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Simone Wetzlar

A picture of Simone Wetzler

Name:
Simone Wetzlar
Age:
45
Location:
Brisbane

Current job title

Chief Operating Officer, Australian Mining Thiess Pty Ltd (March 08)

Qualifications

16 subjects at Post Graduate level in General Management (equivalent to MBA)

Past experience

How did you get started?

I started in construction as a cadet on a NSW grant for "women in non traditional roles".

Greatest professional achievement

My recent promotion to Chief Operations Officer Australian Mining in Thiess, responsible for operational performance of 12 mines throughout Australia – both coal and metalliferous.

Thiess Mining is a contracting service provider to mine owners such as BHP, Peabody Resources, Xstrata, Wesfarmers, Oxiana, Tarong Energy and other smaller mining companies. In our mining business we employ approximately 2,500 direct employees and over 800 contractors.

Challenges the job presents

Helping to enable what has been a more siloed geographically-based business to share ideas and leverage off each others' success. This lifts the performance of the entire business and achieves 'Professional Consistent Delivery' for our clients to meet their needs.

What you like most about your job

The challenge of working in and leading a high performance leadership team, which focuses on the delivery of an incident and injury free workplace, achieving our company business targets and enabling our clients to reach their business goals. The creation of a culture of 'Professional Consistent Delivery' across the country for our clients by the engagement of all employees at every level in our business goals. We do this through a supportive culture and business process that enables us to leverage off good ideas and practice and the open sharing of information.

To be a senior woman in our field and to help create more opportunities for women to join our industry. Some approaches we are taking at Thiess are to place the topic of diversity and women on to our executive meetings, site management meetings and through the introduction of initiatives aimed at educating/coaching men about how to work with women and visa versa, and the benefits of such a match. Discussions and education initiatives are an important part of preparing the work environment to aid the attraction and retention of women.

Personally I was honoured to win the Resources Award for Women last year and the Prospects 'Mining Manager of the Year' award. Both have provided me with opportunities to talk to community groups and school children, for example to encourage them to join the industry.

Typical day at work

Safety discussions, tender reviews/cost reviews, meetings with direct reports, leadership meetings, strategy sessions involving plant, people and business opportunities.

Advice for other women

Join the field and participate in industry groups for support networks. Find senior mentors in your company who appreciate the diverse aspects that women can bring into a largely male-dominated industry, and who will help you through your career. Mentors who support you in a paternal way are not necessarily the best mentors. Be proud of the differences you as a woman bring to the table.

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Last updated: 20 October 2008