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Amanda Mowatt

from Retail assistant to Senior Manager Health Safety and Environment
I manage a team of people who make sure we are not harming people or the environment
Industry
Mining and Resources
Company
Rio Tinto
Job Level
Senior

Ask me about

  • What it's like working in the middle of nowhere
  • Working in a male-dominated industry
  • The coolest place I've ever travelled to for work
  • What opened the door to land the job I wanted

About me

  • International Experience

I had no idea what I wanted to do other than leave school. I worked in retail, hospitality and as a labourer for the first few years of my working life and completed a TAFE course in Travel and Tourism. I was unable to secure work in that field so I started asking my friends questions about other options and discovered Environmental Science. The results I achieved in my TAFE course gave me entry to university and I completed a degree in Occupational Health and Environment while I worked full time. That degree, along with hard work has opened fabulous opportunities to do work that I love, travel and get paid well.

About my role

  • Calm
  • Disciplined
  • Focused
  • Optimistic
  • Passionate

Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Mangers oversee a very broad scope of work but ultimately, they are employed to eliminate or reduce harm to people and the environment. We have a long history of knowledge in our industry of what can cause harm so the HSE Manager must take the industry knowledge and apply it to their scope of work. The Health and Environment functions are often science based and involve understanding what can go wrong, knowing what controls need to be in place and monitor to make sure they are operating within allowable limits. Health typically considers longer term exposures to things like noise, dust, radiation, hazardous substances. It is an important discipline to make sure the things their workers are exposed to today don't hurt them in future years. Environment is similar to Health but the receptor is the environment rather than a person. Environmental risks may include water contamination, airborne contamination or land clearing and rehabilitation. Safety is all about preventing injuries and even worse fatalities. The HSE Manager has a good mix of field, office based, technical and practical work. It is a perfect position for those who enjoy variety.

Education

  • Certificate in Travel and Tourism
  • Bachelor of Applied Science in Occupational Health and Environment
  • Oxford University, Leading Sustainable Corporations

Subjects

  • Biology
  • English
  • Food and Technology
  • Geography
  • Mathematical Methods (Maths B)
  • Science

Hobbies

  • Beach adventures
  • Bike riding
  • Boating
  • Hiking
  • Seeing family and friends

Pets

  • 1 Dog

My career journey

Curious to know how I got here? Here’s a snapshot of my career pathway.
  1. Left school in Year 11
  2. Worked in various roles, studied at TAFE, found I was looking for more
  3. Started studying part time whilst working
  4. Volunteer and vacation work opened the door to the mining industry
  5. I have working in mining in a field I love for over 30 years

My typical day

My employer

Rio Tinto operates in 35 countries where its 60,000 employees are working to find better ways to provide the materials the world needs. Rio’s portfolio includes iron ore, copper, aluminium and a range of other minerals and materials needed for people, communities and nations to grow and prosper, and for the world to cut carbon emissions to net zero. Continuously searching for new projects that can support the energy transition, Rio Tinto is currently exploring for 8 commodities in 17 countries. The organisation has more than 150 years of mining and processing experience guiding its work and, today, the business relies on technology such as automation and artificial intelligence to help it run more safely, more efficiently and leave a lighter footprint.