We recently spoke to Gold Industry Group Gold Class Facilitator and Gold Fields’ Manager Sustainable Development Matt Collier about his passion for innovation and what excites him about working in Australia’s gold industry.
What excites you about the gold industry?
The gold industry in Australia has a long, rich history and it provides great value for WA’s economy but also for the communities that we operate in. It is great to work in an industry like that. But I get most excited hearing about all of the innovative projects throughout the gold industry, where companies are looking to work smarter, more efficiently, and more sustainably.
The increased focus on ESG sustainability aspects within the industry makes it such a vibrant and rewarding place to work and develop in. In many ways, the mining industry and in particular the gold industry is paving the way in sustainability.
Tell us about your position?
My role as the Manager for Sustainable Development at Agnew Gold Mine is very diverse. I am responsible for the teams delivering OHS and training, emergency services and security, and environment and community support.
The team I oversee engages with and supports all other departments at Agnew, which means we get to know everyone across the operation. We get to peek into their worlds and help them make their workplaces safer and more sustainable.
What is your favourite part of your role?
The most rewarding part of my role is seeing positive change throughout the mine site as a result of my team and helping to influence people across the site to make better decisions.
The diversity of the role also excites me. Every day is different, one day I can be working with our stakeholders and community members, and the next watching the emergency response team test their skills in their training sessions. Safety is the number one value at Gold Fields and our ultimate goal is for everyone to go home safe and healthy every day. I love seeing this come to life through the passion of our OHS team.
However, my number one favourite part of my role is leading a team, building the team culture, and watching team members succeed in their careers. This is what really drives me in my position.
What is your biggest achievement and why?
I'm very proud of my family, my wife, and my three young children. Gold Fields is very supportive of family commitment and it’s great they give me the ability to balance work and life.
I was fortunate enough to bring my family out to the Agnew mine site on one of our camping trips. It was amazing to see the kids’ faces as they investigated the many wonders of the mining world. The fact that Gold Fields offer a great parental leave program also meant I got to spend some quality time at home with our most recent addition without having to eat into the annual leave.
What is your most memorable experience?
Having come up through the mining industry from an environmental background, I was very pleased to be involved in the Agnew renewable hybrid project. Winning the DMIRS Golden Gecko award for environmental excellence capped off this amazing project which took a great number of people to make happen.
I have also been lucky to travel both internationally and within all parts of Australia while working in various roles in the gold industry. I still think Western Australia has some of the most impressive country in the world and in my role I feel privileged to see more of it than most other people.
Why did you become a Gold Class Facilitator in the Gold Industry Group’s National Gold Education Program?
I felt inspired seeing all the work and time the GIG team has put into supporting opportunities around the gold industry. When the opportunity arose to be involved as a Gold Class Facilitator I saw it as a small chance to give back to the industry that has given me so much.
Coming from a science background myself, I am also passionate about the STEM programs that schools and organisations such as GIG offer. It would be great to see more kids enter into the sciences and maybe even end up in the gold industry one day.
What advice would you give to those considering studying a mining-related discipline?
Mining is such an exciting industry with so many different opportunities to explore and is also leading the way in innovation and development. It's a great place to kickstart your career with opportunities you may never have realised possible. Give it a good go, ask plenty of questions along the way, and be ready for an exciting ride.
What do you do with your spare time?
My favourite thing to do in my spare time is hang out with my family. The roster I work with and the flexibility our company offers its employees means that we can get away camping on my longer breaks or have to time off for school holidays. I also play hockey and do the odd triathlon.