My career began as an exploration geologist in Western Sahara. After moving to Australia, I spent five years working as an exploration geologist in remote parts of Western Australia and the Northern Territory, gaining experience across a range of commodities and exploration projects for different companies. Most of these roles were campaign-style fly-in fly-out positions based in regional and remote areas.
At the time, I had not really considered how pregnancy might affect my career. When I became pregnant, I was assigned to a project involving extensive four-wheel driving, geological mapping and physically demanding RC drilling programs in remote parts of the Pilbara. Due to the nature of the work, I needed to disclose my pregnancy to my manager earlier than I had planned.
Shortly after presenting the project I had been working on, I was made redundant. I was asked to sign the redundancy paperwork that same day and was told that I should be happy with the package being offered, despite the fact that it meant losing my maternity leave entitlement and bonus. It was a difficult experience and one that made me realise how quickly circumstances can change and how vulnerable women can sometimes feel when starting a family.
Four years after having children, I started a Database Administrator role. The opportunity came at the right time, allowing me to step into the position while covering for a colleague during her maternity leave. When she returned on a part-time basis, we were able to job share, which provided valuable flexibility for both of us.
The transition was not without its challenges. I was learning an entirely new role at the same time as raising young children, often while my husband was away working FIFO on a variety of rosters. To make it work, we employed an au pair for six months. Having that extra support was invaluable and helped bridge the gap while I found my feet in a new career. Much of the responsibility for childcare, including daycare and kindergarten drop-offs and pick-ups, still fell to me when my husband was away, but the au pair gave us the flexibility and support we needed during a particularly demanding period.
We also had no family nearby to help, which made building a support network incredibly important. My mothers' group was an absolute lifesaver during those years, providing friendship, practical support, advice and reassurance when things felt overwhelming. Looking back, I am not sure how I would have managed those early years without that network around me.
Although the role remained connected to geology, it required learning a completely new set of skills and adapting to work that demanded sustained concentration and attention to detail. Balancing that learning curve with the realities of raising young children, including interrupted sleep and all the unpredictability that comes with family life, was not always easy. At the same time, it gave me the opportunity to build a new career path while maintaining a better balance between my professional and family responsibilities.
Looking back, the experience taught me a great deal about resilience, adaptability and the importance of having the right people around you. It showed me that careers do not always follow the path you originally imagined, and that sometimes the best opportunities come from being willing to take a chance on something new.
I also recognise how fortunate I was to have this opportunity within a flexible and family-friendly company. The ability to work part-time, job share and adapt my work around family commitments made a significant difference and played a major role in making this career transition possible.
If I could offer one piece of advice to women working in the resources industry, it would be to think about flexibility before you actually need it. Career plans can change quickly once children arrive, and having options can make a huge difference. I would also encourage women to know their rights, keep records of important conversations and decisions, and not be afraid to advocate for themselves when needed.
My career today looks very different from what I imagined when I started out as a field geologist, but I am grateful for where it has led me. The challenges along the way have helped shape both the professional and the person I have become, and I am proud of the career I have built while raising a family.