Meet Ken Ede
Born in New Zealand, Ken Ede’s career highlights include launching a rocket from a semi-submersible platform into space, engineering the world’s longest horizontal gas well, and leading the design and engineering of the world’s largest open water float-over platform.
A Passion for Engineering
“I have always been passionate about engineering and feel genuinely blessed to have enjoyed a rewarding career. I can honestly say I have enjoyed every day – and no two days have been the same!
"I have been extremely fortunate that my career has allowed me to work on some truly incredible projects around the world, in Australia, Southeast Asia, America, Russia, the Middle East and Europe.”
“I appreciate that not every engineer has launched rockets into space or worked on world-leading projects – so I love to share my experience and stories with the next generation. I want to inspire and encourage them to believe that nothing is impossible, as they will be the great minds who unlock solutions for a more sustainable future.”
Building Success in Papua New Guinea
“Throughout my working life I have always had an incredible sense of fairness, and this has stood me in good stead. Joining Wood in Melbourne in 2010, I was part of the Papua New Guinea tender team, which led to me being appointed Contract Manager for our successful bid.
"During my three-year tenure, we built a 1,000-strong team across the highlands and lowlands. It was an incredible experience. There were many cultural differences to navigate—traditionally, survival in Papua New Guinea is tied to land ownership, and at that time oil companies moving in created significant unrest.
"I am proud that Wood led the way in demonstrating the right behaviours as it established itself in the country. Others have since followed, and we continue to deliver successful contracts there today.”
Leading Decarbonisation in the Middle East
“I am now in Dubai leading decarbonisation in the Middle East, which is hugely exciting. There is so much potential to make significant progress towards net zero in the region, especially as we bring through the next generation.
"Decarbonisation is rightfully a key motivator, and I am passionate about changing the narrative around the energy sector—making it an attractive career choice. A big part of this is demonstrating that decarbonisation is a fundamental driver of every project we deliver at Wood.”
Championing People, Diversity and Growth
“Throughout my career, I have been committed to sharing my insights and knowledge and take great pride in inspiring others. I remain a strong advocate for STEM, gender equality, nationalisation, and fostering diversity and inclusion across everything we do at Wood.
"I have seen first-hand the impact of our graduate programmes in developing the next generation of engineers who will shape the future.”
“The world has changed a lot since I started my career. We have made great progress in addressing inequalities. There is still work to do, but I am confident we are on the right path.”
A New Chapter: Senior Vice President
Since we originally published this article in August 2023, Ken has been promoted from Middle East Decarbonisation Director to Senior Vice President for our Projects business in the region."
Reflecting on the past year, he said, “2024 has been a great year for the Middle East team – we kept our people safe, invested in our workforce, and expanded our team while increasing our sustainable work by 300%."
"Becoming Senior Vice President for the Middle East Projects business is a great honour. We have an amazing team here, and I am excited about the opportunities ahead for Wood.”