IM 2021 July 21 | Page 35

PASTE & TAILINGS 2021 growth : new roles to be filled by new staff . The industry would be well served to look at attracting more women into these roles .
Amanda Adams , Principal Geotechnical Engineer - Stantec
Attracting women to tailings
Tailings professionals come from a range of different backgrounds , because tailings projects require many facets of technical know-how . “ I enjoy that tailings projects are technically challenging and require multidisciplinary teams to execute the work ,” says Melanie Davis , a Senior Associate & Principal Engineer with Stantec who currently serves as Engineer of Record for several tailings storage facilities . Although her background is in geotechnical engineering , she works alongside a team of engineers and scientists with different technical specialties to execute projects . In addition to technical diversity , tailings projects also require coordination with teams across the mine , from permitting and environmental to long-term planning and production to closure and reclamation – tailings management is becoming more holistic .
Start early to attract talent
“ Exposing women to tailings projects early on in their careers and highlighting the interesting aspects of the projects ,” is key to attracting
Melanie Davis , Senior Associate & Principal Engineer -
Stantec
more women to tailings management careers according to Davis . Unfortunately , stand-alone tailings design courses have not historically been taught as part of either mining engineering or civil engineering departments . Careers in tailings were more of an accident than an intentional choice because students were not exposed to tailings in school . Recently , significant efforts have been made by several universities in the US , Canada and Australia to develop comprehensive tailings curriculums and even degree programs . By attracting female students to tailings at the university level , the industry will be even better positioned to continue the momentum it has gained and introduce more women to tailings as a career path . This is critical to filling the growing staff shortage and developing a sustainable pipeline of tailings experts to address the industry ’ s tailings management needs now and in the future .
Increasing visibility of female experts in tailings
As safe tailings management becomes more visible , tailings training courses , discussion panels , webinars and conferences are gaining prominence . These are high profile discussions and experts in tailings have been tapped to present on best practices , develop new policies and guidelines and drive the industry forward to its ultimate goal of zero failures . Women have been visibly present on many of the tailings expert panels and this change has not gone unnoticed . “ I used to be one of the only , if not the only , women involved on tailings projects or tailings committees ” says Adams , who is also the Chair of the US Society on Dams ( USSD ) Tailings Dams Committee . “ Now , I have many female colleagues and clients , who are recognised experts in the field . I work with talented and dedicated young women who want to follow that career path as well . Having women as role models at top levels in the industry makes all the difference .”
IM
New
Perspectives on Tailings Dams
World class tailings dam expertise for site selection , design , and Engineer of Record services for construction , operations and closure .
To learn more visit stantec . com / tailings-and-waste