Follow us:
CEED Graduate Success – Mining is not just for Engineers!
Since completing her CEED project for Rio Tinto Coal Australia in 2007, Kathryn Harrigan’s career has gone from strength to strength.
.07.JPG) |
| From left: Richard Hassall (Rio Tinto Coal Australia), Kathryn Harrigan during her CEED project in 2007, Robert Beckman (RTCA) |
Kathryn completed an internal Marketing/Public Relations project for Rio Tinto Coal Australia as part of her Master of Business – Public Relations degree at QUT.
Kathryn recalls that her CEED project was to “put together a collection of collaboration success stories from across Rio Tinto Coal Australia. I oversaw the process from start to finish, interviewing story contacts on site, writing the stories, sourcing photographs, overseeing approvals and liaising with designers to develop a hardcopy corporate publication. The publication was also posted on the Rio Tinto collaborative forums – an online knowledge sharing network accessible by all Rio Tinto employees across the globe. The publication received good feedback from across the business for its ability to capture and relay the benefits of collaboration, including tangible benefits such as cost saving, and intangible benefits such as corporate knowledge sharing and the development of informal networks”.
As a result of her project, Kathryn was offered a graduate position with the company. A year and a half later, she was promoted to the role of Communications Advisor.
When CEED recently caught up with Kathryn, she told us about her current role. “I provide communications support for a project to relocate all Rio Tinto employees in Brisbane from several offices into a single building, known as the Brisbane Regional Centre. Although the move isn’t expected to occur until early 2011 (the building itself is still under construction), the project team has been engaging with employees since 2008 to ensure we not only keep people informed, but also incorporate employee feedback and suggestions into the building design and prepare people for the transition,” she said.
.jpg) |
| Kathryn Harrigan (CEED graduate) was employed by Rio Tinto Coal, as a result of her CEED project in 2007 |
“My role as the communications advisor for the project team means I’m always meeting new people from across the business and have the chance to try new and innovative ways of communicating with our workforce. Most recently, I have been working on a communications strategy for the project for 2010 – 2011, re-vamping our Regional Centre intranet and producing our e-bulletin newsletter. I also helped develop and deliver an information roadshow last year.”
“Digital communications is a major focus at Rio Tinto, helping us to become more sustainable. This means I’ve been lucky enough to gather plenty of great skills in managing web content and using digital design programs.”
Kathryn continued, “The CEED Program gave me a foot in the door to my job with Rio Tinto. My lecturers at QUT encouraged me to apply for the CEED project and I got the position, despite knowing very little about the mining industry. If I hadn’t completed a CEED project, it’s safe to say I wouldn’t be with Rio Tinto today doing the interesting, challenging work I do.
“I enjoy my job: I am part of a talented team and am constantly learning.”
When she’s not at work, Kathryn is enjoying settling into her first home (purchased late last year) – just a short walk from her workplace.
Who said the mining industry is just for Engineers! What did Kathryn study, to get her to this point in her career?
Well done on your success story to date, Kathryn. We’re sure we’ll be hearing more from you in the future.