Emma Dobinson’s connection to BCI Minerals dates back to 2017, during the Environmental Impact Assessment phase, where she was a consultant with Stantec and involved in the algal mat and mangrove assessment for which BCI now has ongoing annual environmental monitoring.
However, her affinity for the ocean dates back much further, to her childhood and some of her earlier memories with her father.
And it’s a good thing she loves the sea, because her career in marine biology has not been glamorous, with many hours covered in ray mucus, squid ink, fish oil and even sperm whale poo.
Emma joined the Mardie Project as a site-based Environmental Advisor as a secondment from Stantec in 2022, before permanently moving over to BCI in March 2023.
Her passion for the environment has been a blessing to the team ever since.
Question: What does your role at BCI involve and when did you start?
Answer: My role as Site Environmental Advisor is diverse and varies daily with the many moving parts across the project. From ensuring environmental compliance, liaising, and engaging with contractors, working with the Traditional Owners on environmental monitoring, working with consultants conducting biological surveys and implementation of various environmental procedures and management plans.
Q: What do you like about your job at BCI?
A: The Mardie Project has a huge scope, with both significant landside and marine components. The landscape is highly variable and often unpredictable, giving rise to various challenges which can be fun to overcome and to try and understand the receiving environment. The best parts of my job are working alongside the Traditional Owners for environmental monitoring, assisting with various biological surveys, learning about marine engineering, and working with a dynamic group of people on site.
Q: What is it about the environment that you love so much?
A: Since I was a child, I’ve always had an affinity to water, especially the ocean. My dad had me sailing from the age of four and climbing mountains (most of it on his back) from the age of five! It’s where I am happiest, most comfortable and at ease. Which I guess is part of the reason I love going out yonder and getting lost, finding new little spots, and learning the lay of the land.
Q: What was your career joinery to get here?
A: My background is Marine Biology, working previously in Conservation and Research Science. Before winding up in Australia, my career had me working on conservation and research projects in Fiji, South Africa, Madagascar, and the Azores, with primary focus on elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays) and rebuilding sustainable fisheries. After two years in Madagascar, I commenced my Master of Research at Imperial College, London. The degree allowed me to travel to Singapore to complete the first part and finally I wound up in Australia to complete my second research project in the Kimberley looking at the seasonal habitat use of Dwarf Sawfish in the Fitzroy River. After finishing my postgraduate studies, I joined Stantec as a consultant for five years before taking up a secondment at BCI.
Q: What was your life like before your career took off?
A: I used to play netball competitively for my county and was also part of the athletics team, and when I was 18, I was short listed for the British Olympic rowing and volleyball team. I made it through to the reserves for rowing, but decided I wanted to go travelling and become a marine biologist instead of pursuing a sporting career. I took the plunge to buy an around-the-world ticket and set-off solo for months travelling on my own. I had a significant bucket list of things that I wanted to achieve and places I wanted to go, and whilst that list is continuously growing and expanding, I managed to tick-off some major items in my late teens and early 20s, such as diving with tiger sharks, skydiving, bungy jumping and going to the Himalayas. Not to mention, meeting some amazing people along the way and gaining numerous anecdotes that you simply couldn’t make up.
Q: What was your professional highlight of 2023?
A: This would have to be rallying the team on-site to get the first stage of the coastal monitoring bores in. While the coastal monitoring bore installations are still ongoing, it was a herculean task with the operations team in October, with many days spent out in the field in gruelling conditions. The team coming together is really what made it a highlight and being able to laugh at the numerous machinery and LV bogging well afterwards.
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“Salt of the Earth” is a fortnightly series where we get to know our dedicated team members.
To see the current opportunities at BCI Minerals, please visit our careers page: https://www.bciminerals.com.au/careers.html