Getting promoted: How presenting to a global audience built confidence and improved internal perceptions
With call for abstracts now open for the 2024 Mill Operators Conference, we spoke with a past best-paper award winner, Carlos Vanegas, Operations Manager at CBH Resources Limited. Carlos reflects on his paper presentation at the 2021 Mill Operators Conference and shares how presenting to a global audience helped him to gain internal recognition, ultimately leading to a promotion to a site management role.
Congratulations on winning the best-paper award at the 2021 Mill Operators Conference. What did receiving this award, and presenting at the conference mean for your career?
Presenting at the 2021 Mill Operators Conference provided me an opportunity to present in front of a worldwide audience. For me it was important to showcase the process of team work in solving real problems by accessing a wide range of skills (technical and soft).
Through this process, the world can know a bit more about you, how do you think, how you see problems and how you solve those challenges. No matter what the topic is, what you have to say will be of interest to someone; it opens great possibilities. As a presenter you‘ll be easily recognised which helps to widen and strengthen your professional network.
Did you experience a boost to your career via the opportunity to present your paper at AusIMM’s Mill Operators Conference in 2021?
Presenting at the conference was seen as a showcase for the company as well; it cemented the internal perception of technical strength; while providing confidence in internal career progression to a site management role.
What tips or tricks would you share with anyone considering submitting an abstract for the 2024 Mill Operators Conference?
Clearly explain the problem you are trying to solve, the context and the process that lead to the final outcome.
Why would you submit an abstract for the Mill Operators Conference in 2024?
Exposure to the world.
The Mill Operators Conference Committee are now calling for abstract submissions to present at the 2024 conference in Perth.
This is your opportunity to share leading examples of industry best practice in plant operations, innovations that optimise key unit operations, new technologies or case studies for ESG considerations.