Do you know someone in Year 11 or 12 who is considering a career in the resources industry?
Applications are now open for the next Focus on Mining camp: 3 – 7 July 2023
Focus on Mining is a Kalgoorlie based five-day residential camp for Year 11 and 12 high school students to experience what it’s like to study and work in the mining industry. Participants tour operational mine sites, participate in hands-on workshops, and meet lecturers, students, and mining industry leaders.
We are seeking URGENT EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST from friends of the WASM Alumni, who may have a spare room to accommodate one or more students in Kalgoorlie. The terms of which, free or paid, will be determined through a more formal process.
At this stage, there are 40 students which need to be accommodated in Kalgoorlie.
On behalf of the WASM Alumni Council, we extend our thanks to anyone who can support this initiative and will endeavour to keep you up to date as we make progress.
WASMA very proudly welcomed its newest members into the Alumni and celebrated those reaching 25 years since graduation at the Perth Graduates event on 10 February at the Ritz-Carlton. This year, the event’s format changed from a lunch to a cocktail function allowing many more recent graduates to attend.
WASMA Bentley Branch Chair Colin Roberts MC’d the event with the Welcome to Country by Robyn Whadjuk Ballardong Yorga Collard and her grandson and didgeridoo player Tryse Rioli. Speakers included WASMA President Kyle De Souza who spoke from the heart about the support he has received from the WASMA community throughout his career to his current position.
Others speakers were: Curtin University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research Professor Chris Moran and Minister for Mines and Petroleum The Honorable Bill Johnston MLA.
The keynote speaker was Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Mincor Resources Gabrielle Iwanow who spoke about her career journey and the importance of recognising that career pathways were not always linear.
WASMA announced its latest award winners with the WASMA Gold Medal going to Will Vaisey.
The gold medal is awarded to a student who has not only excelled academically but has also shown involvement in extracurricular activities such as community engagement and industry leadership.
Will was involved in clubs and societies both internally, through the WASM Social Club and the Wombats Mining Games Team, and externally through the Railways Football Club and the South Kalgoorlie Running Games Team. Most significantly, Will was responsible for the inauguration of the WASM Football Club in 2022, which raised more than $20,000 for the not-for-profit organisation, Miners’ Promise. The judging committee noted that this mountain of work was also completed during his fourth year of study and after the unfortunate passing of his father.
Congratulations Will.
The WASMA silver medals recognise the highest achievers in each of the disciplines.
Saif Al-Yaaribi
Petroleum Engineering
Kate Woodall
Applied Geology
Kai Wai Hung
Spatial Science
Kate Leekong
Chemical Engineering
Will Vaisey
Mining Engineering
Sandrine Symons
Metallurgical Engineering
Eyad Ahmad Halawani
Geophysics
Congratulations to our medallists and all recent and 25-year graduates.
WASMA also thanks Northern Star Resources Limited, Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions and Curtin University for their ongoing support for WASMA and these events.
WASMA recently launched the 2023 Sponsors Guide which gives industry members the opportunity to showcase their company through WASMA’s social media, website and event reach.
With a host of different events and programs scheduled for 2023, we hope you will join us as we Refine and Redefine who we are, amongst clear global trends to decarbonise.
No matter your size, we have an opportunity for you. Sponsorships start from $500.
Please contact us at admin@wasma.com.au if you are interested in sponsoring.
Congratulations to long-serving WASMA Council member Darren Stralow (Class of 2001), who has been appointed Managing Director of Bellevue Gold Limited. Alongside Darren is fellow WASMA member Bill Stirling (Class of 2006) who was promoted to Chief Operations Officer.
Darren has been instrumental in the revitalisation of WASMA’s free mentoring program.
We look forward to seeing what they achieve together!
It’s 5:23am, and I’m in the office. I thought leaving FIFO was supposed to mean sleep ins?
My office is on the 18th floor and faces south. From my desk I have a beautiful view of the Derbarl Yerrigan (the Swan River), the Dyarlgarro Beeliar (Canning River) and the Perth hills. At this time of the year, there is a magic that shines over the State in the early hours of the morning. Something that I have become accustomed to, like you, from all those years working in remote operations around the world. All very enjoyable before the flies come out!
Perth however, is more than just a beautiful city. It is a city which will grow in global importance in the years to come and become central to global decarbonisation efforts.
27 years ago, our family migrated here with little more than a few suitcases and barely enough money to buy a car. Fast forward to my time at Curtin University’s WA School of Mines in Perth and in Kalgoorlie and all of the subsequent experiences (good and bad), I feel like education and advice from mentors has always been the catalyst for the good in my life.
In a WASM Alumni Council onboarding session two weeks ago, we asked ‘Why are you here’ and the resounding message was – to give back. I am proud and honoured to work alongside such a distinguished group of Councillors who want to give back during this pivotal moment in the resources sector. A team with the practical skillset to design, finance and operate a mine anywhere in the world. A team that is corporate savvy, well networked and attuned to the needs of all stakeholders. A team that is ready to give back.
At the WASMA President’s Lunch in September, we held a survey on industry needs. The top four results conducted by Culture Radar showed that the industry participants want us to focus on producing industry ready professionals. We will continue to work closely with WASM:MECE Head of School Professor Michael Hitch and the rest of the Curtin team to ensure we can deliver industry ready graduates to the industry.
People are, and always will be the secret sauce at WASM and the Alumni, and it is our intention to leverage our combined knowledge and influence to drive positive change by bringing people together. At the recent WASMA Sandvik Annual Gala this year we had many students from Kalgoorlie make their way to Perth for it. It got me thinking, Kalgoorlie doesn’t just immerse WASM students in the mining community, it teaches them the grit and determination to show up. And in the face of the challenges we have before us – this unique trait of WASM grads will shine again.
As we draw a close to 2022, I want to thank our outgoing President Christian Price for his steadfast determination and commitment to the WASM Alumni in his three-year tenure in this role. Christian has led the organisation through a difficult time and we are proud of the achievements made during this period. I’d like to highlight a few of these initiatives.
Christian created the most diverse Council we have ever had.
Guided and supported students, staff and alumni during COVID.
Under Christian’s leadership, we saw the relationship with Curtin grow from strength to strength. Something we will continue to develop as key partners.
Christian co-founded CoRE Foundation with Suzie Urbanek, which has now become one of the largest STEM pipelines for the resources sector.
On behalf of the WASM Alumni, we thank Christian and his wife Kate (also a WASM graduate) for their immense service to our community.
I also want to thank the Councillors who have recently stepped down. Michelle Keegan, David Harwood and Warwick Jones. Michelle orchestrated the Resource, Innovation and Collaboration (RIC) nights and developed the strategy for the WASM Alumni two years ago. David Harwood was the Chair for the Bentley branch and was a vital link to students and research in Perth. Warwick Jones has been instrumental in the success of WASMA’s mentoring program.
We are very lucky to have Liz Blaxell our Executive Officer with us too. Liz works tirelessly to administer the Alumni. It’s a hard job and Liz gets on with it day in day out, catering to the needs of Council, Curtin and all our stakeholders with professionalism and passion. Thank you Liz.
We also thank our key sponsors, Curtin University, Sandvik and Northern Star for your ongoing support. We look forward to working and engaging with you for our exciting future as we Refine and Redefine who we are as an industry and alumni.
2022 will forever be referred to as ‘post COVID’. The world has voted, and policy makers around the world are now scrambling to make changes in key areas to stabilise and de-carbonise. These are areas where the WASM Alumni and WASM:MECE education and research will play a crucial role.
Council has met twice in the last month and has elected the following Councillors to chair sub-committees.
Alex Biggs – Chair of Finance, Partners and Sponsorships
Dean Vallve – Chair of Mentoring and Memberships (takes over from Darren Stralow). The mentoring program is FREE for everyone. Lookout for it next year.
Gemma Murphy – Chair of Outreach
Colin Roberts – Chair of the Bentley Branch
Boiketo Mazibeli – Chair of the Kalgoorlie Branch
Kyle De Souza – Chair of Events and Marketing
The wheels are accelerating for an exciting 2023. We hope you will join us and take the opportunity to sponsor, attend (show up) and contribute to the activities we have coming. We will have more information on how you can support us soon.
My wife Jamie-Lee and I are expecting our first child in early 2023. I hope we can all leave a legacy for the next generation which we (and they) can be proud of.
As always, I’m keen to hear your thoughts and ideas. I am available on 0408 760 695.
Curtin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne with previous WASMA Council President Raleigh Finlayson
Curtin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne started in her position in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. Due to travel restrictions, she hadn’t even visited Curtin’s Bentley campus before taking up the role. Just over 18 months since starting, we caught up with Professor Hayne to see how she has settled into the role and her vision for the University, and in particular WASM:MECE.
Can you summarise your experience since taking up the Vice-Chancellor role?
The first time I stepped foot on the Bentley campus was my first day of work, April 19, 2021. My move to WA required a leap of faith both on my part and on the part of the University Council who selected me. From my perspective, my leap of faith has made my life richer. I have been extremely impressed by what I have found here.
As you will all know, Curtin is known for its industry-engaged and industry-imbedded approach to education. It is also a university that is values-driven and believes in the principles of equity and social justice. It has been an honour and a privilege to lead this university over the last 18 months and I look forward to a bright and successful future.
In terms of Kalgoorlie, I visited the campus within weeks of arriving in WA. I spent much of my childhood in Colorado, so I grew up with the same red dirt and blue sky that characterises the landscape of the Goldfield’s region. I immediately felt at home. During that first visit, I had the unique opportunity to visit the Super Pit with Raleigh Finlayson, and he patiently provided me with a tutorial on open-pit mining. I also attended a graduation on that visit and the WASMA function later that night.
Since then, I have enjoyed multiple visits to the Kalgoorlie campus and I have had the opportunity to meet staff and students. One of my fondest memories so far was late last year when I travelled to Kalgoorlie for the Prime Minister’s announcement of the funding of our university department of rural health. Although the funding announcement was fantastic, the best part of that visit was the opportunity to watch students practicing for the mining games!
One of your main focuses has been the student experience – can you outline what this involves and how this has evolved from previous strategies?
For any high-performing organisation, each strategy plan should build on the one before it. Curtin’s strategic journey has been characterised by achievements that reflect the focus of our strategic direction at a particular point in time. For example, across successive strategies, we have worked to improve the quality and impact of our research and to strengthen and expand our presence around the Indian Ocean Rim. We will continue to do those things, but as part of Strategy to 2030, we will also have a laser focus on the student experience, including the quality of our teaching.
How does WASM:MECE fit into this?
As the oldest Curtin campus, WASM:WECE will continue to be a flagship for teaching, research, and industry engagement. We have a long history of preparing mining professionals for the world of work and our students are highly sought after once they graduate. I was particularly impressed that, during that first graduation that I attended in Kalgoorlie, every student who crossed the stage was already employed in the industry. Going forward, we need to work hard to find new ways to ensure that our students are not only successful once they graduate, but that they also have a world-class experience along the way. We are working with the Schools, the Faculties, and the students to make sure that the Curtin journey is engaging, enjoyable, and memorable.
What are some other areas you are focusing on?
Across the wider university, we have a number of high-profile projects on the go. Earlier this year, the Government announced funding for the Curtin-led Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer, valued at over $200 million. The Trailblazer will add significant value, resilience, and sovereign capability throughout Australia’s critical minerals and hydrogen energy value chains. This major partnership with government and industry will help to deliver the skills and the future workforce we need to realise the benefits from the resources that are essential components of clean energy technologies.
In addition, during his maiden speech to the sector, the new Minister for Education, the Honourable Jason Clare announced funding for the National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education. This funding will allow us to extend the current research footprint of the Centre to include the implementation and evaluation of new trials designed to increase the success of students from a wide range of equity categories. Although the Centre is located at Curtin, it will be a national resource for the higher education system.
We are also continuing to build on our commitment to enhancing the health and well-being of the people of rural, regional, and remote WA through both our medical school and the new university department of rural health that will have a strong presence in Kalgoorlie.
How can WASMA and industry help with these strategies?
The leading universities around the world are those that are blessed with a strong alumni base – just like WASMA. Alumni are a two-way bridge to industry and to the world at large. Not only do alumni provide scholarships and industry connections for our students, they also provide them with opportunities for work placements and, ultimately, jobs. But alumni do more than this. They bring good ideas to the University about the essential knowledge requirements of industry, which our researchers can then work collaboratively with industry to solve. The best student experience and the best innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens when universities and their alumni come together. That’s how strategies are delivered to the benefit of the whole community.
Registrations for WASMA’s 2023 Mentoring Program are due to open on 1 March.
WASMA very proudly welcomed its newest members into the Alumni and celebrated those reaching 25 years since graduation at the Perth Graduates event on 10 February at the Ritz-Carlton. This year, the event’s format changed from a lunch to a cocktail function allowing many more recent graduates to attend.
WASMA recently launched the 2023 Sponsors Guide which gives industry members the opportunity to showcase their company through WASMA’s social media, website and event reach.
Congratulations to long-serving WASMA Council member Darren Stralow (Class of 2001), who has been appointed Managing Director of Bellevue Gold Limited. Alongside Darren is fellow WASMA member Bill Stirling (Class of 2006) who was promoted to Chief Operations Officer.
