A lot has changed in the past 4 years for both Yvette and myself, and everyone’s lives have been dramatically upended in 2020. On top of this we have a number of new followers so we thought this would be a great opportunity to introduce ourselves to those of you who are new to Hedy, and share some more about ourselves that those not so new to Hedy may not know. Apart from the fact I like to construct lengthy sentences… First up is our resident mining engineer and fiddle player – Sarah.
Where do you work and what do you do there?
I have recently started a new job as a Senior Mining Engineer for AMC Consultants in their UK office. It was tough to leave Maptek after 6 years in their Edinburgh office, particularly as it involves leaving Edinburgh, but I am very excited to move in to a more technical role with larger scale consulting projects and am hoping this move leads to greater job satisfaction as a result.
What is your favourite thing about your job?
When talking about my role at Maptek I would have said the variety of work and travel, and the wonderful people I have been privileged to meet and work with on mine sites across Africa, Europe and Asia over the past 6 years. But often as I begin to become less satisfied with the role I’m currently in, I will ask myself what I actually enjoy about the mining industry and if that is actually the issue at hand, and subsequently if I want to continue working in it. Queue some soul searching, long discussions with friends and family and a lot of thinking. No doubt you can guess the conclusion I came to this time around and the subsequent decision to move to a more technical role. Only time will tell if it is the right one.
What has changed since we last spoke?
So much! Global pandemic aside, I now own a flat in Edinburgh and obviously have a new job which will eventually require a move to England. Sad to be leaving the hills, friends, whisky and tunes but it feels time for a new adventure. I’ve travelled extensively, ticking a lot of places off my bucket list in the process but have spent less time at home in Scotland as a result. Work has provided the opportunity to work in Mongolia, Mali, north of the Arctic Circle in Sweden and in the middle of Germany’s Black Forest. I’ve watched good friends come and go which is somewhat reminiscent of my time in Mt Isa. Finished a part time MBA via distance learning whilst travelling and working full time. And through it all I’ve somehow managed to maintain some wonderful friendships back home (thanks Hedy!).
What is the favourite thing about your career?
I never stop learning. Super cliche I know.
How would your 13 year old self react to what you do?
I think she would be very surprised to find me on the opposite side of the world working as an engineer. Over the last two months I have been sorting the contents of my flat as I pack it up in anticipation of the move to England and in the process I found a folder of old high school reports. 13 year old Sarah was quiet, studious and still finding her feet at a large private girls school. Fairly sure she still wanted to be a marine biologist, or perhaps a town planner and she certainly wouldn’t have pictured this in her wildest dreams.
What is the most important thing you have learned in your career so far?
To seek advice from and listen to others, colleagues who are more experienced, colleagues with different experience and from different backgrounds. Use this advice to make informed decisions, but ultimately you will know what the right thing for you to do is.
Why do you need feminism?
I’ve been privileged enough to attend a good high school and study the subject of my choosing at university which led me to a career I enjoy. Others aren’t afforded these opportunities. For me feminism is about equal rights and the access to equal opportunities for all. It’s about acknowledging our own privilege and using it to educate ourselves about how we can advocate for equal treatment and opportunities for all.
What is your favourite thing about yourself?
That I am still curious about the world we live in. And my hair. I could have taken this opportunity to grow out my undercut without anyone seeing the awkward curly growing out stage. Instead I have learned to trim it myself without also taking my ear off!
If you could have one super power, what would it be?
Teleportation. Without a doubt. It would be so much easier to visit friends and family at home.
Both of you live by yourselves now and self care has become more important than ever. What items from your Eden Jar have helped get you through this pandemic?
Baking, calls to friends and music.
This is definitely not the way anyone say 2020 panning out. Has anything positive come out of this situation for you?
It has forced me to stop and be in the one place with my own thoughts for an extended period of time. Both things I didn’t realise I needed. I was even lucky enough to have two weeks between gigs with nothing to do except rattle around my flat and process the preceding six months.
Where are you travelling to as soon as global travel restrictions are lifted?
Back in to the Scottish highlands for some walking, whisky and tunes! And then back to Norway, for some more walking, whisky and tunes.
What is your favourite quote?
My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent.
– Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Where are you going from here and has this changed since we last spoke?
England when the borders open, it’s safe to travel and we’re working in offices again!
A Hedy Journey 