Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Ben de Somer and I’m the Environment and Community Manager at Hunter Valley Operations.
When did you start in the mining industry and what was your first job?
In 2001 after completing University, I walked into a local environmental consultancy in Singleton and asked if I could possibly do some unpaid work experience. Fortunately, this translated into offering me a role within their field monitoring team, undertaking various environmental monitoring programs for mining operations throughout the Hunter Valley.
How different is your job now to what you wanted to be when you were a kid?
I remember back in high school when it was time to select HSC subjects and I had absolutely no idea what I really wanted to do except that Uni seemed like a good option. I asked a mate of mine what he was thinking and he replied Environmental Science. I took a look at the course description and saw physics and chemistry were not mandatory and thought yep, that’s the one for me.
What’s a usual day at work entail?
It’s got to start with coffee. After that it’s our daily E&C Team meeting reviewing last 24hr performance and what’s planned next. Maintaining compliance with our approval obligations is the aim of the game so each day is spent supporting my team. We undertake our monitoring and reporting programs, onsite land management, cultural heritage and rehabilitation activities, as well as manage our wider landholdings, offset areas and community investment programs.
What’s the best thing about your job?
One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is seeing land that has been mined rehabilitated into something productive and meaningful. Being able to blend my farming background with mining rehabilitation and give the landscape a useful post-mining future is incredibly satisfying. I also genuinely enjoy the team environment—the camaraderie, support, and shared sense of purpose.
The worst thing?
Definitely the emails. So many emails.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?
Learning how to lead a team. It’s one thing to know your technical stuff, but leading people is a whole different skill set. It took time, and I’m still learning, but it’s been worth it.
What’s something about your job that would surprise people to know?
Most people would be surprised by the sheer amount of planning, design work, and technical effort that goes into mine rehabilitation. It’s not just about filling in holes—we invest a significant amount of time and expertise to ensure the land is safe, stable, and productive, long after mining ends.
What’s your best advice for people entering the industry?
Get ready to learn a new language. Mining has more jargon and acronyms than you’d think possible. Just ask questions and you’ll pick it up fast.
The mining industry gets more than its fair share of criticism. What is your view of our industry and the impact it has?
Mining has always been, and will continue to be, an essential industry for both our nation and our region. It underpins our way of life, supports local communities, and creates economic opportunities that ripple far beyond our mine sites. At the same time, we’re constantly striving to improve our environmental performance and the positive impact we have on the communities around us. We know we’re not perfect, but there is a genuine commitment across the industry to keep doing better.
