Wood Reaches Milestone with 500th Iraqi National Employee, Strengthening Commitment to Iraq’s Energy Sector
Wood has reached a significant milestone in its commitment to developing a sustainable workforce in Iraq by hiring its 500th Iraqi national employee.
Rehab Zubaid, an Administration Assistant, was selected for the role as her experience perfectly matched the job requirements.
Rehab shared her excitement: *“It is an honor to be the 500th Iraqi employed at Wood in Basra. Joining the company has been an incredible journey of growth and discovery for me. From the very first day, I have been inspired by the supportive culture and the dynamic environment that fosters creativity and collaboration.
“Working in the Basra office has given me the opportunity to engage with amazing colleagues and make a real impact on various projects in the region. Wood has not only helped me enhance my professional skills but has also given me a platform to grow personally, teaching me the importance of teamwork, resilience, and adaptability. I am proud to be part of a company that values its people and their potential.”*
A Decade of Growth: From the First Iraqi Hire to 500 Employees
Wood’s first Iraqi employee, Osama Mousa Lazim, joined the company 10 years ago and has since progressed to the role of Iraq Manager – Business Development and Growth. Reflecting on this achievement, he stated:
*”I am incredibly proud to look back on my journey as the first Iraqi employee at Wood. Today, I am thrilled to see our vision come to life, with talented professionals driving the growth and success of our operations.
“This milestone is more than just an expansion of our workforce—it represents the development of local talent and the creation of opportunities for Iraqis in the energy sector. Together, we have built a strong foundation of excellence, innovation, and sustainable growth. I look forward to leading our team toward an even brighter future, helping to drive progress for both Wood and Iraq.”*
Wood is actively investing in training and professional development for Iraqi nationals, supporting a growing number of regional energy projects, including a three-year engineering contract with TotalEnergies.
Building Future Talent: Early Careers Development in Basra
Graduate Programme: Fostering Engineering Excellence
Wood’s Basra Graduate Programme, recognized as the Oil and Gas Middle East Talent Programme of the Year in 2024, offers a structured four-year multidisciplinary engineering approach. It combines on-the-job learning with classroom-based training, allowing graduates to work on some of the most complex energy projects in the Middle East. Since its launch in 2016, Wood has recruited 73 graduates across various disciplines in its Basra engineering office, many of whom have advanced into senior engineering roles.
Basra Design Academy: Advancing the Careers of Design Engineers
The Wood Basra Design Academy was created to nurture and develop design engineers. The program provides training and career advancement opportunities, establishing a cross-discipline talent pool to meet project demands. A 12-month training plan was implemented, leading to several trainees securing full-time positions. Alongside technical knowledge, the program incorporates critical business skills, ensuring well-rounded career development. This initiative reflects Wood’s dedication to fostering local talent and creating sustainable career pathways for Basra’s workforce.
New Opportunities in 2025: The Launch of Basra Technical Training Centre
Wood’s new Basra Technical Training Centre (BTTC) has recently become fully operational, with the first pilot training program currently underway. School and college graduates are participating in courses accredited by the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB).
The first full training cohort, consisting of 60 participants, is expected to begin in June 2025. Additionally, in collaboration with TotalEnergies, Wood held five recruitment events in 2024, hiring 48 Iraqi professionals across various disciplines, including health, safety, and environment (HSE), logistics, quality control, construction, welding, electrical work, and document management.
Investing in Iraq’s Energy Future
Through comprehensive training programs and career development opportunities, Wood is not only enhancing the skill set of Iraq’s energy workforce but also contributing to the long-term economic prosperity of the country.
With over 90 years of presence in Iraq and a workforce of approximately 850 employees, Wood continues to play a key role in delivering world-class engineering solutions and supporting Iraq’s energy ambitions.
