills in a highly technical field. 

But when a severe flood impacted his Brisbane home in early 2022, it became the catalyst for a major career shift.

“During the aftermath of the floods, and like many people during the pandemic, I found myself reflecting on my life and career,” Praveen recalls. This moment of introspection, which he likens to the Japanese concept of ‘Ikigai’ – the intersection of passion, mission, vocation and profession – led him to realise he needed more than just technical achievements to feel fulfilled.

“I realised I derive fulfilment from a career that allows me to collaborate with a diverse range of people and have a broad impact, not just within my organisation, but on the world we live in.”

Determined to transform his career, Praveen enrolled in a part-time MBA program, where he developed a keen interest in business strategy and its role in shaping the future of organisations. 

“The MBA was pivotal for me,” he explains. “It deepened my understanding of core business concepts like finance, accounting and strategic problem-solving. It also gave me a humbling appreciation of the challenges that executives and leaders face in driving company success.”

The program also ignited Praveen’s passion for business strategy.

“I became really interested in the work that organisational leaders do, and the critical role strategy plays in evolving an organisation and sustaining its market position,” he says. 

But Praveen knew that real-world experience would be essential in applying what he learned in the classroom.

A strategic transition to SAMCo

Stanwell Asset Maintenance Company (SAMCo) is partnering with asset owners, original equipment manufacturers and engineering procurement construction companies across Australia to provide operations and maintenance services and asset management for all forms of renewable energy.

Leveraging Stanwell’s highly skilled people and decades-long track record of excellence in maintaining complex energy assets, SAMCo is setting a new benchmark in Australia’s clean energy industry.

When the Technical & Commercial Business Strategist role with SAMCo came across his radar, Praveen felt it was the perfect opportunity.

“It felt like fate when I saw this role advertised on LinkedIn,” he recalls. Praveen’s decision to join SAMCo was driven by three key factors. 

First, it offered him the chance to transition into the renewable energy sector “at a time when energy companies like Stanwell, SAMCo’s parent company, are building a pipeline of renewable assets.”

Second, it was a start-up opportunity, which meant applying his MBA knowledge in real time. 

“The opportunity to serve in a foundational role at a start-up was amazing, allowing me to directly apply my knowledge from the MBA and have a broad impact in the role I was seeking.”

“Finally,” he adds, “and perhaps most importantly, I was inspired by SAMCo’s goal of paving a path for Queensland’s energy workers to transition into renewables, ensuring they have a role to play in our sustainable future.”

Now settled into his role, Praveen finds the passion and unique mix of skills within SAMCo’s team to be one of the highlights of his work.

“What I love most is the diversity in our start-up team,” he says. “Everyone brings with them a unique mindset, skillset, and a perspective from their previous careers, and there’s a genuine passion for building this company.”

Solving the right problems

As a business strategist at SAMCo, Praveen wears many hats. 

“My typical day involves keeping up to date with what’s happening in the energy sector, meeting with prospective clients, and showcasing SAMCo’s capabilities,” he says. “We participate in growth strategy workshops, attend industry conferences to build professional networks, and I put together tender responses for clients. I’m very happy to say we’ve been busy with those!”

One of Praveen’s key responsibilities is leading the development of SAMCo’s pricing strategy, which is crucial to the company’s growth.

“This will ensure we remain competitive, while delivering value to our clients,” he says.

He’s also spearheading the creation of a 24/7 remote monitoring and control center to efficiently manage SAMCo’s portfolio of renewable energy assets.

“This center will allow us to remotely monitor and control assets across Queensland and beyond, ensuring that we provide exceptional operations and maintenance services for our clients.”

For Praveen, one of the most exciting aspects of his role is the shift from solving purely technical problems to tackling commercial challenges.

“It’s no longer about just finding the right technical solution,” he explains. “Now, I’m focused on solving commercial problems where risks aren’t always clear, and solutions require creativity and significant stakeholder engagement.”

While Praveen says the transition from engineering to business strategy has been fulfilling, it hasn’t been without challenges. 

“I’m on several steep learning curves simultaneously,” he admits. “Moving from oil and gas production to renewable power generation, shifting from engineering to a commercial role, and navigating new industry regulations – all while completing my MBA – has been intense. I’m also learning a lot of new TLAs – three-letter acronyms!”

Despite these challenges, Praveen remains driven and motivated.

“The steep learning curve has kept me focused, and the autonomy SAMCo’s leadership has given me is incredibly humbling and motivating.”

Innovating for the future

As SAMCo continues its growth, Praveen remains particularly excited about the innovations emerging in the renewable energy industry.

“I’m excited about the role that innovations in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields will play in accelerating Australia’s energy transition to renewable sources,” he says. He’s also fascinated by advancements in solar PV technology and large-scale batteries, key components in Australia’s push toward cleaner energy.

“The continent of Australia is second only to Africa in terms of solar energy potential, but we’ve yet to fully harness this resource,” he explains. “Several Australian cleantech start-ups are doing revolutionary work in solar technology, and I see Stanwell’s FEITH (Future Energy, Innovation and Training Hub) playing a key role in fostering these kinds of innovations.”

Looking ahead, Praveen sees himself playing a key role in shaping the company’s future. 

“SAMCo’s goal is to become an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) partner for clients developing renewable energy assets across Queensland and beyond,” he says. “With my technical background and business strategy expertise, I’m focused on exploring new technologies that will reduce our operating costs while increasing asset safety and availability for our clients”.

“I’m also focused on identifying new business opportunities for SAMCo that lead to new revenue models and strategic partnerships.”

Praveen is equally passionate about helping SAMCo’s workforce gain new competencies, especially in emerging areas like offshore wind.

“It’s all about extending our capabilities beyond the operational phase of assets,” he says. “The renewable energy sector is dynamic, and staying ahead requires continual learning and adaptation. That’s what I love about the role.”