In this episode, we chat to Darren Stralow, Chief Development Officer at Northern Star, an Australian gold producer with Tier-1 world-class projects located in highly prospective and low sovereign risk regions of Australia and North America, and who have a portfolio of low-cost, high-grade underground gold mines, and who are listed on the ASX. 

We talk about the key attributes and major differences about degrees in the past, to the new degrees that should be taught now and beyond, and why and how we can improve the image of mining with the younger generation.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The whole mining industry got a wake-up call last year, when there was a sudden and drastic drop in enrolments for mining engineer positions in Australian tertiary institutions.
• There used to be over 200 mining graduates per year from Australian universities. In 2018, there were under 40 first-year students enrolled in the entirety of Australia. For an industry that contributes so much to the Australian way of life, this was alarming.
• Automation, digitisation and electrification are all advances that are changing the face of the industry. But we must never lose sight of the fact that this is primarily a people business, and that people can never be replaced.
• The scientific basics of engineering, mining methods and technology, should form the core of all mining education, as well as the licence to operate, and how mining contributes towards society.
• We need to show that the industry is progressive. It’s not just digging holes. There are other focus points, and a universe of pursuits that can range from everything from health to science.

.BEST MOMENTS

‘We obviously haven’t done ourselves any favours in terms of perception of the industry’

‘We were doing something wrong when it came to attracting people to the industry’

’The industry has been changing in recent years’

‘We can’t lose focus on the fundamentals’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

 

Dig Deep – The Mining Podcast on iTunes

Darren Starlow will be speaking at the upcoming IMARC Conference in Melbourne from 29-31st October where he will be doing a presentation around “The Mining Engineering degrees of the future: How these must differ from the past and include new and relevant skills”. 

Dig Deep has partnered with the International Mining and Resources Conference event in Melbourne where global mining leaders connect with technology, finance and the future. Now in its 6th year, it is Australia’s largest mining event bringing together over 7000 decision makers, mining leaders, policy makers, investors, commodity buyers, technical experts, innovators and educators from over 100 countries to Melbourne for four days of learning, deal-making and unparalleled networking.

All Dig Deep listeners can receive 10% off tickets when you register with the discount code DIGDEEP. Visit the website to purchase your ticket: https://imarcmelbourne.com/

ABOUT THE HOST

Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight to peoples experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.

 

Rob is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first world to third world countries from Africa, Europe, Middle East, Asia and Australia. We source, headhunt and discover new and top talent talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients organisation in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace.

 

CONTACT METHOD

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/

www.mining-international.org

https://twitter.com/MiningConsult

https://www.facebook.com/MiningInternational.org

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC69dGPS29lmakv-D7LWJg_Q?guided_help_flow=3