Danyya Ateera

Danyya Ateera’s career path began not with a fixed ambition, but with a deep connection to the outdoors. As a child, she enjoyed camps and visits to some of the last remaining farms in Singapore—experiences that shaped her curiosity about nature and sustainability. This early exposure led her to pursue a Diploma in Environmental Biotechnology. Yet even during her studies, Danyya realized that a laboratory-based career was not where she would thrive. She wanted work that was practical, visible, and connected directly to real-world outcomes.

Her entry into the workforce came through a friend’s introduction to a local waste management company. Danyya joined the organization at a time when her safety manager was on maternity leave. With only email instructions and safety manuals to rely on, she was asked to cover the safety function with minimal guidance. Rather than feeling overwhelmed, she became resourceful. She studied the integrated safety management system, reviewed past records, observed site operations closely, and pieced together how the role was meant to function. When her manager returned, Danyya received strong praise for how effectively she had managed the role independently. More importantly, she discovered that she enjoyed safety work. She liked that her actions could directly prevent accidents and improve working conditions on site. She also noticed a rising demand for safety professionals in Singapore as regulatory requirements tightened.

After one year, seeking more structured training and exposure to global best practices, Danyya moved to Veolia, an international environmental services company. Over four years at Veolia, she built a strong technical foundation in safety governance, audits, reporting, and compliance. Her manager encouraged her to think beyond task execution and to measure outcomes more deliberately. As the team experienced turnover and expanded site coverage, Danyya learned to manage workload pressure while maintaining high safety standards. This period solidified her discipline and helped her understand what “good” safety systems looked like at scale.

Her next move to Jurong Port placed her in a very different environment. Port operations were physically demanding, male-dominated, and operationally intense. Rather than stepping back, Danyya leaned into the challenge. She took technical courses, trained in firefighting, participated in emergency drills, and immersed herself in frontline operations. By demonstrating competence, consistency, and resilience, she earned the respect of colleagues on the ground. This experience reshaped her confidence and reinforced her belief that credibility in safety comes from understanding real operational risks—not just policies.

Over time, Danyya transitioned into a more office-based HSSE (Health, Safety, Security, and Environment) role at Jurong Port, acting as a bridge between ground operations and corporate safety requirements. Her hands-on background made her more effective in audits, investigations, and stakeholder engagement. During this period, she began to see her career as a growing portfolio of capabilities—combining safety expertise, operational understanding, communication skills, and problem-solving. She participated in innovation challenges, led improvement projects, and learned how to articulate safety value in business terms.

A pivotal learning experience came when Jurong Port began its digital transformation journey. Danyya was tasked with leading safety digitization efforts despite not having an IT background. The experience taught her that transformation is less about technology itself and more about people, processes, and alignment. She learned how to translate operational needs into system requirements and communicate across functions—skills that would later prove critical.

In February 2022, Danyya joined ENGIE as a HSSE Executive, marking her transition into the energy sector. The role expanded her exposure to sustainability-linked operations, structured governance frameworks, and regional collaboration. Over time, she took on broader responsibilities, supporting multiple stakeholders and strengthening ENGIE’s HSSE practices. Her consistent performance, adaptability, and ability to work across functions led to her promotion in April 2025 to Regional HSSEQ* Officer, significantly expanding her scope and influence across markets.
*HSSEQ = Health, Safety, Security, Environment, and Quality

Looking back, Danyya considers her time at Jurong Port the most defining chapter of her career. It was where she confronted discomfort head-on, stepped beyond prescribed job descriptions, and built confidence through action. Her earliest role, while the least structured, taught her independence and resourcefulness—qualities that became foundational to her growth.

Today, Danyya continues to develop her career deliberately and meaningfully. From environmental science to operational safety, digital transformation, and now regional HSSEQ leadership, she has steadily expanded her portfolio while staying grounded in purpose. Her story shows that careers are not built through perfect plans, but through curiosity, courage, and the willingness to learn deeply at every stage.