Lifestyle, good pay come with STEM uptake, says BHP’s Laura Tyler
A CAREER in science, technology engineering and maths (STEM) is not only a great opportunity to choose the lifestyle women want, it is also well paid and has a great future — the reason most men choose these careers, according to Olympic Dam head Laura Tyler.
A CAREER in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) is not only a great opportunity to choose the lifestyle women want, it is also well paid and has a great future — and the reason most men choose these careers, according to Olympic Dam head Laura Tyler.
Currently, women make up only 16 per cent of professionals working in STEM related careers, she said.
Ms Tyler was speaking at a Women in Leadership business event in Adelaide on Friday.
The rising star of BHP, who was appointed at Olympic Dam Asset President in July, told attendees of her love for rocks and jigsaw puzzles and her aptitude for maths and science as a child growing up in Britain.
She spoke of a career that started with her decision to take up geology at university — one of ten women taking it up at the time.
“My career has taken me from the small market town of my childhood to work on four continents in a range of roles; technical to consulting to leadership.
“I have run operations at minus 40 degrees and at plus 40 degrees. I have seen crocs in the wild and watched the Northern Lights.
“I have caught barra in the Gulf and trout in the arctic lakes of Canada. I have worked with communities in outback Australia, far Northern Canada and the South African bush.
Ms Tyler moved into the mining industry in 1994, joining BHP in 2004 where she has held a number of roles, including as chief of staff to current chief executive Andrew Mackenzie.
“It has all been wonderful and is based upon an education in STEM.”
She said her education had given her choice.
“Everyone, but especially every woman, every girl, should have choice and be able to support themselves throughout their lives.”
However, the trend of fewer young women selected STEM subjects at school, which was common 40 years ago when she made her choices at school, was still continuing albeit to a lesser degree.
“Without a move in societal expectations we will not fundamentally shift the STEM gender demographic and build the strong pipeline of talent we need for the future.
“The highest attrition rate for STEM professionals in Australia is between the ages of 35 and 45 years of age. And the majority of the people who leave STEM careers are women.
“This replicates my experience in the workplace 15 to 20 years ago. The young women I worked with left the mining industry or moved out of operational roles — and therefore leadership opportunities to find more family friendly work.”
Ms Tyler has previously spoken of her isolation and the need to “fit in” when she took up smoking despite “the smell, the cost and how it made me feel at the end of the week”.
She highlighted the role models had in building the early perceptions and belief on what is possible.
“No one can say definitively what happens as we grow up, but exposure to stereotypes from our parents, TV, books and the world around us starts from a young age and has an impact on our perception to what things should look like.”
The mining industry was facing the toughest recruitment conditions in 20 years with enrolments in mining engineering almost halved in the past 12 months and projected to halve again by the end of the decade.
Ms Tyler is part of the STEM review forum led by chief scientist Dr Alan Finkel which is bringing the government and industry sectors together to build Australia’s future pipeline of skills.
Supportive employment conditions, including offering flexible working, was also key to helping more women to stay in the industry.