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Belinda Yaqub

from Working as a Dishwasher to Principal Engineer Strategic Planning
I help people connect big ideas, people and data in order to decide the future of projects
Industry
Mining and Resources
Company
Rio Tinto
Job Level
Senior

Ask me about

  • What an engineer actually does and if you need to be super smart
  • Why I choose mining when I didn’t know much about it
  • What mining engineering is and why it's different to digging a hole

About me

  • Regional Background

I grew up on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland and didn’t have any special talents – just a strong interest in maths and science, and a preference for learning by doing. I also knew I wanted a career that got me outside. At different points in my life I wanted to be a vet, physicist, chemist, and even an Air Force pilot. University, coupled with a gap year gave me the chance to try things out before choosing a final direction. I ended up in mining almost by accident – it sounded interesting, I’d heard the pay was good, and there was travel involved. I started FIFO in WA (a long way from the beach) and have since worked around the world. Today, I connect specialists and help teams see what’s possible and how to deliver it.

About my role

  • Analytical
  • Curious
  • Decisive
  • Personable
  • Practical

I help determine how large-scale mining projects should be developed—before they are even built. I bring together engineers, scientists, and business experts to answer critical questions such as: How can we maximise the value of a resource? What is the most effective way to develop it? What risks and challenges could arise?

To do this, I facilitate workshops where multidisciplinary teams share ideas, challenge assumptions, and work collaboratively to solve complex problems. I then consolidate this input into clear and practical plans that integrate technical requirements, costs, schedules, and risks.

My role is much like assembling a complex puzzle, where every piece—from mining and processing to infrastructure and economics—must fit together to achieve the best outcome. Ultimately, I support leaders in making informed decisions about major capital investments, helping them understand not only what can be built, but what should be built to create the greatest value.

Education

  • Certificate III in Food Service, Cooloola Institute of TAFE (2003) — taught me what I didn't want to do forever.
  • Bachelor of Engineering, University of Queensland (2008)
  • Master of Business Psychology, University of Newcastle, in progress.

Subjects

  • Chemistry
  • English
  • General Mathematics (Maths A)
  • Languages
  • Mathematical Methods (Maths B)
  • Physics
  • Specialist Mathematics (Maths C)

Hobbies

  • Cooking
  • Gardening
  • Reading
  • Travel
  • Volunteering

15 year old me!!

“You can and you will. You’re more capable than you think. Your real strength is who you are and what you bring.”

My career journey

Curious to know how I got here? Here’s a snapshot of my career pathway.
  1. Sunshine Coast childhood – surfing, school, curiosity
  2. Explored paths before choosing engineering
  3. Mining engineering – challenging but worth it
  4. FIFO start – built real-world experience
  5. Now lead through people and collaboration

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.