What made you choose Statkraft?

I am a chartered engineer specialising in utilisation of water resources.  I also took a course in project management when I was a student. Having worked in a waterworks plant as an assistant advisor, and with cost control in a subway project in a project management team, I found I could combine these experiences in a position in Statkraft. I thought Statkraft would be perfect as it is an international energy company with a clear green profile.

What is your regular workday like?

Here in Turkey, we have one hydropower plant in operation, and we hope to start construction in two hydropower projects in the next few months. I work on these projects, trying to acquire knowledge by participating in meetings covering technical issues and environmental concerns, reading pre-studies and preparing documents relating to the projects.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

The learning experience, definitely. Learning is a key factor in keeping me motivated. I learn a lot about project management of hydropower plants, from pre-studies to the operations phase.

What kind of development do you achieve through courses and conferences?

I am on the trainee programme, which means I will receive two years of training. So far, we have covered presentation techniques, cultural differences and innovation courses. I am certain that I will achieve plenty of personal development through the trainee programme and the opportunity it offers to work in four departments in different countries.

What are your goals going forward?

I want to strengthen my expertise in renewable energy and contribute as much I can in Statkraft.

What has been your best experience in Statkraft?

First of all, I was very excited about being offered a job, and travelling to Oslo for the first gathering and witnessing the working environment in the company was a great motivation. I became completely convinced that I had made the right choice.

Name: Gürcan Özkan
Age: 29
Background: Bachelor, soon to be Master, of Engineering from Yıldız Technical University, Istanbul. Has worked for the Istanbul waterworks and Istanbul Asia Metro Project before joining Statkraft.
Position: Trainee in Statkraft.
Work location: Istanbul