Who are you and what do you do?
Pete Jandzio and I have recently started as the Mining Engineering Manager at Maxwell UG near Muswellbrook.
When did you start in the mining industry and what was your first job?
I started in 2006 as a vacation student at a Hunter Valley Open cut as an operator driving haul trucks then later became a graduate Mining Engineer in an Underground.
How different is your job now to what you wanted to be when you were a kid?
Quite different, I wanted to be a pilot flying high above the ground but am now a miner tunnelling below it.
What’s a usual day at work entail?
There is no usual day, each day is always different in some way which is what makes this job and industry so exciting, interesting and rewarding.
What’s the best thing about your job?
The people, this industry has great people in it and I enjoy mentoring, coaching and bringing out the best in them by challenging they way they think and seeing them solve problems and get results they never thought possible. It is also very rewarding being part of a team and getting people to work together to achieve a safe profitable coal mine.
The worst thing?
The people, but it is usually different people to the ones noted above.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?
Starting as graduate Mining Engineer and getting the “street cred” with the workforce, supervisors and staff where they would actually listen to you and even come seek advice and guidance to become part of the team, this just took time and patience as well as a willingness to get involved and learn. It has also been challenging learning to prioritise your work, there is always a lot going on each day and it is a critical skill to master so you are always taking a step forward even if small. You need to be able to see the forest through the trees for the best long term sustainable results.
What’s something about your job that would surprise people to know?
It’s not the high flying glamourous job people may think it is.
What’s your best advice for people about to enter the industry?
Do it, there are endless opportunities, support and there is never a dull moment. It is hard work no doubt, but the rewards are well worth it. Not all jobs in mining suit everyone but there is definitely a suitable job for everyone in this industry, you just need to keep looking until you find it.
The mining industry gets more than its fair share of criticism. What is your view of our industry and the impact it has?
This industry still has a very bright future even though coal is a dirty word in many circles. Mining of our natural resources is necessary for development, construction and advancement of our world and is critical nothing is possible without some form of mining.
As far as coal goes until we develop a sustainable reliable cheap base load power system coal will be here to stay for a while in Australia and around the world. In terms of impact I would say the positives far outweigh the negatives, mining is a major contributor to the economy both to the country through royalties as well as for individuals and the jobs created and benefits to society. In terms of impact to the environment we have come a long way forward and under current legislation and our licenses to operate this means that mining companies are required to leave the area in the same if not a better condition than before it was mined.
