b'Education matters example, twenty years ago there wasMS: Its a clean energy transition andbeing produced, because everyone significantly less of a spotlight onits already upon us, and so I thinkwanted to work in mining. However, this women in leadership. I dont reallyits definitely an evolution and not ahas really changed with the push for agree with quotas as I dont think usingrevolution. Theres not a requirementrenewable energy and net zero. Along discrimination to fight discriminationto completely transform within Tertiarythe way mining became synonymous makes sense, and you could end up in aeducation, and as mentioned before thewith environmental vandalism. It seems situation where it is perceived that youuniversities are really good at keepingmore difficult to get students interested havent found the best person for theup and even driving innovation. A lot ofin studying geology, as they associate role but, to fill a quota, youve found thethe roles within the oil and gas sectorgeology with mining, which has a poor best women for the role. No one wantsoverlap with low carbon industries inreputation environmentally. However, the that, not the business nor the women. Iterms of skills, but all sectors will needmining and petroleum industry is critical think that quotas definitely had a placeto evolve to ensure that the industryto a successful renewable sector. Critical initially in impelling the change. Itsgrows and develops to produce aminerals are required to build renewable clear that women do make great leaderssustainable, accessible and inexpensiveenergy infrastructure, and oil and gas and by highlighting diversity and theenergy supply. I think if anything, on thewill still be needed during the transition. positive impact it can have on a business,job training and technical educationThese are really important messages that acceptance becomes unconscious andare both required, because outside ofwe need to get out to students, and the ultimately thats how change becomesEurope theres not much knowledge oryounger they learn this the better. The normalised, almost by osmosis. Its notexperience, especially for things likeresources sector must improve the way it forced or resented, its just natural andwind farms. markets itself.progressive.In terms of university education there areIn Vietnam, researchers conducted a MP: I believe that we are just at thealready new degrees in energy systems,study to determine how to increase beginning of this transition. And Iclimate change, climate change policythe number of students enrolling in know a lot of women that make greatand, renewable energy engineering.their universities. Initially they spoke to leaders. Theres a definite skills shortage atstudents in their last year of high school, present as the renewable energy sectorto try to get them interested in going Digitalisation will acceleratecompetes with other sectors, includingto university. They were unsuccessful, oil and gas, during the transition. because by then the students had the clean energy transition already decided, or it was decided for them, that they were going to work in The impetus for clean energytheir parents or family business. They MS: I agree, and marketing the greathas been from societal pressurefound that in order to get students things that women are doing also really helps keep the momentumon world leaders, through peoplethinking that studying at university was going. An example is a study bycommunicating globally via thean option for them, they had to start McKinsey & Company, of more thanthis messaging very early in the early internet and social media years of primary school. I think we can 1000 companies in 15 countries thatapply this learning here. To get students has shown that organisations withto consider a career in the resources gender diverse executive teams andAt GSWA we are focused on geologyindustry, we have to start early. There boards outperform on profitabilityand data and so to come to GSWA inare organisations like AusEarthEd that compared with those that dont. It isa technical capacity you need to havepromote STEM in schools, but we have results like these that ultimately drivethose degrees. However, we are lookingto ensure our messaging is targeted to the change and once we normaliseacross the state more broadly, andlet the kids know how important the it, it isnt something that we aspire toconsidering how we can contribute toresources sector is to things like climate anymore, it just becomes somethingthe clean energy transition. There is anchange.that we do. Great leaders already knowobvious fit in terms of providing data the importance of diversity, they donton WAs critical mineral resources, orMP: Yes, we need energy-critical minerals need convincing. on options for geological abatement ofto ensure the clean energy transition in greenhouse gases using carbon captureAustralia and the world.MP: Yes, exactly. And thats what I am alsoand storage and mineral carbonation. trying to do. Women working in earthAt the moment GSWA can get this workMS: The mining and resources companies science, in science in general, are alreadydone using our existing diverse skill set. now work really hard to ensure doing excellent work, but also have to beenvironmental excellence. Their social connected, have to grow networks, andMP: Do you already feel that its difficultlicense to operate depends on it, but increase visibility to find specialists in a particular fieldthey live on this earth too. Mining has because there are not enough graduates? to overcome a legacy of environmental MS: Agreed, mentoring is also reallydamage by unknowing, and probably important and groups like WIMWAMS: The resources sector moves in cycles,at times unscrupulous operators. But (Women In Mining WA) do an amazingand during boom times it is hard formining today is very different to mining job of promoting women. organisations to attract specialists. I think50 years ago in this country.this could be exacerbated in the future by MP: Should we expect evolution orthe downsizing and closing of universityMP: What role does digitalisation play in revolution in Tertiary education to ensureearth sciences departments. In simplisticthe clean energy transition? What kind a smooth and efficient transition to cleanterms, when the mining industry wasof education is required to guarantee energy? booming masses of geologists wereefficient digitalisation of the sector?27 PREVIEW APRIL 2022'