Count Her In: Making a difference in Victoria’s resources sector

For the week of International Women’s Day 2024, we are shining the spotlight on three women who are working at Resources Victoria.

For the week of International Women’s Day 2024, we are shining the spotlight on three women who are working at Resources Victoria.

International Women’s Day was established in 1977 by the United Nations to celebrate women’s rights. The theme for International Women’s Day 2024 is Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress.

One area where women are still the minority is the traditionally male-dominated Resources sector. But this hasn’t deterred Catherine Haar, Karen Sonnekus and Bessie Abbott from establishing careers in the Resources industry, and they encourage other women to do so too.

They are all successful women who have taken different paths to get to where they are today. Catherine has a direct connection to one of Australia’s well known historical events – the battle of the Eureka Stockade. Karen started her career in one of the world’s largest diamond mines before crossing the Indian Ocean to start a new life in the Australian outback. While Bessie didn’t let being the only female in her post graduate mining engineering course deter her from gaining the skills she needed to improve her career.

Catherine Haar - Geologist, Geological Survey of Victoria

Catherine Haar is a Geologist working in Geological Survey of Victoria. There was never any doubt that Catherine would end up in a career that involved rocks. Her love of Geology started in childhood when she would eagerly anticipate a visit to her grandparents’ home where she could spend hours examining the contents of jars filled with rocks from their travels. While she has less time in the field today, much of her early career was spent in the outdoors.

How did you get into a career in Resources?

The interest obviously came from my grandparents’ rock collection. I didn’t know much about Geology, I just knew I wanted to do it and learn about it, so when I left High school I enrolled in a Science/Arts degree at Monash University. I did an honours project that introduced me to the world of mining, focusing on a gold deposit in Western Australia. From there I worked in an underground coal mine in New South Wales. That was my first industry experience.

Were there women who inspired you?

My Aunty worked as a mining truck driver in West Australia, driving road trains, so she was always very supportive of my interest. But my grandmother also played a part, not just with her rock collection, but through her interest in family history. It turns out my great great great grandmother, Anastasia Withers, was one of the first women on the Victorian goldfields and she helped sew the Eureka Stockade flag. There were stories of how she used to hide little bits of gold under her petticoats. My current role is very much learning about the Victorian gold industry, and I love that there is a family connection.

What advice would you give on IWD to women who want to pursue a career in Resources?

It can be tough. The mining industry is very much male dominated, and I believe there needs to be more encouragement of men taking on flexible work arrangements across the industry. However, my advice for women would be to understand the unique value of what you have to offer, and to not forget this no matter which way your career goes.

Karen Sonnekus – Principal Geotechnical Engineer, Resources Victoria

In the 1990s Karen Sonnekus, who is now a Principal Geotechnical Engineer at Resources Victoria, was tossing up following a family tradition of joining the South African Navy or going to university to follow a passion for Geology. She accepted a scholarship and went to university to pursue her dream. That dream took her to her first job with DeBeers at their Finsch mine, which is one of the world's most significant diamond mines and South Africa’s second largest diamond operation by production.

How did you end up in Australia?

My husband got an opportunity in Australia for WMC in Western Australia in 2001. It was in the middle of nowhere near Kalgoorlie. I started working for WMC who were then taken over by Gold Fields Australia. I worked as an Exploration Geologist for Gold Fields at the St Ives mine in Kambalda, before getting a permanent position with Newmont at Kalgoorlie. That was probably one of the best times at a mine in terms of people culture and being recognised as a professional woman. There’s a big difference coming from South Africa where it’s very much male dominated. The culture isn’t as good and then coming to Australia and being recognised for my experience and qualifications. So that really changed the outlook for me in terms of how the Resources industry in Australia is being run.

What advice would you give to young women entering this profession?

Life takes you to places that you never thought you would go. I would never have thought I would work in mines and started out straight away working in a mine. Then again, I never thought I would be in Australia, and I am so blessed to be where I am today.
It may seem daunting, and in some cases still male dominated, but the culture in the industry has matured a lot. I would say embrace your passion and don’t let anything stand in your way to make things better for others in the future.

Bessie Abbott – Senior Estimator, Rehabilitation Liability Assessments and Bonds, Resources Victoria

Bessie Abbott is a Senior Estimator in Rehabilitation Liability Assessment and Bonds. She got her first job while backpacking in Northern Ireland when she accepted a role with a civil engineering company that had a couple of quarries. With an Arts and Environmental Science degree behind her she quickly added Occupation Health and Safety to her qualifications. After four years she returned to Australia and landed a role as a Regulations Officer in the Victorian Government and was the OH&S Inspector for mines and quarries.  That was 18 years ago and during that period Bessie has also found time to return to university and obtained her post graduate qualifications in mining engineering.

Did you have a mentor or role model who stood out during your career?

It was my first manager in the Victorian Government.  He taught me a lot, from supporting me to do my post graduate studies to providing the opportunities to act in different roles. Having that support from him made me feel comfortable in the Department as a younger engineer, but he also empowered me with decision making.

Have you noticed a change over the years about how women are perceived in the Resources industry?

A lot of my female friends were doing environmental engineering, the softer side of it. I was the only female doing post graduate civil engineering when I did it in 2010, it was all males. It has definitely changed now, but women are still underrepresented, and in saying that, females are generally the ones looking after the family and that side of things. It’s not something that is the most family friendly career, that’s why working for the government is much easier, they are much more flexible with family commitments.

What message would you give to other women thinking of a career in the Resources industry?

You’ve got to absolutely try it and take every opportunity that arises. Do what you love, and if you don’t love it find out what else you love.