Hajar Chamlal

Personal & career background 

What first sparked your interest in the mining industry? 

During an internship at the Ministry of Mines in Morocco, I was primarily involved in legislation, but I found myself deeply curious about the operational side of mining. That experience was the starting point of my passion for the mining sector. 

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

I began with two years of preparatory studies in physics and science, followed by admission to the Rabat School of Mines, where I specialized in ground and underground mining operations. For my final-year project, I joined Managem to work on mine planning. After graduating as a mining engineer, I joined Datamine as a Mining Analyst while simultaneously starting a PhD in mineral processing at UM6P. A year later, I became a Mine Planning Consultant, and I now also serve as a Project Manager for Centric in the West North Africa region. 

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

Absolutely. When I began delivering training at mine sites, I discovered a new side of myself—an ambitious and passionate educator. Sharing knowledge with professionals and learning alongside them confirmed that I was exactly where I belonged. 

Your role & expertise 

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

I specialize in mine planning for underground operations and also consult in geology. My role involves providing strategic consulting and training on mining software to optimize planning, design, and resource estimation.

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

I teach software tools that help mining engineers estimate mineral resources, design underground infrastructure, and develop efficient and profitable mine plans based on suitable mining methods.

I teach software that helps the engineers to first calculate an estimate their ressources and then design the mine infrastructure and optimise the block model to rentable block to mine and plan based on a mining method  

What do you enjoy most about what you do? 

I truly enjoy traveling and visiting mine sites across different countries. Each site brings a new challenge, culture, and learning experience, which keeps my work exciting and rewarding.

Challenges, projects & learnings 

Can you describe one specific project you delivered that related to mine geological modelling which best represents your expertise? 

One project that best represents my expertise is my ongoing work on the geological modelling of phosphate deposits. The objective of the project is to develop robust and accurate geological models that support resource estimation, mine planning, and operational decision-making across large-scale sedimentary phosphate deposits. 

What is your role in the project? 

I am responsible for the geological modelling workflow from data preparation through model validation and delivery 

What makes this project challenging? 

One of the primary challenges is modelling large, laterally extensive sedimentary deposits while maintaining geological consistency across vast areas and multiple datasets 

How is the project improving the client’s or operations’ way of working? 

The geological model provides a reliable and centralized representation of the deposit, improving confidence in resource evaluation and mine planning decisions. By delivering a consistent geological framework, the model helps different technical teams work from the same interpretation of the deposit. 

How does this project experience influence the way you support Datamine customers today? 

It enables me to understand customer requirements from both a technical and operational perspective. This allows me to provide guidance that goes beyond software functionality and focuses on helping customers achieve accurate, efficient, and defensible geological modelling workflows that support business objectives and mine planning decisions. 

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.

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

I recently started working on projects using our database software, 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 

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

I entered the industry at a time when digital transformation was gaining momentum. I’ve embraced this shift fully by learning and applying cutting-edge software and promoting digital tools for smarter mining. 

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

Be patient and open to continuous learning. Mining is complex and technical, and understanding it takes time. Stay curious and ambitious—it pays off. 

What keeps you motivated and passionate about your work? 

The desire to keep learning and discovering. Mining is a dynamic field where no two days are alike, and that constant evolution keeps me inspired. 

Fun & forward-looking 

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

I would pursue a career that keeps me active and out in the field—something hands-on and engaging, far from a typical 9-to-5 desk job. 

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

That mining is not suitable for women. That’s simply not true. Women are thriving in all areas of the industry, from engineering to leadership. 

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

The digitalization of mines and the growing emphasis on environmental assessment and sustainability. These shifts are not only modernizing operations but also making mining more responsible and future-ready.