A career in the resources (mining and oil & gas) industry can sometimes be a meandering journey with a few stops along the way. There are some detours required around barriers and some dead ends. There are so many paths it is difficult to generalise, but there are themes around having good foundations in your professional development, planning for cycles, good communication and career information.This site was developed as a way to provide that career information through lived examples of actual pathways taken by women in a variety of roles in the sector. In these profiles women talk about each of the following:

• Professional background, in particular, their current role and professional background and educational qualifications which led them to the industry

• Experiences working in the industry, including major career step changes, career risks, pros and cons of management for those in senior roles and the value of further study

• Working lifestyle, discussing various rosters and work arrangements, as well as any flexible options that they may have taken up for a better balance in other areas of life

• Being female in the industry, in particular, what it is like to be a woman in a largely male industry and how they have dealt with the challenges that can come with that, as well as the positive aspects

Some of the women who provided career profiles have indicated that they may be willing to chat further about their careers with others in the industry, or stakeholders including the media and Government seeking more information.To make contact please email the web secretariat at: wimwa_profiles@iinet.net.au