International Women’s Day 2019
Today is International Women’s Day, we want to take this opportunity to celebrate our female workforce and highlight the achievements that they have accomplished so far!
Meet the women who make up 36% of the AdvancedMPS workforce!
Trish Budarick
Trish is our part-time AdvancedMPS’ Senior Systems Consultant, assisting clients with data mapping, processing support and analysis. As well as being a pivotal team member she is continually developing and improving business processes and systemisation.
What do you consider the best achievement in your career?
Implementing standardised processes and procedures for recording, processing and using production data across various levels on site, which remain in use many years later and some of which have also been adopted at other sites.
What have you experienced or would like to see more of to promote a positive and flexible working environment?
When returning from maternity leave, I requested a flexible working arrangement (from full time to part-time and some hours from home). This had not been implemented at the site before and while there was some trepidation into the ‘impact’ it would have, there was a willingness to give it a go. It took a few months to find the right balance that suited myself and my employer; but by openly communicating, discussing ideas and both sides being flexible we came to an arrangement that worked well for everyone. The site has since offered flexible arrangements, including part-time, job share and role changes to women so that they can return from maternity leave rather than not work until their children are in full-time school.
I’d love to see more discussions and celebrations of working flexible arrangements for men and families in the mining industry and how even small changes can make a great positive impact to single-parent and dual-working parent families.
Lauren Stienstra
Lauren is AdvancedMPS’ Geology Manager, assisting in growing our portfolio of clientele and managing our Geologists out on site. Lauren’s valuable knowledge has been the foundation on which the geology department has been built.
What do you consider the best achievement in your career?
The biggest highlight for me was signing off my first JORC compliant Resource block model. Years (and years!) of support and training from the company I was working for and exposure to many amazing mentors, helped make it possible.
What have you experienced or would like to see more of to promote a positive and flexible working environment?
I’ve been fortunate to have had a very positive experience working in the mining industry. I don’t think there’s a ‘one size fits all’ approach that can be taken to drive flexible working arrangements, particularly in a FIFO capacity.
Alicia Bunting
As Business Development Manager for AdvancedMPS, Alicia continually provides business support, not only to our team but our clients and partners. A huge advocate for gender diversity and a keen supporter of WIMWA.
What do you consider the best achievement in your career?
My best achievement in my career has been to remain in the mining industry itself, overcoming professional and personal hurdles.
What have you experienced or would like to see more of to promote a positive and flexible working environment?
I have worked in environments where gender diversity was normal compared to being the only female on site other than the administrator. The team dynamic where people were a mix of genders, ages, knowledge and backgrounds made the mining operation a more productive, innovative and enjoyable place to work.
I would like to see more mining companies pioneering new ways to increase flexible work practices and diversity on site and in corporate. Mining companies need to consider how all jobs could be adapted to suit a progressively diverse and flexible workforce. Secondly, I would like to see leaders with inclusive attitudes increase their visibility as positive role models within the mining community.
Jess Wilson
As Production Engineer, Jess currently works part-time onsite, assisting with stope designs and optimisation work, scheduling and on-site production requirements. Jess’ experience in Engineering and Geology has made her a fantastic all-rounder.
What do you consider the best achievement in your career?
So far, my best achievement has been making the leap back into the mining industry after over 5 years out of the workforce to start my family.
What have you experienced or would like to see more of to promote a positive and flexible working environment?
I was very surprised by how the industry had changed during the time I had left, I didn’t think it would be a possibility to come back to mining on a flexible work arrangement. In the last 6 months since being back, I have found most people to be very supportive, positive and willing to be flexible, to work around my family commitments and what I want out of my career. Because of this, I am hoping that my best career achievements are still to come.
Sophie Nicholls
As Marketing and Office Manager Sophie is successfully developing and growing our brand whilst managing our office in Fremantle. Having worked across multiple industries has allowed Sophie to develop and implement best practice policies and processes to support AMPS’ growing team.
What do you consider the best achievement in your career?
My best achievement would have to be successfully setting up and creating a small business. The business was set up in 2011, sold in 2016 and is still a successful business today.
What have you experienced or would like to see more of to promote a positive and flexible working environment?
I have been fortunate enough to have worked with incredible leaders within the small business industry who are huge advocates for promoting gender diversity, whether it be creating a more flexible working environment or creating gender-neutral roles within their business, allowing new and more diverse opportunities within the business and for potential employees. I would like to see more of what is already being done.
Julia Hasche
Julia is an experienced Production Engineer who is currently providing us with her in-depth knowledge of Engineering for our training courses and brand awareness assistance with our upcoming podcast series.
What do you consider the best achievement in your career?
Although it was right at the start of my career, the two things I am most proud of are, firstly, my thesis that I undertook during my vacation work (so technically I was still at uni). My thesis was on The Application of Lean and the Theory of Constraint to Improving the Underground Development Cycle at The Ernest Henry Mine. I was really proud of this study because I am very passionate about continuous improvement in mining and maximising efficiency. The study resulted in the development cycle being a third of the duration than it was prior to the study, and was referenced in many papers after that. During the study, I also had to navigate and overcome many challenges around opposition from miners as a female in the mining industry. That was very tough psychologically but I got through it. And I am very proud of that achievement. The second achievement I am proud of is doing my underground time on crew. I grew up as quite a “girly girl”. Never did I imagine myself working underground. Once again, I had to prove my worth to the miners as a woman in the mine. Being a young female graduate engineer was twice as hard, and to be honest, a bit too much for some of the older generation to get their heads around. When I first started I was the princess (as they not so affectionally called me over the radio). But I was determined to prove that I could do anything just as well as a man and work even harder than anyone. It was bloody hard work. But by the end of it? All the shift bosses told me that I worked harder than most of the men they’d had on the crew. Many of the miners apologized for the way they had treated me and I had earned their respect. Even now, when I am faced with a challenge I remind myself of that time in my life and know that I am capable of anything I set my mind to.
What have you experienced or would like to see more of to promote a positive and flexible working environment?
To be very honest, when I considered becoming a mining engineer, I did not think if this would be a good career choice down the track with a family. If I had thought about it at the time, I’m not sure I would have gone ahead with it (though I am now very glad I did). It can be very challenging to be a woman in mining with a child. FIFO is not a role I would now (personally) take on, and moving to a residential mining town (as a now single mum) does not particularly appeal to me. I want to be around my family and friends. There are some companies that definitely make it easier to have a flexible working environment (e.g. school hours) when working on site and that is really great, but for many others – flexible work arrangements are still not an option. And as a mum, that can be hard. For me, I saw my option in the mining industry as a woman (and a single mum) as working in a mining consulting business or a mining company HQ or similar – a city-based role. Living in Sydney and (not a mining heavy city like Perth) the options were scarce. The opportunity at AMPS came at a perfect time. Being able to work my own hours, and from home has been the most amazing blessing and I am just so grateful to have this role because I know that this sort of arrangement is not something that I would necessarily come across again any time soon. I love that I can work before my daughter wakes up or after she has gone to bed (and not when the building is unlocked), and I am still; available to pick her up from school. AMPS is really setting a beautiful example for the industry. Women need more opportunities like this!
Maria Then
As our Mine Geologist, Maria provides geological support and contract work on site, along with technical department optimisations and system implementations. Maria’s experience with operational gold has been a massive benefit to our Geology team.
Florencia Martin
Florencia is our Production Engineer, she assists clients with on-site engineering requirements and short to medium term planning and scheduling. Florencia has worked across the world on various sites and brings this worldly knowledge to the benefit of us at AdvancedMPS.
What do you consider the best achievement in your career?
Amanda Stanners
Amanda is our Production Engineer currently assisting us part-time with the training courses we run on Drill and Blast Fundamentals and Processes. Her valuable Engineering background has proven pivotal in the development of our training course.