From Sibu to Shell: Leading with visibility, courage, and heart

KUCHING (March 8): The journey from the quiet riverbanks of Sibu to the leadership of Malaysia’s upstream projects is a path paved on a foundation of curiosity, resilience, and a deep-rooted Sarawakian identity.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, the story of Jill Chieng, Shell Malaysia’s general manager for projects across the shallow water and deep-water portfolios, serves as a powerful testament to what happens when local talent meets global opportunity.

With a career marking a 30-year milestone in 2026, she has become a visible symbol of leadership in an industry that was once almost entirely male-dominated, proving that the roots of empowerment often start in the classrooms and communities of Sarawak.

Growing up in Sibu within a family of educators, Chieng’s approach to leadership was shaped early on by a culture that prioritised learning and the belief that no goal was out of reach.

This upbringing instilled a natural curiosity that led her to Shell’s scholarship programme, a life-changing bridge that took her from Sarawak to Imperial College London to earn a Master’s degree in chemical engineering with honours.

For her, this was more than financial aid; it was a demonstration of corporate commitment to community that she first witnessed as a child participating in Shell’s traffic games.

“Coming from Sibu, and a family of educators, I was raised with a strong curiosity for learning and a deep belief that you can achieve anything you set your mind to,” she told The Borneo Post.

“That foundation… was truly life changing. It shaped my belief that talent exists everywhere, and that access and opportunity are what unlock potential—especially for women in technical and operational roles.”

This perspective remains central to her leadership today. Jill maintains that empowerment is not an abstract concept but a practical necessity that begins by creating visible pathways for others to follow.

The foundation of curiosity

A defining moment in Chieng’s career came in 1997 when she requested an operational posting at the Bintulu Integrated Facility. At a time when women were rarely seen on worksites, she recognised that the most profound lessons are found where the work is most demanding.

Working shifts alongside operators as a plant technologist, she conducted surveillance and optimised operations to minimise flaring.

These early years instilled a deep respect for frontline operations and shaped a leadership style grounded in practical collaboration. Her technical depth was further cemented during international assignments, notably with the Pearl Gas-To-Liquid project in the Netherlands, where she developed intellectual property related to slug catcher design.

The path to becoming the first female Malaysian Project Manager was not without obstacles. Early in her career, Jill faced stigma regarding a woman’s ability to thrive in a high-risk, male-dominated environment.

“Early in my career, there were reservations about women’s ability to succeed in the oil and gas industry, which was high risk and largely male dominated. The absence of visible female role models added to the challenge. Over time, things have evolved for the better.”

“Adopting a learner’s mindset helped me find the support and guidance I needed along the way. When I became the first female Malaysian project manager, what grounded me was having a clear north star — focusing on doing the right things, setting clear goals, empowering the team and leading with courage and heart.

“That combination coupled with strong self-motivation and determination, continue to guide me. Gender should never be seen as a hindrance — diversity of perspective is a strength, and inclusive teams consistently deliver better outcomes. ”

Today, Chieng views her role as a platform to be deliberate about placing women in senior leadership and providing the exposure they need to be noticed.

She advocates that visibility is a catalyst for growth; when women are trusted with challenging responsibilities, their confidence and capability grow in tandem.

Voice, vision and empowerment

The success of major projects highlights the critical role women play in every phase of Sarawak’s energy development. Since rejoining the Shell Malaysia upstream leadership team in April 2025, Chieng has driven tangible improvements in project delivery.

“As a line manager, one of my core responsibilities is to empower individuals and teams to excel. I have been deliberate in placing women in senior leadership positions and creating exposure opportunities for emerging female talent to step up.

“I continue to mentor, provide personal coaching, and expose young talents to leadership forums and decision-making platforms. Visibility matters, one cannot do work and hope to be noticed.”

She affirmed that when women are given visibility, trust, and purposeful responsibility, they not only deliver exceptional results—they grow stronger in confidence and capability.

“At Shell, we succeed by working as one integrated team,” she continued.

“Delivering complex offshore development projects demands the highest standards of safety, quality, and seamless collaboration across engineering, projects, assets, finance, procurement, and our business partners.”

“I am proud to see women playing key roles across all phases of project development in Sarawak, from exploration, concept select, engineering design to offshore hook-up and commissioning. Their contributions strengthen decision-making, execution discipline, and overall project delivery.”

Shell has been a partner in Sarawak’s development since the first oil well in Miri in 1910. For Jill, this history is about the generations of talent developed along the way.

Looking back over 30 years, she sees a landscape transformed by digitalisation and AI, yet she notes that more must be done to accelerate progress.

“Shell’s century-long journey in Sarawak has been about more than energy—it’s about developing people who continue contributing long after they leave us,” Chieng stated.

“Women in technical fields play a critical role by bringing their collective intellectual capability, resilience, and fresh perspectives to complex challenges required by the dynamic development and progressive nation building.

“By stepping into visible leadership roles and mentoring the next generation, they help inspire confidence and ambition in young Sarawakians.

“When women are visible in leadership roles, it sends a powerful signal to young Sarawakians that they belong in technical careers. Advances in digitalisation and AI have also expanded opportunities, enabling greater flexibility and development.

“To accelerate progress further in Sarawak and Malaysia, we need to continue building inclusive cultures where talent is recognised, developed, and given equal opportunity to thrive and to embrace digital technologies as key enablers for stronger performance.”