Her Story
About Abigail
Abigail Barnwell is an accomplished engineering leader with more than 26 years of experience spanning oil and gas, instrumentation and controls, functional safety, electrical engineering, and renewable energy. She has progressed from electrical and instrumentation engineering roles into senior engineering and management positions, including Department Manager for Instrumentation & Controls and Engineering Coordinator. Throughout her career, Abigail has led multidisciplinary teams, managed complex engineering portfolios, and delivered safe, efficient, and technically sound solutions across both traditional and emerging energy sectors.
Abigail has also contributed to the development of green hydrogen and low-carbon energy initiatives in the Caribbean. As a Senior Technical Consultant with Kenesjay Green Limited and Project Engineer/Technical Consultant for the NewGen Project, she supported project management and technical delivery assurance for a pioneering green hydrogen production facility. She has presented technical insights at industry events, including the Caribbean's first Hydrogen Symposium, and has been actively involved in advancing awareness and adoption of hydrogen technologies. Her expertise is supported by a master's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, along with qualifications in hydrogen energy and renewable energy.
Beyond engineering, Abigail is passionate about leadership, mentorship, and helping others reach their potential. Her PACE framework—Passion, Authenticity, Community, and Energy—and her ACT principles—Apply Your Best, Continuously Grow, and Treasure People—reflect her approach to professional and personal development. Grounded in her Christian faith, she emphasizes excellence, continuous learning, meaningful relationships, and adding value to others. Abigail is also committed to mentoring teen and young adult women through the This Is Me program, encouraging them to embrace their strengths, learn from challenges, and confidently pursue their goals.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Abigail
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to giving my best to every task with a spirit of excellence, maintaining a growth mindset through failures and setbacks, and treating people with care and understanding. My PACE framework keeps me grounded: Passion beyond engineering, Authenticity in embracing who I am, Community through meaningful support, and Energy through healthy boundaries, exercise, journaling, and prayer.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I received came from my earliest mentor, Lisa Haskell, who taught me to embrace growth, purpose, and new opportunities. Her guidance helped shape my career and gave me the confidence to pursue achievements like presenting an award-winning green hydrogen project at the Trinidad and Tobago Energy Conference.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Set your own PACE: pursue your passion beyond your role, be authentic about who you are, lean on your community for support, and protect your energy through healthy boundaries and self-care. My experience with redundancy taught me that my identity extends beyond engineering, and I encourage young women to embrace that same perspective.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges I’m experiencing right now is navigating the transition between roles. At the same time, it’s an opportunity to explore new possibilities, expand my skills, and find a role that aligns with my values, strengths, and long-term goals.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I value excellence, continuous learning, and treating people with care and understanding. I strive to learn from every experience, including failures, while adding value to others rather than seeing people as tools. These principles are deeply grounded in my Christian faith and Scripture.
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