Her love for chemistry and her studies at the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy shaped her career path, which led her from the role of a scholarship student at the Pančevo Oil Refinery to the position of the director of the laboratory responsible for quality control of all types of petroleum products on the Serbian market.

Today, after almost thirty years since the day she first entered the refinery gates, Natasha leads a team of more than 100 specialists, and her signature is a mandatory guarantee of the quality of the fuel we fill our cars with. She does not believe in gender stereotypes in her work and emphasises that all the results have been achieved by the well-coordinated work of the whole team. She successfully combines work and private life, and in her free time she likes to spend at home with a good book or a movie, meet her friends for coffee or play with her young nephews. Meet Natasha Badrlica, Director of the Downstream Laboratory Department.

How would you describe the role of the Downstream Laboratory and its contribution to NIS corporate processes?

- The Downstream Laboratory Department is part of the NIS Science and Technology Centre and operates in four locations: in Pančevo, Novi Sad, Surčin and Niš. Within NIS, we provide quality control services in refining: from analysing samples of crude oil to be used for refining to outgoing quality control before fuel goes to the market. Our laboratory at the Pančevo Oil Refinery is equipped to perform highly specialised tests for monitoring the refining process: you could say that we are the ‘eyes’ of the refinery. We make a significant contribution to the monitoring of the refinery's production processes and the final control of fuel quality before it is delivered to consumers, and our laboratory's report on testing and quality compliance is mandatory for fuel to be supplied the market.

Quality control of petroleum products is a very important process in the energy sector. How do you cope with the challenge of maintaining high quality standards in this dynamic industry?

- Our laboratory carries out more than 500 different types of tests, 250 of which are accredited. A prerequisite for quality control is that the laboratory is accredited under SRPS ISO/IEC 17025, which guarantees the independence and objectivity of the laboratory.

Ensuring compliance with the accreditation requirements for such a wide range of tests is a challenge in itself and requires a lot of work from the laboratory team. On the other hand, these requirements keep us on our toes, demanding a consistently high level of professionalism.

I am proud to say that we have a strong, highly qualified team, and all our results have been achieved through hard teamwork. I would like to point out that our competitive advantage setting us apart in the Serbian energy sector is the fact that our laboratory has been appointed by the Serbian Ministry of Mining and Energy to carry out conformity assessment of liquid oil and gas-based fuels.

How did your career develop to the position of Downstream Laboratory Department Director? What obstacles and dilemmas did you encounter along the way?

- I have always loved chemistry, so in the 90s I graduated from the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy at the University of Belgrade. The topic of my thesis was testing of bitumen additives. I was lucky to get a scholarship from the Pančevo Oil Refinery, so after graduating, I went straight to work there. I gained my first experience in the refinery laboratory with the support of a great mentor, my first boss, first of all a nice person, but also a great professional who could recognize both strengths and areas from development.

With constant training and support from my colleagues, my career progressed naturally: I first moved to the position of chief engineer, then became sector manager and deputy director of the refinery lab, before becoming head of Downstream Laboratory Department, the position I have been in for the past 12 years.

Given the specific nature of our business - quality control in an oil company as large as NIS, we face many challenges. We are required to constantly follow the innovations in laboratory testing methods and work on the development of the laboratory - it is an ongoing process. At the same time, it is important to provide reliable test results for the company and other clients, while maintaining high quality of services.

One of the most challenging tasks in my professional career was to integrate all NIS laboratories working with oil and gas, consolidate them into a single laboratory, get it accredited and transfer this accreditation to the STC as the legal successor - all that without disrupting the day-to-day lab operations. At the same time, I got my MBA at the Faculty of Engineering in Novi Sad as part of a joint course with the University of Brussels, which contributed greatly to my development as a manager.

What challenges do you think women working in managerial positions in companies in Serbia face most often?

- Through education, women gain knowledge and opportunities for economic independence, as well as the chance to balance the private and the professional, which is not easy for a woman who works in a managerial position, but on the other hand wants to fulfil herself as a mother and a wife. The challenge is having to juggle these roles all the time.

I think in some companies women face prejudices about ‘male’ and ‘female’ jobs, difficulties in having their knowledge and labour valued at the same level as male colleagues, or having the same opportunities for development and career progression. I do not believe that work should be divided into ‘men's’ and ‘women's’ jobs: there are areas where it is easier for women to fulfil themselves, and there are areas where it is easier for men to fulfil themselves. Fortunately, I have not encountered such stereotypes in my many years of work at NIS, and I have always received understanding and support from my colleagues, and a respectful attitude.

What would you advise for finding a balance between work and private life? How do you manage it?

- The daily reconciliation of work and private responsibilities is a big challenge for me and I think I would hardly succeed without the understanding and support of my family. On the other hand, the support and understanding of colleagues is also very important.

After the end of the working day, I try to leave my work obligations at the office and devote all my attention to my family and children - they are in college already. Relaxing at home with a book, watching a good movie, meeting friends for coffee, playing with my little nephews – these are ways for me to reset and recharge for work.

This also the advice I would give: find joy in small things, help those who need help, and maintain healthy relationships in both private and professional life.

How does your department and you personally support women on their career path at NIS?

- Continuous support in training and development, because new knowledge naturally brings about new opportunities for advancement and growth; knowledge is the energy that drives us forward.