The moment Diane Boakes stepped underground she knew she had found her place. At the time, she was studying a dual degree in Civil Engineering and Commerce at The University of Queensland, testing her options through internships in civil, structural and geotechnical roles. Mining was not the obvious choice. It was curiosity.
“What sparked my interest in mining and engineering was a mix of curiosity and a bit of luck,” shared Diane.
“The turning point came when I spent time underground at Cadia Mine in Orange. It was my first exposure to an underground hard rock operation and I was instantly hooked. From that moment, I knew I wanted a career underground.
“When a graduate role with BHP followed, I made it clear I wanted to be placed at an underground mine.”
That decision led her to Broadmeadow, where she has now spent five years. Instead of choosing the comfort of an office-based graduate pathway, Diane chose the coalface.
“I spent almost three years working as an underground coal mine worker. I earned multiple equipment tickets, operated machinery, and learned firsthand how production actually works at the face.”
While many young engineers begin behind a computer screen, she was driving equipment, understanding shift pressures and seeing the realities of production up close. The experience accelerated her development far faster than she expected.
“That time underground has shaped everything about how I work. It gave me a deep appreciation for the crews, the processes, and the realities of mining. It was the best foundation I could have asked for.”
Today, as a production engineer, her mornings begin reviewing production rates, downtime events and delays from the previous shift. But the numbers are only part of the story.
“A big part of my role is problem solving. I work with different teams to understand what’s happening underground, why something might be slowing production, and what we can do to improve it.
“No two days are the same, and that mix of routine and unpredictability is what keeps the role interesting. It’s a good balance of technical work and decision making.”
Since moving to Moranbah in 2021, the lifestyle has been just as formative as the work itself.
“Honestly, living in a mining community has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey. Moranbah might be small, but the sense of connection is huge. People genuinely look out for each other.”
Arriving alongside other graduates, she quickly formed close friendships.
“We became a very tight knit crew and spent every weekend camping, going to rodeos, road trips. Being located quite far from everything, I learnt to become much more intentional with my time and ensured I always had things planned for my days off.”
The isolation she had once heard about never materialised. Instead, she found belonging.
“There’s a lot of stigma around mining, whether it’s perceptions of tough cultures, boring lifestyles in small towns, or feelings of isolation. But my experience has been completely different.
“The biggest impact on my career so far has been the people I’ve had the privilege to work with. They’re genuine and wear their hearts on their sleeves, and I’ve never felt more empowered to be myself.”
Like many young professionals, confidence did not arrive overnight, but experience has shifted that perspective.
“A big challenge of mine has been finding my voice in an environment where everything is so fast paced and dynamic. Even with supportive teams, it can be intimidating at first to speak up or back your own judgement.
“Confidence grows with experience and I wish I backed myself sooner. At first, everything feels big and foreign. But over time you begin to see problems before they eventuate, learn the terminology and understand the workflow.It’s okay not to have all the answers.”
She also wishes she had sought mentorship earlier, particularly female mentors.
“Being in male dominated fields such as engineering and mining, I have never had a female leader. Only in the last two years have I reached out to have short term female mentors. They’ve been great to relate to and guide me.”
Beyond the mine site, Diane has sought perspective further afield including volunteering in a village in Fiji.
“It allowed me to immerse myself in a community that places a strong emphasis on gratitude and connection. We could see how content the villages were with what little they had.”
Diane said that rather than focusing on what was missing, the villages focused on what they could give. Meals were shared, homes were opened and cultural celebrations became invitations rather than events.
“They loved to give in the best way they could, which was to cook for us and invite us into their home for cultural celebrations.
“They shone a new perspective on how any ‘problem’ can turn into an opportunity to learn and experience new things.”
Looking ahead she is focused on growth, but not just her own.
“I want to step into roles that stretch me, whether that’s taking on bigger projects or having more influence over how we do things on site. I’d love to be in a position where I can help support younger people coming into the industry too.”
It is a natural full circle. The graduate who once chose the harder path underground now hopes to guide the next one.
For young people considering engineering or mining, her message is straightforward: math and science matter, but it’s how you apply them to real-world problems that counts.
“Go for it. This is the best opportunity to be closer to the action and the problem solving, but the best part is the range of people you get to meet and work with.”
