Susan Havlin Consultora Técnica tes3

1. What first sparked your interest in the mining industry?
(Was it a specific event, a person, a course, or something else?)

My passion for geology didn’t begin in childhood, it sparked unexpectedly during a science careers night at the University of Western Australia. I had initially lined up to speak with someone about human movement, but the queue was long, so I wandered over to the geology table, where there was no wait. The geologist’s enthusiasm and insights immediately drew me in, and that conversation ignited my curiosity about the field.

My first job further cemented my interest in the mining industry. Working FIFO, I quickly discovered the unique camaraderie that forms on-site, the people I worked with became like a second family. That strong sense of community has remained a constant in every company I’ve worked for since.

2. Can you walk us through your career path and how you ended up at Datamine?
(Mention previous roles, education, or unexpected turns.)

I started my career with AngloGold Ashanti as a Graduate Mine Geologist at Sunrise Dam, progressing to Project Geologist in their Near-Mine Exploration team. From there, I moved to Olympia Resources as a Senior Geologist, where I took on greater responsibility for drilling programmes, budget management, and tenement compliance. I joined Snowden Optiro (now part of Datamine) in 2009 and have since advanced through multiple roles including Consultant, Senior Consultant, Principal Consultant, and now Managing Consultant. Along the way, I also took a secondment with Resolute Mining as a Senior Resource Geologist, which gave me invaluable operational experience.

3. Was there a defining moment that confirmed mining was the right industry for you?
(Has that perspective evolved over time?)

Yes, the defining moment came when I first started working at Optiro now Snowden Optiro. From the outset, I felt completely aligned with the work, the people, and the values of the organisation. It quickly became clear that this was the right industry for me, and I’ve never looked back.

Over time, my perspective has only deepened. What started as a strong initial connection has grown into a long-term passion, reinforced by the diversity of projects, the constant learning, and the collaborative nature of the work.

My area of expertise is in resource geology, with a focus on Mineral Resource estimation and QAQC. I apply this knowledge daily through technical reviews, resource audits, due diligence assessments, as well as training and mentoring initiatives.

Susan