Dr. Ardian Nengkoda holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering and has worked in the oil and gas industry for over 25 years. He is currently employed by Saudi Aramco as Petroleum Engineering Group Lead (Gas Facilities Development) and is a Subject Matter Expert in Oil and Gas Facilities. He received numerous international awards, including the 2015 Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Middle East and North Africa Projects, Facilities, and Construction Award in Abu Dhabi, UAE, the 2014 Gas Processors Association (GPA) Award in San Antonio, Texas, and the 2011 SPE Middle East Project and Facilities Challenges Award METS (Middle East Project and Facilities Challenges) in Doha, Qatar. In 2016, His name was floated as a potential candidate for Indonesia's Ministry of Energy, Minerals, and Resources.
"In my personal notes, I have at least two memories that have altered my perspective on life and how it has sharpened me today; memories regarding life's challenges, pressure, and how we must respond and move on. When I began my career as a field engineer, I discovered that one of my colleagues had contemplated suicide following an incident. The event transpired before my very eyes. My knees and the rest of my body were stunned. Due to the fact that we were in the same location during fieldwork, the incident could have also occurred to me. This experience has altered my perspective on field work, safety, unsafe work, and hazardous conditions by making me realize that real life, real work, and real incidents or accidents are not always identical to those depicted in books, thereby inspiring me to be more courageous. When confronted with a potentially hazardous circumstance, safety takes precedence, and it has since become my top priority. The second personal event occurred three years ago, when my mother passed away. My mother was in excellent health, and we had a casual phone conversation the night before she passed away. She was my role model and mentor, and I learned a lot from her. It was heartbreaking for me to lose her, and I regret not being able to pay her a visit in person every year because I live abroad. My inability to be with my mother during her final hours caused me to feel stagnant, devoid of motivation, and continuously doubt the meaning of my life. Idealistically, we exist in this world to make our parents, family, and others happy. This incident made me realize how short life is, and I have since accepted what God has given me. I now value spending more time with my family and believe that slow living is sometimes preferable, as success is no longer about accomplishments but happiness and your ability to fit in and contribute to others. Life is too short, so before you pass away, consider your existence and how you wish to be remembered."
