Dr. Heather-ann Okuns brings a keen intellect and a no-nonsense, scientific approach to her role as Petroleum Chemist and Unit Leader of Petroleum and Energy-Based Services. After earning a Ph.D in Chemistry from the City University of London and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Chemical Engineering from the University of Sheffield, Dr. Okuns worked as a Research Scientist for eight years in the UK, first with the British Food Manufacturing Industries Research Association and then with British Gas Corporation. CARIRI quickly recruited her when she returned to Trinidad in 1982. With a drive to constantly enhance her professional knowledge, she attends numerous workshops and conferences such as Training in Petroleum Testing, Ion Chromatography-Into the Future Chromaspec, Chronic Oil Spill and Pollution Control, Enhanced Oil Recovery, and Energy Biomass and Waste Excess. Her scientific expertise makes Okuns a valuable consultant to industry and the government and the catalyst behind the continuous upgrade and competitiveness of the Unit.