Full name(s) and surname:
Connie Tariro Chijara
Position:
Business Scientist at Simine@MandelaMiningPrecinct
What contribution do you see yourself making to the Young Professionals Council and the SAIMM?
As an industrial engineer that has found herself in the mining industry, I would offer a new lens for many other young people who do not have a traditional mining/ metallurgy background and want to be in the industry. I will be glad to be part of an outreach to young professionals who are navigating their paths.
Interactions/activities that you currently participate in within the SAIMM (if applicable):
I have occasionally assisted with the chairing of SAIMM webinars.
Qualifications:
BSc. Industrial Engineering (Hons).
Brief career history:
- I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2019 in Industrial Engineering. My professional journey started out with an internship at SiMINE during my final year of university. I later joined the SiMINE team at the end of my undergraduate studies.
- Throughout my time at SiMINE, she has been developing skills in implementing the Operating Model, Operations System Capability, and various tools for business improvement. Some of the key roles she has fulfilled include leading our expert thinking and implementation of Value Driver Trees, implementation of the Operating Model and Training delegates in our SiMINE Experiential Game. Some of the major deliverables include simulation models for a mine and Value driver tree projects.
- I am also a SAIMM Member and occasionally get involved in assisting them with chairing webinars. I am also a 2021 WiMSA mentee.
Date and place of birth:
07 February 1997, Johannesburg
Other industry body affiliations?
SAIMM & WiMSA
What are your views on the 4th industrial revolution?
4IR is great for the industry, its really all about making life easier for people. Elements of 4IR such as augmented reality, simulation and robotics are already proving to help the mining industry improve its safety and production. I do also believe that at its core, the people are integral to the success of 4IR. Its more about the interaction between humans and automation that’ll make it succeed.
If you were a precious metal, what would you be and why?
I would be Palladium. Palladium is a rare, malleable metal that can maintain stability at high temperatures. These are just some of the similar qualities I have. My qualification makes me rare/different within the mining industry, I am able to adapt to any environment (malleable) and I am able to keep calm under a lot of pressure. Also, much like Palladium which can absorb enormous quantities of hydrogen, I also am able to absorb a lot of information.
How do you think industry bodies such as the SAIMM can better equip young professionals such as yourself?
The YPC is a great platform for young professionals to figure out how to map their career paths, develop a network of people in the industry, directly & indirectly receive mentorship from peers as well as learn any relevant/new industry insights.
How do you see young professionals making a significant change in the industry?
Young professionals have the potential to change the way traditional mining has happened. Young professionals are now thinking of ways to use technology to improve the industry, ways to involve communities more, innovative ways of reducing the carbon footprint and ways to make the mining industry more attractive to young students.
What gets you up in the morning?
What gets me up in the morning is that I get to work in a great team where I am consistently motivated and challenged to keep showing up as the best version of myself. I’m someone who loves being able to do something different every day and work within a team. Where I am currently, I get to use my technical skills as well as my soft skills to connect with people while doing work that I enjoy.
Social media links or information:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connie-chijara-251ba7107/
