Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
IPAA “Women in Leadership”
Analogy of Life –
The Sausage Machine
Alex Atkins
Senior Mining Engineer/ Special Inspector of Mines (Mining)
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Who am I?
• Mother of two
• Senior Mining Engineer/ Special Inspector
of Mines at the Department of Mines &
Petroleum
• 20+ years experience (15 years working at
remote mining operations, mainly UG)
• Mining Engineer, Geotechnical Engineer &
Geologist with 1st Class Mine Manager’s
Certificates in WA & Qld
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Expectations – rose tinted glasses
• 1980s high school: “Girls can do what the
boys can do!”, “Go girls!”
• In the mines: “Girls can’t do that”, “Women
don’t belong here”. Women not permitted
to work underground in WA until 1986 & in
PNG in 1990s (Ministerial clearance
required)
• resilience, determination, stubborn
rebellion against the norm!
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
20 years in the Sausage Machine
(1986 – 2006)
Raw materials
Quality produce
Underground metalliferous
mining industry
Bad marriage
Kids & Autism
Naive, innocent & clueless
What doesn’t kill you makes you
stronger
Increasing resilience
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Journey begins age 17
Fresh from high school - rose tinted glasses on
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
WASM, Kalgoorlie 1986 – 1st year Uni
(women 1st permitted to work UG in WA)
Gee I’m short!
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
WASM Kalgoorlie
Fun, carefree uni
days…
but it was still a
boys’ club
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
1980s Uni Vac Work
Worked every vacation on
mine sites to pay for uni
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
1980s Mine work hurdles
• Accommodation (single men’s quarters)
– When turned up for work was told they
couldn’t employ me - camp was for men only
– Found family to put me up (shed in Laverton)
• Bathrooms (men only)
– Had to wait till the miners all went home at
end of shift then shower in the men’s
– 1990s PNG filthy toilets
– Just starting to accommodate women’s needs
in UG toilets today
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
After 4 years at WASM
BEng Hon (Eng. Geology)
Why are you
kneeling?
Get up woman!
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Early 1990s - 2 years as a geologist in
N Qld (pit & exploration) – not for me
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
2.5 years at UQ, Brisbane studying for
second BEng degree (Mining Engineering)
Go girls!
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
1 yr at a coal mine – definitely not for me
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Mid 1990s –
3 years, Porgera UG Mine, PNG
Women not permitted by
law to work underground
Required Ministerial
clearance
1st female UG mine
engineer
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
PNG – learnt Pidgin, Porgeran & made
friends (wantoks). Loved the helicopters.
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
PNG – Interesting & exciting!
Blissfully ignorant UG while riots on surface (villagers vsarmy/police). Had to drive through it on way home!
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Back to Oz for “UG Time” - Osborne Mine, NQ
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
UG time - Osborne Mine, Qld
(mechanised mining – not challenging!)
Trucks Boggers Service Crew
Charge up
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
UG time - Mt Morgans Mine, WA
(1 year at “hand-held” mine – challenging!)
Airleg mining for 3 months
(I worship airleg miners now)
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
1998 - 1st Class Mine Managers’ Certificate
of Competency after UG time & Law exams.
My response to being told by a mining engineer in PNG “You’ll never be a mine
manager” was to get my ticket in 1998!
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Long story short…
now I’m a Mines Inspector
Use my technical qualifications and experience and life experience to
help industry keep the miners safe (a core value and passion)
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Inspecting & auditing mines
working pro-actively with industry
Sources of power: legitimate (position of
authority), coercive (power to punish), expert
(knowledge & experience), information
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
DMP-RSD Group Photo 2010
Recruiting inspectors, we need diversity!First & the only female mining engineer WA mines inspector
The only female mining engineer inspector in Qld = close friendFirst part-time mines inspector (4 days per week)
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Family & friends are #1 priority
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Single mum to gorgeous 4 & 7yo kids
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Autism therapy made me a better person
Teaches patience, kindness & understanding
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
AusIMM WIMnet National Committee
WIMNet offers support & encouragement for
women in mining. Access to peers for
moral support.
Pressure group to bring about cultural change in mining – equality &
respect for women.
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Main life learnings
• “Design your life”, follow your passions
• Positive self talk only
• Work hard, be persistent & reliable
• Keep fit & healthy
• Stay connected - network, friends & family
• Stay true to yourself (core values)
• Learn from mistakes & bad experiences
make yourself better over time
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Leading as women
(from any level in organisation)
• You will flourish if you:
– Follow your passion & vision for yourself
– Work in environment congruent with your values
• Then you will be inspirational
• Then you will influence people by “lighting
their fire” & they will flourish, and so on...
• We all have sources of power:
– Knowledge and expertise
– Experience (work and life)
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Leadership skills I learnt from
parenthood & autism therapy!
• Influencing behaviour– Positive reinforcement
– Be assertive (not aggressive)
– Be consistent, understanding, patient & honest
– Set a good example (have to earn respect)
– Surround with great people and role models
• Time management, prioritise
• Pace yourself so sustainable
• Keep it short & use visual aids
• Don’t take yourself too seriously!