Kerralie Nardelli
Ask me about
- Finding work in a male-dominated workforce
- What it's like to work on a fly-in, fly-out roster
- Needing a formal qualification for this type of role
- The kind of salary can you earn in this role
About me
In high school, I wanted to be a journalist. I left after Year 10 and went to secretarial school instead. At 16, I started working as a Records Officer for Dept Transport. I fell pregnant and was let go, so I moved on to admin jobs in law offices until my son was born. To manage being a mum and earn money, I worked nights in Hospital Admin, then moved into full-time dayshift roles also in hospital admin. I progressed into roles like Freedom of Information Officer for Child Protection Services and then Coordinator of Freedom of Information. I moved back to the hospital as an Administration Supervisor and then became a Systems Specialist, designing training packages, doing system testing, and training staff from admin teams to the nurses and doctors. I outgrew this role and became a Hospital Administration Manager, leading 180 staff across 6 sites. I have worked at Rio Tinto now as a Superintendent for 4 years in the Operations team.
About my role
Resource Development Operations is the team that finds and studies new mining areas in the Pilbara. They use drilling and earthworks to determine which minerals are underground and decide whether it’s better to continue mining in the current area or build a new mine. They also drill water bores to supply water to mine camps and ensure water use doesn’t harm the environment, especially natural waterways. The team runs drilling programs to collect rock samples and data. This helps them understand what’s underground and estimate how much ore is available. They also study water systems to manage risks, support approvals, and plan long-term water use. The work includes geology, drilling, earthworks, and environmental surveys (like checking plants, animals, and cultural heritage sites). This ensures all projects are done safely and follow regulations. Overall, Resource Development Operations helps the company make smart decisions about future mining, find new opportunities, and make sure there are enough resources for the future.
Education
- Master's Degree in Business Administration
- Post Graduate Certificate Project Management
- Master's Degree Human Resource Management (in progress, completion Feb 2027)
Subjects
- Business Studies
- English
- Food and Technology
- General Mathematics (Maths A)
- Health & Human Development
- Music
- Performing Arts
- Physical Education
- Science
Hobbies
- Camping
- Dancing
- Pilates
- Renovating
- Volunteering
15 year old me!!
My career journey
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Secretary school
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Working Groups and Health and Safety Rep
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Said yes to lots of tasks
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Night school for my MBA
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Developed active listening skills
My typical day
My employer
