One short walk for a collections officer

Here’s the story of how Collections Officer Vinh Dam took a short walk to his current role in our procurement team and a leap forward towards his ambition of working in logistics and supply chain management.

Our People

May 13, 2021

Highlights

If we can help someone make a start in their new career, that’s reward in itself. It demonstrates to our people that there are opportunities in Cleanaway, when you look for them.

Tags: Careers

Highlights

If we can help someone make a start in their new career, that’s reward in itself. It demonstrates to our people that there are opportunities in Cleanaway, when you look for them.

When Vinh Dam joined the procurement team as a graduate in February on a secondment, he moved to another desk in the Brisbane office.

Although it was only a short walk, it heralded a big career transition for the credit collections officer and was another important step toward achieving his ambition of working in logistics and supply chain management.

Pictured: Vinh Dam at his desk in his new role within the procurement team

Vinh moved from an accounts receivable team handling thousands of inbound calls from customers each month to a procurement team that manages millions of dollars of expenditure a year.

He says: “I was studying accounting but realised it was not for me, so I changed the degree to supply chain and logistics. I had a year of study to go and wanted to find a job in that field, but I also wanted to stay at Cleanaway because I like what it stands for.”
Shared Services Receivables Manager Ben Blake says: “We knew that Vinh was seeking to transition his career beyond accounts receivable. So, when Vinh mentioned in his end of year career conversation that he was now ready to explore graduate type opportunities, we were keen to support him and see what was available within Cleanaway.

“I sent an email out asking about opportunities at graduate level. Although we don’t have roles in logistics, procurement is also a key part of our supply chain that may have relatable knowledge. Remarkably, an analyst within the procurement team was taking maternity leave and they needed to find a replacement quickly. After a few interviews it was decided Vinh would move across for six months. The fact that Vinh has good knowledge of the Cleanaway business was a bonus.”

Vinh says: “I am really grateful that Cleanaway is a company where you can have this type of job flexibility. I couldn’t have been happier when this opportunity came up. Cleanaway has been supportive all the way.”

The procurement team’s mandate is to manage relationships and contracts with suppliers and, ultimately, lower the total cost of ownership.

“In my last job I had an average 9 to 5 day which was more structured. This new role is a lot more in depth and involves a lot more critical thinking and problem solving. I need to be flexible and think outside the box but I’m also more autonomous. It’s very challenging and very different work. It’s been a real eye opener, seeing the business from a different side,” Vinh says.

Head of Procurement Ezra Clough says Vinh is working in the planning and analytics team within the procurement function, which supports the other three strategic sourcing teams by working with them to optimise value from their purchasing activities. He does this by helping with reporting, maintaining the function’s spend ‘cube’, and implementing e-invoicing solutions.

“We value Vinh’s background and skill set. He brings knowledge that we don’t necessarily have in the function, which is a competitive edge for him. In his previous role, the work came to him. In procurement he has to find work because you don’t have customers calling you. That’s a big mind shift,” Ezra says.

Ben admits he feels good about how this has turned out for a member of his team.

“If we can help someone make a start in their new career, that’s reward in itself. It demonstrates to our people that there are opportunities in Cleanaway, when you look for them,” he says.

Investing in our people – Cert IV Leadership & Management Traineeship

Investing in our people - Cert IV Leadership & Management Traineeship

Eight eager Cleanaway crew members from our Industrial Waste Services team in WA recently attended their first Cert IV Leadership & Management Traineeship program to support their career progression through upskilling.

Our People

May 10, 2021

Highlights

Cleanaway works with the RTO, Future Institute of Australia (FIOA), to ensure that each unit is customised to Cleanaway’s values and operating model wherever possible so it has maximum relevance to participants.

Tags: Careers

Highlights

In 2018, supervisors from our Industrial & Waste Services (IWS) teams across the South West region successfully completed the Cert IV Leadership & Management Traineeship program with all participants graduating and achieving career progression. Recently another opportunity was identified to upskill an additional group of our IWS supervisors in the region.

On 14 January, the first session of the traineeship began with eight eager participants, excited to be given this opportunity to start their learning journey.

Pictured: Back row left to right: Pinjarra Alcoa Supervisor – Michael Katene; Kwinana Alcoa Supervisor – Nathan Heaton; Kwinana Alcoa Supervisor – Lance Boston; Kwinana Alcoa Planner Supervisor – Kelly Crommie; Metro Shutdown Supervisor – Travis Rhodes; Perth Metro & Shutdown Supervisor – Josh Gard; Worsley South 32 Supervisor – Martin Sherlock; Worsley South 32 Supervisor – Andrew Wheatley.

Seated left to right: Future Institute Trainer / Facilitator – Tanya Finnie; I&WS NT/SA/WA Administration Manager – Alet Van Der Walt.

We also have two other cohorts working towards achieving the same Cert IV Leadership and Management Qualification in South Australia and in Western Australia. Both of these cohorts showed resilience and patience when their professional development was put on hold due to the impacts of Covid-19. With all delays behind them they are all set to graduate in November and September respectively.

This course has become quite prestigious, with our personnel all very appreciative of the opportunity. The course runs over a 12 month period, typically covering one unit per month to allow the participants to apply what they have learnt in the field and to provide adequate time for workplace support, coaching and mentoring in line with the 70-20-10 Learning & Development Model.

• 10% – Formal education
• 20% – Coaching, networking and collaboration
• 70% – Experience in the field, day to day activities, assignments and challenges

Cleanaway is committed to investing in our people towards continuous improvement and our mission of making a sustainable future possible.

Meet Victoria’s new customer service manager Jasmine Le Page

Our People

May 5, 2021

Highlights

. “I love working for Cleanaway, the business aligns to my own personal values around growth, development, group leadership and of course, sustainability.”

Tags: Careers

Highlights

. “I love working for Cleanaway, the business aligns to my own personal values around growth, development, group leadership and of course, sustainability.”

Jasmine Le Page started with Cleanaway in 2017 as a customer service officer and has since been promoted twice internally, recently taking on the customer service manager role for Victoria.

“After my first year at Cleanaway in my customer service officer role I was interested in gaining more leadership experience,” explained Jasmine. Jasmine’s curiosity and eagerness to develop her leadership skills opened opportunities for her to support the team leader who managed the team of customer service officers.

“While I was still in my customer service officer role I was given the opportunity to work with my team leader on improvement initiatives, onboarding and training new team members and covering the team leader when required.”

Pictured: Jasmine with her team of dedicated specialists

Jasmine’s support and hard work didn’t go unnoticed and in 2019 Jasmine was approached by Peter Mumford, Customer Service Manager at the time, about a customer service team leader role for Commercial and Industrial (C&I) at the Perry Road super site that was opening. “A few conversations and interviews later, I was set up at the new site with a customer service team and initiating a coverage plan for the transition of customer service to the new Perry Road super site,” said Jasmine.

Jasmine led a team of 13 in her team leader role and was responsible for ensuring that customers were provided with a great Cleanaway experience. “We would handle up to 130 customer interactions a day which varied from inbound and outbound calls to emails and credit requests.”

“I’ve loved working with the team and assisting them through challenges, encouraging them to grow and watching each team member develop in their own unique way. One of my proudest moments with the team was when we celebrated hitting the 80% Grade of Service (GOS) target for the first time,” said Jasmine.

Jasmine started her new role as Customer Service Manager this month and is very excited to get stuck into the role. “My transition into the customer service manager role will see me continue to focus on all aspects of the customer experience, I look forward to creating lasting improvements for our customers and supporting the development of our people.”

Development and career progression are just one reason Jasmines enjoys working for Cleanaway. “I love working for Cleanaway, the business aligns to my own personal values around growth, development, group leadership and of course, sustainability.” Jasmine’s advice to other women looking to progress their career in the waste management industry is “never give up, never stop putting your hand up and always be inquisitive.”

New recruit breaking gender stereotypes and tackles

Communities - Our People

May 3, 2021

Highlights

"People tell me it’s a men’s job but women are as good as men"

Tags: Drivers

Highlights

"People tell me it’s a men’s job but women are as good as men"

A childhood of hearing from relatives who worked in the waste industry was enough to convince Tymekqwa Duckett she wanted to become a ‘garbo’.

When the opportunity to join Cleanaway as a ‘runner’ came up, she grabbed it, like a football, in fact! The Sydney teenager is an emerging rugby league player with the Sydney Roosters who has been juggling new job with training commitments and, as time allows, a social life.

“I was looking for a job after leaving high school last year and doing a cleaning job for a few weeks. My dad said ‘there’s a position coming up and they’re looking for a girl’. I’ve been doing it for about three months and I love it,” says Tymekqwa.

Her father John also works as a runner at Cleanaway, continuing a family tradition that dates back to her grandfather.

Pictured: Tymekqwa next to her Cleanaway truck servicing the City of Sydney

“Through my whole life growing up, my family was in the garbage industry. My pop was a garbo for about 30 years. So were my aunts and uncles. When I was younger, he took me into work a couple of times. I thought it was pretty cool. It’s rewarding from a financial point of view but it also helps the public and the environment,” she says.

“I like the early starts. You are not working late or at night. I have time for a social life and for training, although I don’t see my friends as much as I used to. I’m trying to juggle it all. We leave the yard around 4.30am and start a run around 5am. If it’s an easier day and there’s not as much to do, we clock off at around 2.30pm. But some days can finish as late as 3pm or 3.30pm.

“We go from street to street, walking or jogging, lifting the smaller bins for the first three to four hours before moving to the heavier bins later in the shift.

“Working as a runner, you do get tired. The first couple of weeks was hard with changing sleep patterns. The Roosters helped me out a lot. I didn’t have to do as much work at training.”

She is in her third year with the Roosters’ women’s under 19 ‘Tarsha Gale Cup’ rugby league side, playing as a prop, and harbours ambitions to play in first grade, and for her state and country.

Pictured: Tymekqwa in her Sydney Roosters footy gear.

The eldest of five children, all girls, she played rugby league for a few years before switching to netball at age eight, where she made representative teams, before switching back to football as a teenager.

“My dream is to make the NSW and Australian teams,” she declares.

Pictured: Tymekqwa with one of her many footy trophies

While Tymekqwa has aspirations to make it big in her chosen sport, longer term her focus is on building a career.

“Both (work and footy) are important. I’m not going to be able to play footy long term because there’s a certain age you can’t play beyond. That’s why you need a career and a job,” she says.

“I would like to work my way up. I’d like to get my truck licence and eventually to a manager role. I would like to work my way up the chain, to manage a yard.”

A rarity as a woman in a male-dominated industry, Tymekqwa has found Cleanaway to be supportive of her efforts to combine work and sport.

“Cleanaway has been very good to me. We have one of the heaviest trucks in the yard because of the loads we collect and if I tell them if my energy levels are not up, they let me swap trucks,” she says.

“They understand what footy is like and were concerned that people get injured. That was the big question they had. I explained I do a recovery and everything I can to prevent injuries.”

Hiring women like Tymekqwa in operational roles reflects our strong focus on gender equality and empowering women and girls, which is a sustainable development goal.

We aim to increase the percentage of females in operations to 6.5 percent this financial year from 5.7 percent.

Asked if other women ask whether they should follow her into the industry, she advises them to ‘give it a go’.

“People tell me it’s a men’s job but women are as good as men,” Tymekqwa says.

Contact us to learn more about the amazing people who are making a sustainable future possible for communities and businesses across Australia.

All-rounder and all round superstar: Anna Siountris

Our People

April 20, 2021

Highlights

“I’m so proud to work with other strong women at Cleanaway in a predominantly male-dominated industry.”

Tags: Our people

Highlights

“I’m so proud to work with other strong women at Cleanaway in a predominantly male-dominated industry.”

Meet Anna Siountris, all-rounder and all round superstar Operations Supervisor for Cleanaway’s Industrial Services team in St Marys, NSW.

Anna started with Cleanaway in 2018 as part of the Toxfree acquisition, but her career in industrial services and waste management started in 2013 as a junior receptionist. Over the past eight years she has worked for multiple companies in the industry in various roles including administrator, weighbridge operator, allocator and customer service manager.

“No two days are ever the same.” Anna said of her role at Cleanaway. “The tasks I complete range from ordering PPE, site compliance with the St Marys Liquids Waste Service team, vehicle registrations, customer service, contract management, assisting with onsite shutdown activities and assisting the operation team and Branch Manager with project work.”

Anna developed her strong work ethic in her teens when she took on her first job was at Coles, where she worked for 13 years. She worked in every department from check-out to night fill and fruit and veg. During her time at Coles, she simultaneously held jobs in payroll, administration, and even dental nursing.

“When I started my full-time receptionist role in the waste management industry, I continued to work for Coles for five years working nights and weekends.” said Anna. “Finally, I left Coles as my career was progressing rapidly with Toxfree.”

“My favourite part about working in industrial services at Cleanaway is the variety of tasks and the people,” said Anna. “I’m always challenged, and I enjoy dealing with new people and their different personalities. Everyone has different strengths that they bring to the table that helps get the work done and go home safely.”

“I’m so proud to work with other strong women at Cleanaway in a predominantly male-dominated industry.” Anna would love to see more women doing High Pressure Water Jetting (HPWJ) work. “It’s not for everyone, but if you like to be physically and mentally challenged then this is the place to be.”

“I believe by providing team building exercises and training workshops to new and current employees we can achieve greater equality in the workplace. I also think it’s important that we’re provided with constructive feedback and recognition. A simple acknowledgement goes a long way – it’s how we develop as people and progress in our careers,”

To women looking to join the waste management industry Anna’s advice is “be yourself, have a good work ethic and doors will open for you.”

Lance McKay on how Ausjet drives safety for industrial cleaning in Australia

Industry Updates - Our People

March 19, 2021

Highlights

The long goal is to introduce industrial cleaning education in schools, to provide early exposure, training and a viable career pathway

Tags: Our people

Highlights

The long goal is to introduce industrial cleaning education in schools, to provide early exposure, training and a viable career pathway

Business Development Manager Lance McKay is on a mission to raise the profile of the industrial cleaning industry, one of the many services offered by Cleanaway’s Industrial Services team.

Lance brings invaluable expertise to our team – as a safety champion helping our people navigate through the high-risk working environment and as an industry steward, attracting quality employment and building career pathways. Lance has 20 years of experience with high pressure water jetting and vacuum loading services in the industrial services industry, servicing contracts in municipal councils, water authorities, refinery, mining, offshore and CSG oil and gas.

Lance has served on the board of AusJet, the safety organization for industrial cleaning activities in Australia and New Zealand, for the past three years. He also represents the Australasian High-Pressure Waterjetting Association (AUSJET / ADCVA) on the Global Industrial Cleaning Coalition (GICC) Steering Committee.

In this interview, Lance speaks to Industrial Theory podcast host Kerry Siggins on the state of industrial cleaning services in Australia, his work with Ausjet and more.

Listen on Soundcloud: https://lnkd.in/gB3_2MM

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/dH-mrgi

Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/dHux_ZY

Highlights

Q: What are some of the biggest challenges within Australia and New Zealand (in the cleaning industry)?

A: Getting into mainstream – people knowing more about the industry, and to attract more people in. We’re trying to promote the industry in trade schools, so that people can see it as a career path early.

Q: What does Ausjet do to promote the advancement of safe water jetting and use of automation?

A: Ausjet would love to see the water jetting industry go fully automated. We’re trying to make our contractors more aware of the benefits of automation. It may cost a little bit more, but you’ll find out the job will done quicker and more efficiently.

Q: Does Ausjet have a training and certification programme that helps contractors get their guys certified?

A: Yes, we have an Operator course and an Operator Assistant course – entry level – which teaches you about the pumps and how to set equipment up.

Q: What is your advice for safe water jetting and industrial cleaning practices?

A: Always follow procedures and follow them correctly. Shortcuts are not necessarily the best way to go. This is how we avoid accidents.

Celebrating International Women’s Day at Cleanaway

Our People

March 18, 2021

Highlights

I want a world for my daughter with pay parity and equality, where she can do whatever it is that she wants to do

Tags: Our people

Highlights

I want a world for my daughter with pay parity and equality, where she can do whatever it is that she wants to do

With waste management a traditionally male-dominated industry, challenging stereotypes and celebrating the achievements of women throughout our business forms an important part of furthering diversity and inclusion at Cleanaway.

We’re proud to have a workforce made up of people with diverse backgrounds, skills and experience. As part of our alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we’re focused on achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.

Our Diversity & Inclusion Engagement Plan sets out our commitment to diversity and inclusion in all areas of our business, including recruitment, selection and appointment to roles, training and development, remuneration and reward, retention of employees, forms of leave and flexible working arrangements, succession planning and company policies and procedures.

Celebrated on 8 March each year, International Women’s Day recognises the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. We celebrated the day by sharing profiles with of the women making a difference across our business.

Teams around the country also hosted celebratory events at their sites to promote this year’s International Women’s Day message: #ChooseToChallenge

Jacqui Norrie (Operations Manager, Moree, NSW)

“My advice to women who are looking for a career in waste management is ‘hard work does pay off’. If you keep working at it, anything is possible.” Meet Jacqui Norrie, one of the many accomplished leaders at Cleanaway who are making a sustainable future possible as our Operations Manager in Moree NSW.

Thea Jackson (Hydrocarbons Production Engineer, Narangba, QLD)

“My proudest moments working for Cleanaway are always when I’m looking at my team. I’m so proud of the work they do to keep our oil refinery working safely and efficiently 24 hours a day.”

Hydrocarbons Production Engineer Thea Jackson is a firm believer in the role of a leader as mentor and encourages everyone to seek guidance in their jobs. Learn about Thea’s thoughts on leadership, inclusivity and the waste management industry.

Kelly Rothwell (Head of HR Services, Melbourne, VIC)

“I want a world for my daughter with pay parity and equality, where she can do whatever it is that she wants to do ” For Head of HR Services Kelly Rothwell, #ChooseToChallenge means making the conscious choice to challenge biases around gender and handing over a more equitable world to the next generation.

Cleanaway teams around the country out in force to support #ChooseToChallenge with International Women’s Day morning tea and lunch events.

The SA Solids team in Port Adelaide, SA

Nicole and Bhavna in Malaga, WA

The VIC Solids team in Dandenong, VIC

Penelope, Nathalie, and Latasha at Erskine Park, NSW

Katherine, Natasha, Belinda, and Kimberly in the Gold Coast, QLD

The Hydrocarbons refinery team in Rutherford, NSW

Theresa, Helina, Priya in Eastern Creek, NSW

The QLD Solids team in Northgate, QLD

The Liquids and Technical Services team in Mackay, QLD

Sandy, Jeeva and Karyn in Laverton, VIC

Meet Mr Fix It: John Law’s 20-year Cleanaway career

Our People

March 5, 2021

Highlights

John has become an integral part of the Hydrocarbons business unit, always willing to lend a hand or provide sound advice to his customers and teammates.

Tags: Our people

Highlights

John has become an integral part of the Hydrocarbons business unit, always willing to lend a hand or provide sound advice to his customers and teammates.

Sales Representative John Law from our Hydrocarbons team in Victoria recently celebrated 20 years of service with Cleanaway. John started his Cleanaway career as a sales and service representative in 2001 and he fondly remembers being able to wear shorts and short-sleeved shirts back in the old days!

John was eventually persuaded to become a full-time sales representative, where he used his passion for and knowledge of auto parts washing machines, solvent sinks and other allied equipment to great success.

His willingness to have a go at anything was second-to-none and he became the ‘Mr. Fix It’ for the teams he worked with.

Pictured: John Law centre stage surrounded by his teammates. From left to right are – Edgardo Rodriguez, Adam Wills, Mikayla Mezo, Brett Smith, Jason Carroll, Wayne Olney, Craig Turner and Mark Jarrad.

Having worked in different branches throughout Victoria, there aren’t many towns that John hasn’t travelled through over the years. John has become an integral part of the Hydrocarbons business unit, always willing to lend a hand or provide sound advice to his customers and teammates.

Operations Supervisor Wayne Olney has been working with John over his journey. Not only have they built a strong working relationship, but also a great friendship beyond the working week. Both John and Wayne are looking forward to the next 20 years working together!

Pictured: John “Mr Fix It” Law (left) receiving his 20 Year Service Award from Operations Supervisor Wayne Olney

Contact us to learn more about the amazing people on the Cleanaway team who are making a sustainable future possible across Australia.

Changing perceptions of ‘garbos’ to create a more diverse workforce

Meet Municipal Contractor Manager Gary Flaxman and member of Cleanaway’s Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Working Group who is championing for gender diversity at Cleanaway’s Hillsdale depot in Sydney.

Our People

February 15, 2021

Highlights

“If little girls see a woman driving past in a garbage truck, it breaks down some of those gender stereotype barriers.”

Tags: Women in waste

Highlights

“If little girls see a woman driving past in a garbage truck, it breaks down some of those gender stereotype barriers.”

Early starts. Long days. Strenuous work. Crowded streets. Driving a garbage truck can be testing.

Finding more women to become ‘garbos’ is even tougher but that is the challenge that Gary Flaxman is tackling with enthusiasm.

The Municipal Contractor Manager at Cleanaway’s Hillsdale depot in Sydney and member of the Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Working Group has become a champion for gender diversity, trying to convince more women to enter a traditionally male-dominated world.

This in turn reflects Cleanaway’s strong focus on achieving its sustainable development goal of gender equality and empowering women and girls.

“I’m not out to change the world. I do what’s best for our depot,” says Gary, who manages about 80 employees who service the City of Sydney Municipal Waste and Recycling contract.

He estimates he has hired 100+ drivers during his 20 years in the waste and logistics industries, almost entirely male.

“It’s a very male-dominated industry with a very blokey culture but I believe we need an equal balance of males and females, as much as possible,” he says.

“If you have the ability to do a role, you should be given the chance.”

Pictured: Gary (centre) with trainee drivers Tymekqwa Duckett (left) and Chelsea Carney (right)

His focus on gender diversity sharpened about three years ago when he worked with an ‘exceptional’ female driver at another depot.

“She was one of the stand-out performers and, when I saw the amount of work she got through, I decided to find more female drivers,” Gary says.

“When she left I recruited another woman who started as a ‘runner’ pulling bins and has graduated to become a side-arm driver operating a vehicle alone.

“I’m proud of what we have been achieving, especially when it’s tough to attract women.”

Although only a small proportion of drivers Gary has recruited are women, this reflects the difficulty in attracting them to a job that can start as early as 4am, last for up to 12 hours, can involve physical work, and can be a bit ‘stinky’.’

But it is also well paid, particularly compared to other roles that similar candidates would typically apply for, and involves a high level of autonomy and responsibility.

Drivers are in charge of vehicles costing about $350,000 which sometimes have to be driven down narrow alleys so common in inner Sydney, picking up hundreds of bins each day.

“It’s a very demanding contract from a driver’s point of view but experience in the mining industry shows women have high concentration levels when driving trucks and cause less wear and tear on them,” he says.

“The perception is that the job is not for everyone, but I think anyone can do it, it’s just a matter of whether they want to.”

“You have to be confident, fit and willing to stay in the industry for a while. When women leave these roles it’s not because they don’t enjoy it, but rather it’s for family reasons.”

“There are two ‘blue collar’ women at my depot and we’re trying to slowly bring in more. We’ve put a lot of effort into training them if they have no previous experience because I want to see them succeed.”

“Seeing women driving garbage trucks improves the perceptions of what a garbo is, and shows that it’s not a boys club. If little girls see a woman driving past in a garbage truck, it breaks down some of those gender stereotype barriers.”

Cleanaway had 5.7 percent of females in operations in FY20 and has a target of 6.5% for this financial year.

Valuing and supporting diversity and inclusion is a critical part of Cleanaway’s ‘Stronger Together’ value.

As Australia’s leading total waste management solutions provider, the company is committed to upholding global standards of sustainability – for employees, the community, the environment, and economic stakeholders.

As Gary says: “Ultimately a diverse workforce is a more sustainable workforce.”

Learn more about the amazing people who make up our diverse and talented workforce.

Crunching numbers and crushing goals: meet multi-talented Chemist Frances Wilson

Our People

February 11, 2021

Highlights

“When presented with new challenges, I choose to take them on, and approach it with a positive and enthusiastic attitude.”

Tags: Women in waste

Highlights

“When presented with new challenges, I choose to take them on, and approach it with a positive and enthusiastic attitude.”

Chemist/Quality Coordinator Frances Wilson is based at our Rutherford oil refinery and is primarily responsible for quality assurance. It’s a complex job that includes verifying the quality of recycled and finished base oil product and managing the lab where the analysis is performed.

When asked what a typical day is like for her, Frances says, “I spend a couple of hours in the lab testing the refinery’s process oil, performing quality testing of final product for customers, analysing waste product for disposal and maintaining the lab equipment. I also prepare quality reports for customers and operational teams.”

“I also assist teams at our Wetherill Park and Narangba refineries and other Hydrocarbons sites when required. My role also includes the management of environmental and operational health and safety requirements and coordinating the testing of oil and waste product by external labs,” explains Frances.

Pictured: Frances leads an active life outside of work with mountain biking being one of her favourite activities

Frances wasn’t always the problem-solving, laboratory steward that she is today. Although Frances had an interest in science and mathematics as a child, she started her career in finance, working in accounting and treasury roles in the coal mining and industrial gases industries. It was only after she completed her first degree as a qualified accountant and her children started school that she had the inspiration and space to follow her passion and build a second career in science.

“My current position at Cleanaway is my first role in the science field and I’m proud to say I’ve been here for three years now. Over the past 25 years I have also been raising a family and 10 years ago decided to opt for a career change and retrained at university as a chemical engineer. I came back to science out of an interest in the environment and sustainable solutions to waste and energy, believing this would provide a sound basis to pursue a career in that field,” says Frances about her journey to her current role.

Cleanaway’s mission to make a sustainable future possible resonated perfectly with Frances – “I enjoy working for a company that is committed to sustainable practices and safety and in a field where there is opportunity to positively impact the environment. Cleanaway has provided me with the opportunity to learn the operations and processes of an oil re-refinery and assist with trouble shooting and process improvement while working with a supportive and hardworking team.”

It’s not lost on Frances that working in science (and waste management) is not typically associated with women. Indeed, the United Nations estimates that only 30% of all female students select science-related fields in higher education.

“Gender stereotyping, male-dominated workspaces, and traditional role modelling all play their part in deterring girls and women from pursuing science-related careers. Women need to feel more confident to participate in the wonderful world of science. I believe more exposure to practical experience and encouragement from educators and role models are needed.”

Frances firmly believes in exposing students to science at an early age and offers this advice, “It starts at home and follows through in the early years of education. Make it compulsory for students to engage in hands-on science and technology projects such as robotics programs. This makes science real and relevant and can spark interest in the field at an early age. Careers advisors need to engage with students in primary school and early high school to get them thinking about what interests them, as opposed to waiting until the final years in senior high school.”

Her number one tip for girls looking to study science or women considering a career change to a science field? Follow your passion.

“If you have that passion you will be able to succeed at whatever you do. If you enjoy the challenge of mathematics and solving problems, seriously consider a career in engineering. I grew up with the view that health sciences were the careers to follow in the science field. If I had asked more questions and researched more deeply what opportunities are out there, I may have made different decisions when I was younger.”

“I’m lucky to have had a chance at reskilling and making a career change into the science field. While I enjoyed achieving academically, it has been more challenging re-entering the workforce. That’s why I feel it’s important to have a good mentor and to work for a company where your skills will be used well.” reflects Frances about her mid-career transition.

Frances is pictured first from left at the OXFAM 100km trailwalk – one of her many endurance achievements

While Frances has plenty to be proud of in her professional life, she says her most treasured achievements have been raising her children and seeing them achieve as teenagers and young adults. Outside of work, Frances enjoys physically pushing herself with outdoor challenges and has even completed the 100km Oxfam Trailwalker in Sydney! Her other endurance activities include mountain bike riding and running.

How she makes it all work can best be summarised by her approach to life, “When presented with new challenges, I choose to take them on, and approach it with a positive and enthusiastic attitude.” she says with a smile and a ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ look of steely determination.

Pictured: Frances always has time for her family