Who are you and what do you do?
Hi! I’m Kristen Dillon and I manage compliance across both people and business operations, ensuring our practices meet industry, legislative and site-specific standards. A big part of my role is supporting both the field and office teams to stay aligned with company standards and mine site expectations.
When did you start in the mining industry and what was your first job?
I started in the mining industry just under two years ago, with Hoses24. My role has changed slightly over my time here; however, I’ve consistently focused on supporting both people and operational compliance.
How different is your job now to what you wanted to be when you were a kid?
Very different! I wanted to be a hairdresser as a kid.
What’s a usual day at work entail?
My usual day involves a mix of compliance, safety and people-focused tasks. I review and manage incident reports, ensure safety procedures and documentation are up to date, and oversee onboarding and inductions for new starters. I also monitor areas like training, licences, vehicle records and site access requirements.
What’s the best thing about your job?
The best thing about my job is definitely the people I work with and the team culture we’ve built. It’s rewarding to know that what I do helps keep things organised and running smoothly, especially when it means making life easier for the team out in the field.
The worst thing?
Juggling all the different requirements across mine sites for both people and the business – it can be challenging at times, balancing all the moving parts.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?
Would have to be the lingo and acronyms in the mining industry – there are so many!
What’s something about your job that would surprise people to know?
No two days are exactly the same – one day you could be organising Coal Board Medicals, and the next day investigating a safety incident. This role can also be quite reactive if urgent compliance/safety issues arise.
What’s your best advice for people about to enter the industry?
Keep an open mind about what type of role you would like to do. There are so many career opportunities and pathways in the mining industry that what you initially thought was your dream career could change to something completely different!
The mining industry gets more than its fair share of criticism. What is your view of our industry and the impact it has?
Mining activities provide us with critical resources and materials, many forms of employment and strong economic support for local communities.
The industry is heavy on rules and regulations, however that is to ensure that its people and the environment are looked after. Ensuring we stick to sustainable mining practices that minimise environmental impacts will allow the industry to continue supplying our country with the resources it needs and the economic support to regional communities.
