See US, be US
Groundwork Plus environmental consultant Johannah Mannix has loved every step of her journey in the extractives industry.
What’s your current job role and what does this involve?
Environmental consultant at Groundwork Plus. I assist the senior environmental consultant with compliance matters and reporting, as well as get out in the field for sampling when required. I also manage the day-to-day scheduling for the environmental team.
How long have you been in the industry?
A bit over two years, with 10 years in veterinary nursing beforehand.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
I love being organised and having a plan of attack, which makes me very good at managing the workflow for the team. I also love to problem solve to create the best outcomes for us as a business, and our clients. This role is able to deliver on both these fronts, as well as giving me the opportunity to connect and learn from others in the industry. I love getting out and about and seeing different sites and how they work.
How do you maintain a work-life balance?
I try and stick to set working hours and try not to let it intrude on my home life (and vice versa). These work hours can sometimes fluctuate over the week depending on the level of field work that may be required, so can sometimes be a bit of give and take. As mentioned previously, I love to plan and schedule my time, so always aim to have a plan of attack in my head if I know a week is going to be busy to keep a balance.
Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give yourself in your first week in the industry?
Just dive in and don’t be afraid, get out of your comfort zone and keep working hard, people recognise hard work. Everyone in this industry is so friendly and will all aim to help you if you ask for it.
Can you share a challenging moment and tell us how you worked through it?
In being a field officer initially, many of my challenges were more practical based. Any I encountered just needed a calm head and some problem solving/outside of the box thinking to work through and find the best possible outcome for the business/client.
Do you have any regrets?
None that I can think of, I have loved every step of my journey in this industry so far and am excited for what the future has to bring. Granted, some steps have been harder than others, but they have all been educational and I have learnt and grown so much in the past two years.
What advice would you give women who may never have thought about the extractive industry?
Jump in and give it a go. There are so many people to learn from, and the worst that could happen is you develop some new skills!