Behind the plan: The team shaping Jansen's future underground

When people think about the work happening at our Jansen project in Canada, they often picture construction crews, giant equipment and activity across the site. But behind many of the decisions that will determine how quickly Jansen reaches full production is a small team of mine planners helping chart the path forward.

The Short Term Mine Planning team develops the plans that guide how ore moves to the tailings management area today, through the mill in future, and ultimately how quickly Jansen delivers value. Their work influences everything from the size and sequence of underground mining development to equipment deployment, enabling safe, reliable and efficient execution as new mining areas are prepared.

The team also tracks the build of Mining System 1 and is planning for the launch of the three additional mining systems that will ultimately support Jansen's production in mid-2027.

What makes the group notable is not only the importance of their work, but also that they are an all-women team-a result of hiring the best people for the job, not a gender-specific recruitment process.

“It wasn't something we planned," says Tennille Hanson, Manager Integrated Planning. "We hired for technical expertise, systems thinking, collaboration and the ability to see the bigger picture. It just so happened that the people who stood out and were best suited for the role were all women-and most were from Saskatchewan.”

As BHP's first potash mine planning team, they're also helping forge a new path for the business. With no established potash planning model within BHP to draw from, they've built new processes from the ground up while continuously testing, learning and refining their approach.

“One of the things I'm most proud of is how resilient and adaptable the team is,” Hanson says. “We're constantly learning, improving and working through complex challenges alongside our partners across the project. Everyone brings a strong technical foundation, but it's their communication, collaboration and willingness to seek better ways of working that really sets them apart.”

Today, one of the team's biggest priorities is working with execution teams to achieve targeted production rates through the surge bin and service shaft. Beyond that, they're focused on coordinating the successful startup of the raw ore bin and mining systems to feed the mill-an essential step on Jansen's path to potash production.

It's complex work that requires technical expertise, resilience and adaptability. And every day, this team is helping turn Jansen's potential into reality.

BHP's Jansen mine in Saskatchewan, Canada is expected to become one of the world's largest potash mines once fully ramped up. Potash is an essential nutrient that helps improve crop productivity and supports global food security. Through responsible operations, community partnerships and local investment, BHP is committed to creating long-term value for Saskatchewan and the communities surrounding the mine.