DUBBO'S Simone Painter began her working life at a Western Australian mine site where a workforce of 250 included five women, four of them cleaners.
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A 1996 graduate of Murdoch University with a Bachelor of Science (Metallurgy), Ms Painter worked as a laboratory technician and eventually questioned whether she should stay in the male-dominated industry.
"I made the decision to stick with it and I committed to making it work and understanding the challenges," she said.
Almost 20 years later the 42-year-old seasoned mining professional, wife and mother has reason to look back on that pivotal moment.
In September the current processing manager at Alkane Resources' Tomingley Gold Operations (TGO) will represent NSW at the 2015 Women in Resources National Awards, hosted by the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
She is vying for the title of Exceptional Woman in Australian Resources with judges looking for evidence of leadership, resilience, drive, mentoring of other women and building of gender diversity within the sector.
Husband Aaron Strudwick and 12-year-old daughter Kayla will accompany Ms Painter to Perth for the awards ceremony.
"I have got to have my daughter there," she told the Daily Liberal.
"I've got to show her to stick with it, be committed, believe in yourself and keep on going."
In 2015 Ms Painter is regarded by her peers as a role model for a growing number of women entering the mining industry to undertake tasks that traditionally belonged to men.
A skill shortage in the past helped open the door to the mining industry for women.
"We're probably about a third of the population now and definitely accepted more," said Ms Painter who has taken women under her wing.
She regards as a highlight of her career helping two Indigenous women graduate from a trainee program and achieve longevity in mining in WA.
"They still work as truck drivers and one is a shift supervisor," Ms Painter said.
Alkane Resources' offer of her first management position represents another highlight.
On February 14 last year Ms Painter held the TGO's first gold bar in her hands after leading the commissioning of its processing plant "safely and on schedule".
The exercise involved a range of responsibilities including the recruitment of 32 staff, three of them women.
Ms Painter, who has shown that mothers can rise through mining ranks without needing to work overseas or in fly-in fly-out roles, has "always dreamed big".
"One day I hope I could be a chief operating officer or general manager," she said.
