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Lauren Blackwell

from Retail assistant to Advisor Technical Chemistry
I use science to improve how aluminium is made.
Industry
Mining and Resources
Company
Rio Tinto
Job Level
Entry

Ask me about

  • Moving away from home to study
  • Getting experience before you finish university
  • Building a network
  • Not knowing what you want to do as a career

About me

  • Regional Background

At school, I enjoyed lots of different subjects, and my favourites were Maths C (specialist), Chemistry and Drama. I thought I would be a doctor or a biomedical scientist but ended up applying for a double degree in Engineering and Science.

After school, I took a gap year to work as a teacher aide, which I loved, but I felt ready to start learning again. I began university in 2019 and quickly realised that Chemical Engineering (my enrolled major) wasn’t right for me. I took an elective course on coding, loved it, and switched majors, so I ended up graduating with specialties in Software Engineering and Chemistry.

While I studied, I worked in all different software, chemistry and education jobs, and before beginning my graduate role as a Software Engineer at Rio Tinto in 2024. While I was a graduate, I was able to test out different roles, and ended up moving into a research and development team as a scientist.

About my role

  • Curious
  • Logical
  • Observant
  • Practical
  • Resourceful

Alumina (aluminium oxide) is produced in a refinery, which uses a complex process to extract aluminium-containing minerals from bauxite ore. Making good quality alumina is important to make sure that aluminium smelters are able to operate efficiently and produce great aluminium.

As a scientist, sometimes I am in the lab, running experiments to simulate the refinery or test out new ideas. I also spend time looking at data from the refinery and from experiments to understand what is going on and what we should do next. I collaborate with other scientists, process engineers, business analysts, geologists, metallurgists and more, so being able to communicate effectively is an important part of the job.

Education

  • Queensland Certificate of Education
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - Computer and Software Systems
  • Bachelor of Science - Chemistry

Subjects

  • Chemistry
  • Drama
  • English
  • Mathematical Methods (Maths B)
  • Physics
  • Science
  • Specialist Mathematics (Maths C)

Awards

  • Gladstone Ports Authority Student of the Year (2017)
  • QUT, Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship (Academic) (2019)
  • QTAC Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarship (2019)
  • National Council of Women QLD, Office for Women in STEM Bursary (2019)
  • Shell Energy, Scholarship for Women in IT (2023)

Hobbies

  • Cooking
  • Gymnastics
  • Painting
  • Reading
  • Swimming

Pets

  • 2 Dog

15 year old me!!

“Try as many things as you can! Whether you love it or hate it, every opportunity helps you discover what you enjoy.”

My career journey

Curious to know how I got here? Here’s a snapshot of my career pathway.
  1. Started my first job
  2. Graduated from high school
  3. Began university
  4. Graduated university
  5. Started working at Rio Tinto

My typical day

My employer

Rio Tinto operates in 35 countries where its 60,000 employees are working to find better ways to provide the materials the world needs. Rio’s portfolio includes iron ore, copper, aluminium and a range of other minerals and materials needed for people, communities and nations to grow and prosper, and for the world to cut carbon emissions to net zero. Continuously searching for new projects that can support the energy transition, Rio Tinto is currently exploring for 8 commodities in 17 countries. The organisation has more than 150 years of mining and processing experience guiding its work and, today, the business relies on technology such as automation and artificial intelligence to help it run more safely, more efficiently and leave a lighter footprint.