Paul grew up in a farming community and was always close to nature with grand plans to become a zoologist one day. So he followed his instincts and pursued environmental science at university, and began work immediately with the state government’s environmental department.
From there, he started at South32’s Worsley Alumina Boddington Bauxite Mine as an Environmental Specialist. Essentially, it was Paul’s responsibility to minimise impact and rehabilitate the land on and surrounding the site.
In his fifteen years at Worsley, Paul has continued to manage operational revegetation programs and establish trials and ensure South32 leads best practice in mine site restoration. No two days are the same: whether he’s reviewing potential for improvements (pioneering research, pouring over recent studies, supervising PhD students) or in the field (working with traditional land owners, interacting with stakeholders and specialist teams, and seasonal planning and implementation), Paul loves that he is encouraged to constantly learn and grow on the job.
And while he loves the work, he also loves the community he’s become part of.
“We’re a small site, almost all driving in from Mandurah or Boddington. Our crew is incredibly tight-knit,” he said.
In his time at South32, Paul has made a life outside of work to be proud of, too.
He lives with his wife and two children in the sunny beachside suburb Golden Bay. He has an active schedule, playing hockey for the local Mandurah team and enjoying time with the family.
On the weekend, he and his wife attend his son’s football games (his wife, a school teacher, is the team manager). His parents are also active in the mine communities,his mother - an orderly at the Boddington Hospital, and father, a Wandering Shire worker, are both members of community groups. As a devoted father, Paul cares about the future he’s leaving behind for his kids. And he’s proud to work for a company that does too.
“My greatest fulfilment is seeing the bush return after a few years. The trees, the fauna and the ecosystem rebuilding,” he said.
“It’s something I’m proud of that future generations - like my kids - will be able to see,” he said.