Q&A with Adrienna Robotham

NAME
Adrienna Robotham

TITLE
Geotechnical Engineering Manager Open Cut at Anglo American Steelmaking Coal

QUALIFICATIONS   
BSc Hons (Geology), MMEng (Geomechanics), MAusIMM CP, RPEQ (Geotechnical)

Everyone has a story to tell, and this month we asked Geotechnical Engineering Manager Open Cut at Anglo American Steelmaking Coal, Adrienna Robotham the hard questions.

What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning?

My boisterous kids, any opportunity to spend time outdoors, and heading off to a job and career which I enjoy.

Why did you choose your career and how did you get to your current position?

I was fascinated with volcanoes as a child – especially the hazard management aspect (i.e. how to prevent fatalities). Growing up in Queensland this led me to a degree in geology with special interests in volcanology and structural geology. When I started working as a geologist, I quickly realised that I missed the ‘hazard management’ element of my interests, and geotechnical engineering provided that.

I completed a Masters in Geomechanics and spent a good five years at  a couple of mine sites. After that, I travelled with work a lot for a couple of years, supported multiple sites at once and enjoyed the multi-tasking and rapid decision-making involved. From there, I moved into a technology/projects geotechnical role where I learned a lot from a wonderful leader about motivating individuals and leading high performing teams. In 2022 I was offered a role managing mid- to long-term geotechnical work and supporting the geotechnical team at two open cut sites.

I’ve never really chased a new job, and have always been happy where I am, but I have to say, when a new challenge presents itself, I’ve found it very difficult to say no.

What is your favourite part of your job? 

Attracting and retaining geotechnical engineers who love their job and working with them.

Plus solving ‘big picture’ problems with minimal data.

What do you find most challenging about your role? 

As above. The most satisfying parts of any role are also the most challenging!

What is one thing you would like to change about the mining and geotechnics/rock engineering industry?

The pathways available for becoming a Chartered/Registered Professional Geotechnical Engineer in Australia. There are so many fantastic geotechnical engineering practitioners who are career limited because of their undergraduate degree, and there is no easy postgraduate pathway forward. We need to change this to allow practitioners who want to work in the field to have access to relevant postgraduate courses and a career pathway.

What areas of the industry or trends do you think will become more important in coming years?

Mining companies, including geotechnical engineers, seem to have been collecting increasing volumes of data since I started working 15 years ago. From my observations, owning this mass of data hasn’t drastically improved how site geotechnical engineers perform their day-to-day job. I hope there are step changes just around the corner to:

1. Make collection of data faster (or cut out time wasting work) and

2. Make full use of the data that we do collect.

If you could invite three people, alive or dead, to dinner – who would they be and why?

Lin-Manuel Miranda. Has a cooler person ever existed?

Laura Tyler, who I admire for her work on attracting and retaining quality technical people to the mining industry.

And (of course) my Dad. He was a personal and professional cheer squad for me, and I miss him very much!

What moment of your life would you want to relive – and would you change anything?

Life is fantastic – I’d love to relive almost everything, and yet nothing at all. Having kids has taught me to slow down and be present in the moment, and that’s much more grounding and satisfying than looking backwards.

What is the best advice you have ever been given? 

“Ease up, Turbo”

Most of my work nicknames pertain to my desire to do and fix everything all at once; it’s how I’m wired. It’s important to direct your enthusiasm where it can make the most impact.

What advice would you give to someone considering geotechnical or rock engineering as a career?

Do it! It’s an incredible job with so much scope for travel (or staying put if you prefer), flexibility, and to make a difference to the world while doing something interesting and rewarding. Seek variety and site work early on in your career and follow what interests you from there.