Who we are

General Manager External Relations UK, Ireland, South Africa & Nordics

Based in London, Jacky leads Shell’s corporate communications team in the UK, the scope of which includes social investment, stakeholder engagement and business reputation management.

She joined Shell in 2001 supporting global external communications programmes for the Shell Chemicals business. Since then she has worked across Shell’s Lubricants and Global Commercial businesses in assignments covering portfolio communications, issues management and internal communications. She joined Shell’s UK Country Leadership Team from her role as VP Communications for Shell’s Projects & Technology organisation.

Before Shell, Jacky spent 10 years with an international public relations consultancy working for a range of UK and international business-to-business clients.

She holds a degree in English Literature and Economic & Social Policy from St David’s University College.

Jacky has two daughters and in her spare time enjoys cycling, cooking and creative arts.

Vice President Global Operations for the Trading and Supply Business

Nigel Hobson is currently Vice President Global Operations for the Trading and Supply Business based in London. This follows two recent assignments as VP Supply & Distribution for Europe and Africa based in London and with Shell’s Chemicals business as VP Global Operations & HSSE based in the Netherlands.

Nigel joined Shell in 2005 as Consultancy Manager for the Downstream Management Consultancy which included prime responsibility for projects in Manufacturing, Supply & Distribution well suited to his diverse experience gained across many Downstream businesses. Following graduation as a Chemical Engineer from Exeter University previous leadership roles with ExxonMobil include Refinery Operations, Crude Oil Trading, Supply Operations and Commercial Sales.

Nigel is a Fellow of The Institution of Chemical Engineers; He is married with three teenage daughters and in any free time enjoys outdoor pursuits including sailing and fishing.

Steve Phimister - Upstream Director UK & Ireland

Steve has a varied background in technical, commercial and asset management roles working with Shell for nearly 25 years across Europe, Australia, Asia and the Americas. He has also worked in Shell’s Upstream, Downstream and Integrated Gas businesses.

Returning to the UK earlier in 2016, he led a multi-functional team successfully integrating the upstream businesses of Shell and BG in the UK and Ireland. Prior to this, Steve spent seven years leading a period of strong growth for Shell in Australia, including roles as GM Non-Operated ventures, GM Unconventionals and GM Business Development.

He has a degree in Chemical & Mineral Engineering from the University of Birmingham in the UK and is a member of several Engineering Institutes. He is a Graduate and Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has served on the board of a number of energy-related businesses in Australia. Steve is married with two daughters.

Bruce Taylor, UK and Ireland HSE Manager

Bruce joined Shell in 1985 as a Shell Expro Technician trainee and subsequently spent several years offshore on Cormorant Alpha as Operator and Technician. From 1996 to 2007 he worked as Onshore Support Supervisor and Team Leader for the Mature Assets.

In 2007, Bruce returned to Cormorant Alpha as Offshore Installation Manager concluding that assignment with a handover to the new operator. In January 2009, Bruce was appointed to Brunei Shell Petroleum as Head of Operations for the development team, a role that covered all stages from project initiation through to post implementation review.

He subsequently was selected as Operations Manager for Brunei’s East Asset for a further 3 years before returning to the UK to take up his current role in June 2015.

Bernie Williamson is Shell’s UK Retail General Manager, responsible for our retail business in the UK.

Bernie has a background in retail with UK leadership experience with various food and convenience retailers including Safeway (now Morrisons), Sainsbury’s and T&S Stores (formerly the largest convenience retailer in the UK).

She joined Shell after leading the BG Contracting and Procurement integration in 2016, and then led Shell’s Retail Contracting and Procurement team for Europe and South Africa. During her time at BG, Bernie held roles in Upstream - including Asset CP Manager for UK and Norway – and as Head of Functional Excellence.

Bernie is married with two children. In her spare time, she loves spending time with family and friends, and outdoor activities such as mountain biking, skiing and gardening.

Head of UK Government Relations

Prior to joining Shell in 2015, Sean was private secretary to the foreign secretary, focusing on the Middle East and North Africa, international security and multilateral policy.

Sean joined the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in 2005. He worked as deputy head of the G8 Team during the UK and Russian presidencies and in the UK mission to the UN in Geneva. He studied Mandarin at Peking University before working in the political section of the British Embassy in Beijing. On his return to London in 2011, he was seconded to the National Security Secretariat in the Cabinet Office as a senior policy adviser on the Middle East and North Africa. In 2012 he was made an MBE.

Before joining the FCO, he worked in the UK Parliament and No10 Downing Street, and lived in Japan. He has a BA in European Studies from Royal Holloway, University of London, and an MA in Pacific Asian Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.