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Corinne Unger

A picture of Corinne Unger

Name:
Corinne Unger
Age:
46
Location:
Brisbane
Current job title:
Self Employed Environmental Consultant specialising in mine rehabilitation and closure planning.

Qualifications

BScDipEd and post graduate Dip Geoscience (Macquarie University).

Past experience

NSW Soil Conservation Service, Goulburn then Cooma/Snowy Mountains (4 years); ERA, Ranger Mine, NT Rehabilitation and Research (planning and doing, then later managing), Jabiru then Darwin (10 years); QLD DME/NR&M, Rockhampton, Environmental regulation of mines, then Managed Mount Morgan Mine Rehabilitation Project - Abandoned Mine Land Program (6 years); Self-employed consultant, Brisbane, mine rehabilitation, research and closure planning (3 years).

How did you get started?

Research Assistant at uni working in Earth Sciences then first real job was NSW Soil Conservation Service.

Greatest professional achievement

Development of the Mount Morgan Mine Rehabilitation Project team (2000-2004) and the writing of the Rehabilitation Plan (2003) which included as Project Manager - getting sufficient funding, then pulling a team of eight together, despite everyone being temporary and the budget being uncertain from year to year. We planned and implement more than 50 projects which included a number of rehabilitation works as well as investigative studies and monitoring installations (eg. pit water limnology study and full groundwater monitoring network) whilst also managing site water management systems and trying to prevent the decay of heritage structures. Writing the work up in a plan for implementation then documented the findings from this work which enabled a range of options for future rehabilitation to be documented, whilst also providing funding options for government. Several grants were also won during this time.

Challenges the job presents

Currently travelling can be challenging as I have two children at school. My husband is a shift-working airline pilot and it is hard to plan travel very far ahead due to short term rostering. Working on abandoned mine projects for government departments can be challenging due to the uncertain long term funding of such projects which can lead to a lack of continuity with government personnel.

What you like most about your job

My work keeps me thinking, applies my experience and knowledge and also keeps me learning which is very important. Working with enthusiastic and intelligent people in multi-disciplinary teams to develop solutions.

Typical day at work

No such thing. Every day is different. A project often involves a site visit to a mine and an inspection of the area where my expertise is required, or meetings with others whose input is needed in the report or plan I will write. There is often a great deal of reading then writing, phone calls and emails then I write it up e.g. a rehabilitation strategy, research program or Scope of Works for a research project or monitoring program.

Advice for other women

Study the disciplines you enjoy, be focussed on what you want to be and do and persist, seek out good bosses and mentors, keep watching for new opportunities that pop up (secondments, relieving, audits, etc.), keep in touch with colleagues, be willing to travel and work/live in remote places and if you do, get involved in the community.

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Last updated: 8 April 2008