Karelis has 25 years of experience in the Oil & Gas industry, with a strong background in engineering and operations. She is known for successfully delivering and implementing simplified processes with a focus on value and risk mitigation. She joined Woodside in 2013 after a seven-year career with Foster Wheeler.
In 2025, Karelis was appointed Deputy Project Director for Trion, the first deepwater oil development in Mexico, where she leads strategic planning and coordination across complex interfaces to deliver development objectives. She previously served as Vice President HSEQ, delivering top-quartile HSEQ performance across international assets and supporting decarbonization plans, and earlier held roles including Head of Surface Engineering and Project Engineer on refinery expansion projects in the USA and Latin America.
Karelis holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (Cum Laude) from Universidad de Oriente, Venezuela, and is a licensed Professional Engineer with the Texas Board of Professional Engineers. She mentors early-career professionals and leads the Inclusion and Diversity Group for Mexico, promoting female participation in the energy industry.