Mikaela Allison Empowers Young Leaders in Mining Management
As we continue to celebrate women in mining during our national International Women's Day Event Series, we got the chance to chat with Mikaela Allison about her remarkable journey to leadership and being appointed Fortescue's youngest operational manager at the age of 27.
In this interview, Mikaela shares insights into leadership, her commitment to diversity, and the strategies she employs to empower women in the mining industry. From her captivating journey through tax services to overseeing a $2 billion operating expenditure, Mikaela's story is a testament to innovation and the transformative power of inclusive leadership.
Can you walk us with through your journey so far, and what you do in your current role?
I am the Commercial Manager of Fortescue’s Chichester Hub, which spans the Cloudbreak and Christmas Creek mining operations in the Pilbara. I am responsible for overseeing, optimising, and reporting on $2b operating expenditure and $250m capital expenditure. The Chichester Hub is Fortescue’s most consistent and stable operations, and its cost management is integral to maintaining Fortescue’s competitive advantage of one of the lowest cost iron ore producers.
As of February, I have been in this role for 2 years, and it has been an incredibly fast-paced and exciting journey into leadership. I was fortunate to join a strong and high calibre operational management team, who are supportive and passionate about what they do. One of the keys to success in my role is having a deep understanding of cost drivers and the operational intricacies and context, which wouldn’t be possible without the relationships I have built on site.
Prior to Fortescue, my career commenced in tax services, before moving to the ‘in-house’ accounting team for a garnet sands mining company. The latter role was dynamic, and I had opportunities to be a part of carbon emission reporting, tenement expenditure reporting, and complete my Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. This role gave me my first exposure to actual operations and site visits – albeit my ‘site visit’ back then was a flight to Geraldton and a night in a nice hotel! From here, I developed a passion for business partnership, which is now the operating philosophy for my team.
Today, leading a team of six high-performing, dedicated and enthusiastic individuals fills me with pride and energy. I consider myself fortunate to contribute to their journeys and see their success and growth as my greatest achievement. Just last week, my ‘2IC’ was promoted to a manager position, and I’m thrilled to continue working alongside her. It’s a testament to Fortescue’s commitment to supporting and nurturing future leaders.
As the youngest manager in Fortescue Operations and with a strong focus on diversity, how have you actively worked to empower and encourage women into leadership roles? Are there specific strategies or initiatives you've found effective in fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment?
Growing up in regional WA on a mixed livestock and cropping farm, I have a strong connection to the country. I love the open spaces, horizons, nature, and changing seasons – so you can gather that I love spending time in the Pilbara at our operations.
As a woman, I am aware that the site-based component of a role can deter strong diverse talent from joining the resources industry. My approach to attracting talent to my team, or when connecting my network to other roles in Fortescue, is to draw on my love for the country to sell the advantages of working within site-based teams, and this is something I address very early on in recruitment. I mean, have you ever seen a sea of Mulla Mulla’s in Spring, or driven back to camp with electrical storms on all horizons? Amazing!
So far, this strategy has enabled me to attract and retain a team with consistent 60%+ gender diversity.
When adding new members to my team, I will also prioritise aligning their values with our existing team culture of mutual respect and kindness. This emphasis on values ensures a seamless integration without disrupting the positive dynamic we’ve cultivated through contemporary leadership.
Achieving diversity in our industry is crucial. It goes beyond merely observing it; it involves creating real opportunities for individual growth. In your opinion, why is this level of inclusivity and providing opportunities so essential?
The importance of diversity in any industry is simple; diverse teams bring diverse thought, which enables better decision making and by extension, better business outcomes.
I have seen the benefit of diverse teams firsthand at Fortescue, across the Operational Finance function.
Fortescue is underpinned by very strong values, including Frugality and Stretch Targets, whereby we constantly challenge increasing input costs, leverage continuous improvement, and make strategic decisions to ensure the competitive advantage of Fortescue is maintained.
The success of this objective is led by the Operational Finance function, who coordinate, challenge and drive tangible cost outcomes. It takes tremendous effort and considerable cross-functional collaboration, and its success is supported by the ability to draw on the multi-faceted skillsets of a gender-diverse (50%+) and age-diverse team of individuals, who have huge collective strength.
Diversity is also about safe-guarding – look at how fast the resource industry is evolving. At Fortescue, we are driving an accelerated decarbonisation agenda, which provides huge opportunity for individual growth, alternate career trajectories, and will improve diversity outcomes as we re-skill the business for the green jobs of the future. This requires a big talent pool – and its diversity is absolutely critical!
Given your rapid ascent to a leadership role at a such a young age, what challenges have you encountered? Can you share some insights into building resilience, especially for young women aspiring to leadership positions in traditionally male-dominated industries like mining?
My journey into leadership in the male-dominated industry of mining has been nothing but positive.
I like to say I ‘get the best of both world's, splitting my week between our Perth office and the Pilbara. On site, I get to work with pragmatic, down-to-earth teams, and witness the grit of operations firsthand. There is a huge sense of comradery, little wins are celebrated, and I have built some invaluable friendships. The camp facilities are comfortable and I love winding down after work on the walking tracks in the cooler months.
For other young women aspiring to navigate a similar path into leadership, I would impart the following:
- Confidence is indeed key, but its not always innate. I’ve found that stepping out of my comfort zone, taking on new challenges and celebrating small successes, help in boosting confidence over time.
- Don’t underestimate the importance of mentors and sponsors! Before I stepped into my current role, my predecessor imparted the advice to “not go at it alone”. Asking for help can be tricky, but the advocacy and guidance I have received from fostering relationships has proven invaluable.
- Invest in professional development. Find a leader who is willing to invest in you, whether through formal training programs, mentorship arrangements, or just constructive feedback. This will accelerate your learning curve.
- Embrace humility and accountability. Own your mistakes and be accountable for rectifying.
- Success rarely comes without hard work and dedication. Embrace the reality that you will need to roll up your sleeves, put in the hard yards, and keep challenging your own standards.
Lastly, find an organisation who values you and aligns to your own personal values, to support you along this journey.
Mikaela Allison
Responsible for overseeing a $2 billion operating expenditure and $250 million capital expenditure, Mikaela has consistently upheld a high level of diversity within her team, with over 60% female representation. Her dynamic journey into leadership began with a background in tax services, followed by roles in the in-house accounting team of a garnet sands mining company, where she developed a passion for business partnership and operational intricacies.
In her role, Mikaela focuses on optimising cost drivers and maintaining the Chichester Hub's status as Fortescue's most consistent and stable operation, contributing significantly to the company's position as the 'lowest cost iron ore producer.' Her leadership is marked by a deep understanding of the industry's complexities and a dedication to creating opportunities for success for everyone on her team.
Fortescue is a Major Partner for AusIMM's International Women's Day Event Series. For more inspiring stories like Mikaela's, follow AusIMM on social media using the hashtag #CelebratingWomeninMining or catch up via our latest news!
There less than a month left to get your tickets and join us for AusIMM's International Women's Day Lunch Series, the biggest Australian event celebrating women in mining | 29 February - 8 March 2024.
Don't miss out: get your tickets today!
Adelaide ticketsSydney ticketsBrisbane ticketsMelbourne ticketsPerth ticketsOnline tickets