Shell Engineer Juliette Ran on her life in Brisbane, Australia

Juliette Ran has been working as a Senior Static and Materials Engineer at Shell Queensland Gas Company (QGC) in Brisbane, Australia, since April 2023. She talks about her move, work experiences, financial preparations and future plans. "From the moment I started working, I never really worried about money," she says.

How did you end up in Brisbane like this?
"Mainly because of my partner Jesse's work, who was keen to go abroad after his PhD. That wasn't necessarily my choice, but I did want to go with him. We then overlaid two world maps to see where Shell has offices and where there are universities with opportunities for Jesse. That's how we ended up in Brisbane. First for 18 months, but that has since been extended by four years."

How does your work here differ from that at Shell in Pernis, your previous employer.
"My current work as Senior Static and Materials Engineer is similar to that in the Netherlands, but now I work more on long-term projects. All the projects I work on support activities in the field: LNG and gas fields. However, the work pace in Australia is much slower and there is more emphasis on teamwork and a relaxed work culture. That's enjoyable. People are also much more polite and less direct than in the Netherlands. So, I did learn to adapt my communication style a bit."

How did you prepare financially for the move to Australia?
"Not very thoroughly. I lived in the Netherlands with three girlfriends, so I didn't have to sell a house or give up a lease. Financially - apart from some savings and Shell shares - I had built up very little. Fortunately, Shell is a reliable employer that takes good care of its employees. This also meant I wasn't really worried about money."

What did you run into once you moved?
"For example, I found out that I could not maintain my investment account with Rabobank because I lived abroad. The exchange rate between euros and Australian dollars also proved challenging. In the first 18 months my salary was paid in euros, while I had to pay for my life in Australian dollars. Exchanging money costs money. I solved that by exchanging euros for dollars with Jesse. He does get paid in dollars."

What about your pension and finances now?
"I continue to accrue my pension through Shell Netherlands, although my salary is now paid by QGC. However, I do pay a statutory minimum pension contribution in Australia, purely to comply with local regulations. Furthermore, during the time I have been living in Australia I also started investing and saving here. The interest rate on savings accounts here is nice and high. About 5 to 6%."

Tips

• Keep in mind that you often cannot hold your investment account in the Netherlands if you live (temporarily) outside the EU.
• Sometimes you also have to pay a pension contribution in the country where you are currently working for Shell.
• Keep the exchange rate in mind. You are often paid in local currency, and exchanges cost money.