Meet Natalia Valenzuela, a Geology Consultant with 5 years of integrative experience
who has recently joined our consulting team in Perth, Western Australia.
Get to know Natalia a little better through the interview below:
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I am a geoscientist with 5 years of integrative experience working across environmental management, oil and gas, and various areas of mining. I spent most of my life in Mexico, where I graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering in Earth Sciences in 2017. Shortly after, I started my professional journey working with different near-surface geophysics methods, such as GPR and FDEM. From field data acquisition to processing
and interpretation.
In 2019, I was awarded a scholarship that led me to study for a Master’s in Geoscience at the University of Western Australia. Since then, I have briefly worked in the oil and gas sector doing a geological interpretation of seismic data. I then transitioned into the mining industry, where I spent 2 years working on exciting copper and gold projects. I predominantly worked with the exploration and resource development teams with some exposure to underground mining geology.
Can you explain some of the challenges you consult to your clients on and how you help them improve?
Whether it is work or personal life, our first instinct is often to react. I believe that before suggesting any solution to our client’s problem, it’s very important to actively listen first. While listening, I ask myself first and foremost: What are they trying to achieve? How have they operated historically to attain a result? How can I address their pain points with a recommendation and solution? Understanding the specific needs and concerns of the client helps to guide me on a relevant and tailored solution.
What inspired your career in this industry?
I am an explorer by heart. I enjoy finding solutions and solving mysteries. In fact, when I was young, I thought I wanted to be a detective and solve crimes, but it sounded a bit too precarious! Later in life, I found a perfect alternative in geoscience. I am fascinated by how all the multiscale and multidisciplinary earth sciences, together with powerful modern software tools can be combined to find the resources we need.
What is the most satisfying aspect of your role / the work you do?
I thrive on continuous learning, which is exercised daily via constant interactions with my colleagues, that come from different backgrounds and impressive career trajectories. I also enjoy how dynamic the work is. I embrace the opportunity to interact with professionals all around the world, guiding them on the full potential of Datamine software’s capabilities.
What are your best memories from your career?
The days I have spent in the field, climbing outcrops and collecting rocks (Yes, I have a rock collection).
What’s a fun fact about you?
I am such a Disney fan. I can recite the whole Lilo and Stitch script and I was definitely the first in line for Toy Story 3.
Connect with Natalia on LinkedIn here.
For more information or to connect with our team, make sure to send us an enquiry.
