Aybüke Özdemir

Personal & career background

1. What first sparked your interest in the mining industry?

While studying geology at university, I saw mining as the branch of geology that directly touches human life. Civilization begins with mining — even in the earliest historical periods, societies laid their foundations through mining. Realizing this helped me decide that this is the field I wanted to be in.

2. Can you walk us through your career path and how you ended up at Datamine?

In Turkey, you need to pass several exams to work as an engineer in the public sector, so I started preparing for them right after graduation. But I had completed my thesis using GIS and InSAR technologies, and my professor Mr. Yurdal Genç believed I had potential in that area. He encouraged me to apply for an internship at Datamine Turkiye. I was hesitant at first, but his support gave me the push I needed and that’s how my path was shaped. I started as an intern and simply fell in love with the work. I’ve been with Datamine ever since, and a few years later, I was transferred to our UK office, where I continue my role today.

3. Was there a defining moment that confirmed mining was the right industry for you?

Honestly, every time I visit a site for a project or training, I feel I’m in the right industry. Being in touch with nature and analyzing what it provides makes me feel connected and fulfilled.

Your role & expertise

4. What is your area of expertise, and how do you use it in your role at Datamine?

I work as a geological consultant. My responsibilities include providing software training, leading projects, solving problems in clients’ ongoing work, and offering advice, all of which require direct interaction with our users.

5. How would you explain your role to someone unfamiliar with the mining tech space?

Imagine a mining site with tons of data and 3D models that used to be on paper or maps — now they’re in digital form. My job is to help create, manage, and analyze that data in a virtual environment.

6. What do you enjoy most about what you do?

My role involves constant interaction with clients, which gives me the chance to travel to different places and meet people from a wide variety of cultures. That’s something I truly enjoy.

Challenges, projects & learnings

7. What has been the most challenging project or client engagement you’ve worked on?

Every company has different needs, and sometimes that means learning a lot of new things in a short time — even entirely new software. There was a project where I had so much to figure out that I couldn’t get through it during working hours alone. I ended up going to a library after work, just like a student, to stay focused and make it through.

8. What’s a professional milestone or achievement you’re especially proud of?

The mining industry in my country is male-dominated, and there are many prejudices against women. You can face challenges like being perceived as ‘overly groomed’ or ’emotional,’ and being seen as less competent in technical roles. Despite these perceptions, I proved myself and earned a position in the industry. This is a truly significant professional achievement for me.

9. What’s been your biggest learning curve while working in the mining industry?

I recently started working on projects using our database softwarel, in addition to resource modeling and GIS software. I had no background in SQL at first, so learning it from scratch was tough — but I’ve made great progress!

Perspectives & reflections

10. How has the mining industry evolved since you started—and how have you adapted?

I’m still relatively new to the industry, but one clear shift I’ve noticed is the integration of AI. Beyond just implicit modeling in software, I’ve seen many geologists running simulations and performing analyses using AI — even without strong coding backgrounds. That’s a very exciting and encouraging development.

11. What advice would you give to someone just starting out in this field?

While solving problems on your own can be valuable, working with good people you can ask for help and bounce ideas off is even better. You save time and you learn things you never expected.

12. What keeps you motivated and passionate about your work?

Solving complex problems and helping clients is a big part of what I do. No matter how long it takes, seeing a finished project or a resolved issue gives me real satisfaction and motivates me for the next one.

Fun & forward-looking

13. If you weren’t in mining, what career could you see yourself in?

I think I’d have done something in fashion. If I had the talent, I would’ve loved to be a designer — that was my childhood dream. But I guess we’ll never know!

14. What’s one myth about mining you’d love to bust?

That mining only benefits “the bosses.” In reality, everything from the phones we use to modern vehicles exists thanks to mining — it benefits all of us.

15. What excites you most about the future of mining and technology?

I’m excited to see how AI will reshape not only our software but the entire industry. The potential is enormous.

Fun facts

I once arrived late to my own birthday party; and yes, one of my friends still hasn’t forgiven me for it…
I consistently mix up month names with their corresponding numbers. So, if you tell me “the 5th month,” I’ll have to immediately check if that means May! Because of this, I often struggle when making reservations, and I’ve even accidentally bought plane tickets for the wrong dates a few times.
I have silent conversations with animals: I give nicknames to every cat and dog I see on the street and always greet them like old friends.