Pernille Saugmann Olsen is the Head of APAC Green Fuel Origination at A.P. Moller Maersk, where she leads the company’s efforts to identify, develop, and secure green fuel projects across Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region. Based in Melbourne since 2023, Pernille is at the forefront of Maersk’s green methanol sourcing in one of the most promising regions for large-scale renewable fuel production. She oversees the APAC origination team and manages a diverse portfolio of green fuel initiatives, with a particular focus on commercial partnerships and project development in Australasia and Asia.

Pernille’s journey with Maersk spans more than 12 years, during which she has held several senior roles focused on fuel strategy, optimisation, and decarbonisation. In 2021, she joined Maersk’s newly established Decarbonisation Department, now Energy Transition, created in response to Maersk’ pioneering investment in dual-fuel methanol powered vessels. As part of this team, she played a pivotal role in negotiating Maersk’s first-ever green methanol offtake agreement. Prior to relocating to Melbourne, Pernille was based at Maersk’s global headquarters in Copenhagen, where she managed the green methanol portfolio across Europe and North America. Her global experience has given her a deep understanding of the commercial, regulatory, and geopolitical dynamics that influence the success of green fuel projects. 

Before joining Maersk, Pernille worked for Norwegian energy major Equinor, where she held roles in Norway, Denmark, and the United States. During her time in Equinor’s Stamford office, she was part of the team responsible for shaping Equinor’s North American crude trading strategy and worked closely with upstream and midstream stakeholders on new crude oil developments.