Introduction

Built on 14 years of capital project delivery.

From subsea systems in Azerbaijan and Angola to performance management across bp's global portfolio, my career has taken in some of the most complex energy programmes in the world. Shah Deniz 2, Net Zero Teesside, Greater Plutonio. Projects where the stakes were high and the operational complexity even higher.

The same problems showed up everywhere. Manual coordination consuming the time of your best people. Reporting built from scratch every week. Tools that were never designed for how capital projects actually work.

So I started fixing them. Designing and implementing digital workflows and performance systems for multi-billion programmes. Today, through FlowOptima, I do it full time. Building the tools and workflows I always wish I'd had, for the projects that need them most.

Photo of Karl Lowe - FlowOptima's Founder

The philosophy

Bridging the gap between delivery and transformation.

Projects often know where the friction is. What's missing is a partner who understands the realities of capital delivery well enough to turn that into action, without the overhead of a traditional consultancy.

FlowOptima was founded on lived experience. I’ve faced the challenges projects struggle with and delivered the opportunities others overlook. I help teams transform faster, with solutions that work in practice, not just on paper.

Core expertise

Technical mastery

Project delivery

With over 14 years' experience delivering projects across the world in a variety of settings, I know how projects are delivered. I'm a Chartered Project Manager and Chartered Engineer. I have a Masters degree in Civil Engineering and hold certifications from PMI and Scrum.org.

  • APM ChPP
  • PMI PMP
  • CEng
  • MEng

Workflow design, optimisation and digitisation

I have extensive experience designing and building complex project processes and workflows. I've built custom automated approval flows, reporting solutions and onboarding systems - saving one project over 2000 work hours a year.

  • Process optimisation
  • Automated workflows
  • Power Automate
  • Javascript

Digital transformation

I've built custom project tools and dashboards to entirely digitise key project processes. Including custom platforms for managing actions, risks, change, travel, onboarding and information security to save one team over 3,500 work hours annually.

  • Power Apps
  • Webapps
  • Databases
  • Dashboards
  • PowerBI

AI strategy and implementation

I can provide coaching to help teams better understand how they can use AI in their day-to-day work. I've built custom AI agents to complete research, process data, and access guidance.

  • AI chatbots
  • AI agents
  • AI workflows

Request a consultation to see how I can help your project.

Proven track record

Real-world delivery experience

14+

Years experience

21

Major projects

9

Countries

  • 2026 - Present

    Founder & Principal Consultant, FlowOptima

    Founded FlowOptima to help project organisations transform their ways of working.

  • 2024 - 2025

    Project Performance Lead, bp

    Accountable for transformative performance management of bp’s global portfolio of refining, biofuels, hydrogen, and carbon capture capital projects. Designed and implemented digital-first performance management systems for data-driven insights.

  • 2017 - 2024

    Project Manager, bp

    Led delivery of complex projects and scopes across bp's global portfolio, including integration of the Net Zero Teesside and Northern Endurance Partnership, global delivery of subsea equipment for USA projects, Shah Deniz 2 in Azerbaijan, Platina in Angola and more.

  • 2011 - 2017

    Subsea Project Engineer, bp

    Led design, fabrication, delivery and installation of subsea systems to multiple projects in Azerbaijan and Angola.

Ready to make your project more predictable?

Transform how your team works, with solutions built by someone who's delivered the projects you're delivering.