Who are you and what do you do?
I am Eliza Emmett, the Project Manager Carbon Planning & Abatement for Glencore Coal Assets Australia.
When did you start in the mining industry and what was your first job?
I graduated from university in 2010 and started work in 2011 for Glencore (then Xstrata) as a Graduate Geologist. My first job was at Tahmoor Underground.
How different is your job now to what you wanted to be when you were a kid?
Totally different! I wanted to be a pineapple farmer! In Grade 12, I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to do and was initially accepted into Veterinary Science. I decided to defer for 12 months and worked as a governess on a 45,000-acre cattle property near Clermont. During that time, I started to develop an interest in mining, which ultimately led me to change my degree to a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Geology.
What’s a usual day at work entail?
My role has two main components. The first is carbon planning, which involves working with our operations to forecast and report emissions. The second is abatement, where we focus on identifying and implementing projects that reduce our carbon exposure and overall emissions.
As a result, my day-to-day work involves significant engagement with a range of stakeholders – at the corporate level, across individual sites, and with external consultants and government bodies.
I’m currently based in Glencore’s Brisbane office, having previously worked at Tahmoor, Bulga, Rolleston and Oaky Creek.
What’s the best thing about your job?
Without a doubt, the people. Over my 15 years with Glencore, I’ve been lucky to work with so many talented and genuine people who have taught me a great deal.
The worst thing?
At times it can feel like the wins are few and far between. There are periods where challenges and setbacks seem to dominate, and over time that can start to wear you down.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?
In 2015, I moved from a relatively comfortable role as a Project Geologist in the Hunter Valley into a position well outside my comfort zone as an Exploration Manager at Rolleston, Queensland. At just 24, I packed up my life and relocated 1,200 km to live in a mining camp.
The exploration area was an hour from the mine, and I was responsible for managing a team of 15 while working with multiple private landholders. It was true greenfield exploration – we didn’t really know what we were going to find. The role was both incredibly exciting and, without doubt, the most challenging of my career.
What’s something about your job that would surprise people to know?
My career path from Geologist to Project Manager in the carbon space has been quite unique. Most of what I do in my role has been learned on the job, and the field continues to evolve with changing regulations and advances in technology. It’s exciting!
What’s your best advice for people entering the industry?
It’s important to remember that you don’t need to know everything from the start. While “fake it till you make it” can sometimes apply, it’s just as important to be open, show vulnerability, and ask for help when you need it.
The mining industry gets more than its fair share of criticism. What is your view of our industry and the impact it has?
I’m extremely proud of the role I play and of the mining industry more broadly. There are so many hardworking people doing an incredible job, and that’s something we should be proud of. Ultimately, mining underpins modern life, and it’s an industry I will always champion.
