Tammy Eiser is the youngest of four girls, and grew up on a hobby farm 30 minutes from the nearest town, where hard work was instilled in her from a young age.

A competitive athlete, who excelled in sport, Tammy moved to Brisbane when she finished school with the aim of progressing her hockey commitments and study architecture.

But, a subject in timber design quickly changed her focus, and an interest for engineering was sparked, and luckily, because it’s where Tammy’s has been able to shine the brightest.

Tammy completed an engineering degree with first class honours and entered the industry as a graduate.

Within 18 months she was offered a secondment at BHP as a project engineer.

Now, the project engineer for Coal leads the engineering on a multiple disciplined project through design and construction, has developed team business plans, and stepped up into project lead positions where she’s been able to use her skills to understand the team, their individual needs and build trustful relationships that ultimately lead to a successful outcome.

Tammy said critical to this success is the support you have from the people around you.

For Tammy, that was her parents, who both encouraged her to excel in life, become an independent and successful woman in the workplace and appreciate where she came from.

“Being a young female engineer within the resource sector, I have a passion for encouraging other females to follow in a similar path and encourage female colleagues to step up into leadership roles,” she said.

Over the past three years Tammy has volunteered at local university and school events promoting the resource sector and explaining facts about the resources, and the advantages it has to Queensland the Australian economy and growth.

This year, a highlight was as a mentor in the first WIMARQ Mentoring program for Year 12 girls, and the impact one student had on her.

Tammy said her mentee spoke about the possibility of not being able to go to university due to financial constraints.

Showing great potential academically, and also demonstrating strong confidence and emotional intelligence, Tammy was disheartened after hearing her story, and her first instinct was to help.

“I strongly believe that by encouraging one girl to join engineering and the resource sector – I have made a difference. 

“After lots of discussions with universities, companies in the industry and mentoring sessions I was able to give my mentee hope that we can get her into university.

“… and she did make it. She is studying engineering on a scholarship within the industry!”

Tammy is a finalist in the 2020 Queensland Resources Awards for Women, in the Exceptional Young Woman in QLD Resources category.

The winners will be announced at the Women in Mining and Resources Queensland International Women’s Day breakfast, at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in March.