Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface

Levi Grima grew up in Mackay on his family's sugarcane farm. He joined the army and was deployed overseas, thinking that was what he wanted. Turns out being deployed overseas made Levi miss Mackay and his home, so he came back and found himself a job in mining. Levi started as a coal technician and has climbed up the chain at SGS to become the Natural Resources Operations Manager. Levi is also part of the Australia Pacific Carbon Connect (APCC) leadership cohort for 2026 and is among some of the most passionate people we have met in the coal industry. Jess caught up with Levi on this episode of Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface to learn about what a coal technician does, how that part of the coal chain works and why Levi is so passionate about coal.

Hannah Legg is the CEO and Founder of HER Engineering. She has three trade qualifications and a certificate to her name, all because she was curious, determined to know how everything worked and determined to be the best she could be. The 32-year-old from the Hunter Valley has a few firsts to her name, including being the first tradeswoman in more than 90 years to be employed at Kings Engineering, Hannah started HER Engineering in 2021 and since then has continued to thrive. Jess caught up with Hannah for this episode of Digging Deeper - let us know what you think!

Chris Uhlmann is a veteran Australian journalist. He's been a political reporter for many years and these days is a freelance political contributor for Sky News and The Australian.Chris presented at the recent Asia Pacific Carbon Connect conference in Newcastle, talking about the wealth generated by fossil fuels and the simple fact we wouldn't be where we are today without coal, gas and oil and without it we won't move much further forward. Chris is a no-nonsense reporter, telling the facts about how crucial coal is for our country's prosperity, energy security and wealth. Jess and Chris discuss coal, the current global economy, the "clown show" that is politics in Australia and what Chris thinks the world is coming to. Don't forget to leave a rating and a review wherever you're listening and if you have an idea for a story or a guest get in touch: [email protected]

The Australian Coal Preparation Society is celebrating 60 years in 2026. 60 years of education and connection for the coal preparation part of the coal supply chain. Their annual conference was held in Pokolbin in March and Jess went along to chat to a few of the suppliers, innovators, and people working to get the best value and quality coal out to buyers.In the second episode Jess caught up with five of the businesses who were at the conference including: John Ballantyre the Sales Manager East Coast Mining for SNF Australia, Pat Caputo the CEO of Business Solutions at Elastomers Australia, Brad Anstess the Regional Sales Manager APAC for McLanahan, Mark Cartwright the General Manager HMA Flow Industrial Division and Peter Barnett the General Manager at Mincotech. Don't forget to leave us a rating and a review!

The Australian Coal Preparation Society (ACPS) is celebrating 60 years of connection and education this year. In March the ACPD get together for their conference, an opportunity to network, meet new people, learn about the innovation going on in the industry and get some insight into what is happening on the ground at various sites. Jess had the opportunity to catch up with a few people at the conference. In this episode she sits down with Chairman of the LOC for the APCS Conference in the Hunter Valley Rafael Brymora, a veteran of the industry Andrew Swanson to find out some of the history, for a producer side of the conversation Jason Schumacher the Coal Quality Engineer for Yancoal joins the chat and two young process engineers, Sebastian Lewandowski and Samantha Parkinson jump on the podcast. Enjoy! Don't forget to leave us a rating and a review.

It was an accident that Richard Campbell ended up in mining over in New Zealand. He was enrolled to become a mechanial engineer, went to an open day at university and came out signed up for geology instead. From that accident, some mining work in New Zealand, and then working in mines over the ditch in Australia, he was sitting in Bunbury WA with a couple of mates having a beer, and they came up with the name Blackrock, and the rest is history. Blackrock Mining Solutions has now grown to more than 100 employees and is a very successful business in the mining industry. Jess sat down with Richard to talk about his career, starting Blackrock and the coal mining industry. Don't forget to leave a rating and a review!

NSW Mining has some of the best social media content around, promoting the critical mineral and coal mining industry across NSW. Everything from 'day in the life' videos, to underground, open cut, the lesser known jobs, and tips from everyone you can think of about how to get into the industry or how it works. That positive messaging is making a real impact on social media and spreading the word that not only is mining here to stay, but it has a huge impact on everyone's day-to-day, even if you don't think it does. Scott Keenan is the Director of Public Affairs at the NSW Minerals Council, and on this episode, he takes us behind the scenes of what he and his team do and the difference it is making to public perception of the industry. Don't forget to leave us a rating and a review!

We first met Emily-Jane "EJ" Schutte at the IMARC Conference in Sydney last year. EJ is the President of the Hunter Student Chapter of AusIMM at the University of Newcastle (UoN). She's passionate about getting young people excited about the mining industry and all the different career paths it offers to students. UoN doesn't offer a mining-specific Engineering degree, with students having to complete the mining portion at UNSW or the University of Wollongong. EJ firmly believes the AusIMM is filling that missing link in the Hunter, introducing students to mining and giving them an insight and expereince into the industry right on Newcastle's doorstep. Don't forget to leave us a rating and a review, and we'd love to hear your thoughts on Jess' chat with EJ.

@ The Coalface first met Jai, Lachlan and Jim just after they started their business Night Work Nutrition. All three had been working in the mining industry, doing their fair share of shift work at mines in the Hunter Valley for years. If you've met these three, you know they get along like a house on fire and as soon as Jim mentioned they should start a business to help their fellow shift workers, it was all systems go!Night Work Nutrition is for shift workers, by shift workers. A meal replacement shake that actually tastes good and has everything in it that you need to get through your shift. They also have shakers and sleep masks and they tell us on this episode of Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface that there are even more exciting things to come...Enjoy the first episode of season 2 of Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface! Don't forget to leave us a rating and review.

Jade Woodsen grew up in the thick of the Queensland mining industry at Mt Isa. She has spent 14 years in the mining industry herself and built her mining career across many roles at different sites including the QCoal Northern Hub.It was all that experience across various machines and in numerous roles that saw her offered the opportunity to undertake her OCE course. She has been successful in obtaining it this year and is already out in the field putting it into action. The process of obtaining your OCE ticket is no walk in the park so we had a chat to Jade about her experience, her time in mining and advice she has for anyone currently knee-deep in their OCE studies.This is the final episode for Season 1 of Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface. Thank you to everyone who came along for the ride! We can't wait to get our shovels out again in 2026 and dig even deeper.

Brock Mendyk was born and raised in the Hunter Valley. He finished school and got his boilermaker trade and started working at Bulga near Singleton. Brock built some special bonds and made lifelong friends on site who helped him through the hardest time in his life: losing his father and his sister to suicide. Fast forward, Brock has left the Hunter Valley and completely changed careers. He's moving into life coaching so he can share his story and learnings with people who need someone to help them in their lives and guide them towards a better version of themselves. Enjoy this episode! Don't forget to leave us a rating and a review!

Kim Nguyen is the Director and Founder of Core Mine, a business created to make leaders better and equip them with what they need to become better leaders. Kim spent 23 years in open cut mining working his way up the leadership chain. Kim firmly believes that his parents and his upbringing helping shape him into the person he is today. His parents came to Australia with nothing, displaced by war in Vietnam. Kim's life took a tragic turn in 2021 when he lost his chosen brother. That moment became the catalyst for him to find what his life had been missing. Enjoy this episode of Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface!

Katie Siemsen worked in the health and safety area of coal mining for about ten years. Earlier this year she decided it was time to step out on her own and take on being her own boss with 'Empower Business Solutions'.Without planning it, Katie has become something of a disrupter. Sharing her thoughts on LinkedIn about the harsh realities she experienced while she worked in the industry and what she believes needs to change, and be better. Through her business she hopes to empower leaders in the industry to make the workplace a better place for women, and men to be. From toilets to a fair share or work to having work uniforms that actually fit. Enjoy this episode! Leave us your thoughts in the comments below.

The @ The Coalface team are at the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) 2025 at the ICC in Sydney. IMARC brings together people in industry not just from down under but from right across the globe.11,000 people are expected to walk through the IMARC doors over the next three days and Jess has caught up with some of them on Digging Deeper, recorded live from the bustling floors of IMARC in their exclusive podcast zone called "OnAir @ IMARC".Jess sat down with Dale Last, the Queensland Minister for Resources and Mines, Minister for Manufacturing and Minister for Regional and Rural Development to talk all things mining, and find out a bit more about Dale and why he's so passionate about mining and our regional communities.Leave us a rating and a review!

The @ The Coalface team are at the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) 2025 at the ICC in Sydney. IMARC brings together people in industry not just from down under but from right across the globe.11,000 people are expected to walk through the IMARC doors over the next three days and Jess has caught up with some of them on Digging Deeper, recorded live from the bustling floors of IMARC in their exclusive podcast zone called "OnAir @ IMARC".Idemitsu Australia is certainly diversifying their coal business down under, expanding their portfolio to include critical minerals and building renewables like the country's largest vanadium battery on their coal sites. They are backing coal all the way, but see the benefit in doing more - Chief Executive Officer Steve Kovac sat down with Jess to explain.Leave us a rating and a review!

The @ The Coalface team are at the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) 2025 at the ICC in Sydney. IMARC brings together people in industry not just from down under but from right across the globe.11,000 people are expected to walk through the IMARC doors over the next three days and Jess has caught up with some of them on Digging Deeper, recorded live from the bustling floors of IMARC in their exclusive podcast zone called "OnAir @ IMARC".Jodie Currie started the Bowen Basin Mining Club (BBMC) 15 years ago, and this year expanded to NSW starting the Hunter Mining Club. The BBMC has helped guide it's members through many ups and downs and continues to do so in unsure times in the coal sector. Leave us a rating and a review!

The @ The Coalface team are at the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) 2025 at the ICC in Sydney. IMARC brings together people in industry not just from down under but from right across the globe.11,000 people are expected to walk through the IMARC doors over the next three days and Jess has caught up with some of them on Digging Deeper, recorded live from the bustling floors of IMARC in their exclusive podcast zone called "OnAir @ IMARC".Nick Jorss is the Executive Chairman of Bowen Coking Coal, a story in itself after sadly going into administration earlier this year, and also founded Coal Australia. He is loud and proud about coal and we couldn't agree with him more. Leave us a rating and a review!

The @ The Coalface team are at the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) 2025 at the ICC in Sydney. IMARC brings together people in industry not just from down under but from right across the globe.11,000 people are expected to walk through the IMARC doors over the next three days and Jess has caught up with some of them on Digging Deeper, recorded live from the bustling floors of IMARC in their exclusive podcast zone called "OnAir @ IMARC".Michelle Manook is the Chief Executive of Future Coal and sat down with Jess to talk all things coal here, and around the world. Leave us a rating and a review!

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service (WRHS) is celebrating 50 years of saving lives across northern NSW this year. David Gatwood isn't just a volunteer, he was rescued by the WRHS in 2021. It was on the October long weekend that he was riding with his mates in the Upper Hunter and rode over a cattle grid coming off his bicycle. David thought that was it. Until he heard the comforting sounds of the WRHS overhead. David is forever grateful to the Service for saving his life. Jess sat down with David in Scone to hear his story and believe us when we say you'd better have the tissues ready. Leave us a rating and review, we'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode of Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface wherever you're listening!

BHP's Mt Arthur Coal Mine is finishing up mining in 2030. Since the announcement was made, there has been plenty of planning happening behind the scenes and a lot of engagement with the employees, local businesses and the community. So, where is that planning up to?What is the sentiment on site?Is there any chance mining could continue post-BHP?Jess sat down with some of the BHP team including General Manager Darryl Messenger, Manager of Strategy and Closure Execution Georgia Manning, Amanda Walker the Manager of Corporate Affairs and Rob Kennelly Manager of Transition after the Muswellbrook Chamber of Commerce and Industry Breakfast.

In 2016 Steve Fordham started a business with Glen Finnan providing manpower and equipment to support mining and civil projects across the Hunter Valley. Blackrock Industries was born and from that came Dreampath Recruitment and then 'Second Chance for Change' helping incarcerated men find full time work and many other community projects. Steve has become a leader for the mining community, fighting for what the community deserves. Jess sat down with Steve for this episode of Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface!

In this episode of Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface, Jess chats with Martin Richardson, the National Sales Manager for Truflo Pumps.Martin has been around the industry for many years, jumping in the deep end from the moment he joined the team. He's had the opportunity to travel overseas and solve pumping problems at mines across Australia and overseas. Enjoy this episode of Digging Deeper, we're sure you're pumped to hear about Martin's career!Please leave us a rating and review wherever you're listening.

Jess is still sifting through all of the awesome content she collected at the NSW Mining HSEC Conference back in August. In this episode of bonus content you'll hear from Thiess Environmental Graduate Ashlee Cox and Thiess Health, Safety and Training Manager at Mt Arthur South Beth Conliffe. Don't forget to leave us a rating and a review wherever you're listening!

If you live in Central Queensland you know exactly who CapRescue is. The Service provides lifesaving, around-the-clock aeromedical care — at no cost to patients — where and when it’s needed most.The mining industry, like us, are big supporters of CapRescue and on Episode 14 of Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface we take a deep dive into what it's like to be in the helicopter providing the care, working for the Service and supporting it. Air Crew Officer Alan Griffiths, Communications and Engagement Officer Kim Walters and Community Relations Coordinator Tracey Snedden join Jess for this episode. Don't forget to leave us a rating and a review!

Peter “Zoom” Oram never imagined he’d become the bloke people looked to when everything was on the line, when the smoke was thick, alarms were sounding, and there wasn’t time to think twice. Back in 1985, he was just a teenager trying to figure out what came next after school. He didn’t have a plan, just a name to follow and a pair of steel-capped boots to fill.In 1995, he joined the Capcoal mines rescue team. Not for recognition or competition trophies, but because he wanted to be ready.Mines rescue didn’t just give him skills. It gave him direction. Over the years, he’s become a training assessor, a safety rep and, more recently, took on a three-month stint as rescue coordinator.Jess sat down with Zoom to talk all about it. Peter also featured in the July edition of @ The Coalface: https://thecoalface.net.au/four-decades-of-calm-in-the-chaos/

Ngaire Baker has been in the mining industry for years. Right now she is the External Relations Manager for Develop, at their Woodlawn Underground Operations. Ngaire has inspired many women over her years in the industry, has been a mentor and experienced the highs and lows and everything the mining industry has to offer. Ngaire spent a few years in the Upper Hunter with MACH Energy at their Mt Pleasant Operation which is where host Jess first met her.Ngaire has plenty of stories and she shared some of them with us at the NSW Mining HSEC Conference. Jess collected a tonne of content at the conference so we decided to share some with you as bonus content. Enjoy! And, don't forget to leave us a rating and a review wherever you're listening.

Episode 12 of Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface was recorded LIVE at the NSW Mining Health Safety Environment and Community Conference in Pokolbin. The 'Future Leaders Lunch' saw host Jess sit down with Sienna Linforth an Underground Mechanical Engineer at Dartbrook Mine, Julius Harris-Payne a Graduate Environment Officer at Bloomfield's Rix's Creek Mine and Georgia O'Neill who is an Environment and Community Officer at the United Wambo JV. In front of an audience at the conference, this episode delves into the careers of these three young, passionate mine workers, they share some of the funny things that have happened to them on site, the technical advances they've seen in the industry and how important education is not only about the industry but to encourage people to be a part of it and choose mining as their career. Enjoy this episode of Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface!

Whether you're on a mine site in the workshop, in the office, in the corporate office, at a hospital, on a construction site, whether you are just about anywhere you've seen the TradeMutt shirts. They're bright and colourful and they have a very simple message emblazoned on the back: This Is A Conversation Starter. Dan and his mate Ed started TradeMutt after one of Dan's good mate's took his own life. TradeMutt is a social enterprise so the duo also started TIACS, a professional mental health counselling service for tradies, truckies, farmers, and blue collar workers that's completely free. 50 per cent of the profit from TradeMutt goes directly to TIACS making it free for anyone who needs it. On this episode Jess catches up with Dan Allen to talk about where TradeMutt started, how it's going and some of the incredible stories Dan has heard along the way.For more information on TradeMutt: https://trademutt.com/To reach out to TIACS: https://www.tiacs.org/ or call or text: 0488 846 988@ The Coalface story on TradeMutt and TIACS: https://thecoalface.net.au/this-is-a-conversation-starter/This could be the best episode Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface yet, so make sure you let us know what you think.

If you're a true Newcastle Knights fan, or even just an NRL junkie you'll know this guest. Newcastle Knights old boy Kurt Gidley made his debut with the NRL club in 2001, captained the side between 2007 and 2015, was the captain of the NSW Blues in 2009 and 2010 and was inducted into the Newcastle Knights Hall of Fame in 2022. There are plenty of other stories in between, from playing for Australia to some pretty memorable tries.Kurt retired from professional NRL at the end of 2015 having made the second-most appearance for the Knights in the Club's history. He finished his professional career with the Warrington Wolves in the Super League.These days you'll find Kurt kicking goals in the mining industry as the National Manager - Partnerships and Growth at the Protech Group. Jess sat down with Kurt to talk all things footy and his time in one of the country's other big exporters... mining. Previous stories on the Protech Group and Dreampath Recruitment: https://thecoalface.net.au/proof-is-in-the-pudding/https://thecoalface.net.au/industry-superstars/

Vicky Pellowe started the FIFO Family Project after moving to Perth, becoming a mum and discovering there was next to no support available for FIFO parents staying at home with the children while their other half went away to work for days at a time. The FIFO Family Project is a community and a support network for families who are trying to navigate that lifestyle. While there are meet ups in person in Vicky's home state in WA, there is now a FIFO New Parents Guide, online webinars and lots of other support that can be accessed by anyone, anywhere in Australia. Jess caught up with Vicky for this episode of Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface!Info on the FIFO New Parents Guide: https://www.thefifofamilyproject.com.au/the-fifo-new-parents-guide/ Follow Vicky on Instagram @thefifofamilyproject

Dave Foster's career in mining has come full circle. He started in 2005 as the Operations Engineer at Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) when the site was owned by Rio Tinto, stayed for five years before leaving to work at some other mine operations. Dave made his way back to Singleton's HVO 20 years later as the General Manager. It was always a goal of Dave's to make his way back to HVO, and he did. In this episode of Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface Jess sits down with Dave to talk about his career and the expansion plans that have been underway at HVO since 2019. Enjoy this episode, and don't forget to rate the podcast and leave a review wherever you're listening!

Danny McCarthy credits his success in the mining industry to his late father who always instilled in him to "do what's right". Danny is the Managing Director of TerraCom who run the Blair Athol mine in Queensland. He's been with the company for a few years now which has included some unforgettable travel overseas to their other assets, but now he's fully focussed on running the Blair Athol mine to the best of his ability. Danny never thought he'd end up in mining, but you just never know what's around the corner. Enjoy this episode of Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface! Don't forget to leave us a rating and a review!

If it wasn't for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service (WRHS), Noel Kelly wouldn't be here today. He was working 700 metres underground at Cumnock No.1 Colliery near Singleton on March 26, 1992 when his life changed forever.Dublin-born Noel was crushed by two 15-tonne trucks, his leg torn off in an instant. The call went from underground to above ground calling for reinforcements including the WRHS that flew Noel to the John Hunter Hospital for treatment.The WRHS is celebrating 50 years of service to Northern NSW this year and in this episode Jess catches up with Noel to hear his story and one of the most well known faces of the service Richard Jones.

Matt Clarke was behind the wheel of "Debbie" the Bushmaster in 2012 in Afghanistan when he and his crew went over an IED.Everyone survived, but Matt suffered some gnarly injuries to both of his feet and ankles. The accident marked the end of his time in the Australian Defence Force as part of the Afghanistan Mentoring Task Force-5 Deployment, and the start of his time in the mining industry.The Bushmaster he was driving will be in the Anzac Hall currently being constructed at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.Jess sat down with Matt to talk about his time in Afghanistan, how he came across the Bushmaster again on home soil and his work in the mining industry.Don't forget to rate and review Episode 5 of Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface!

This episode of Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface is coming to you from Black Rock Motor Resort Park at Lake Macquarie!Why? This site was once Rhondda Colliery, with an output of 1500 tonnes of coal per day, the mine opened in 1900 and mining ceased in 1971. Rehabilitation was finished in 2008, which included site remediation and revegetation.Yancoal had control of the former colliery site until it relinquished its mining lease, and a man by the name of Tony Palmer took control renaming it Black Rock Motor Resort. It will soon become Australia's first dedicated recreation resort park for motoring enthusiasts.The track has already attracted some big names in motorsport including Dakar and Finke Champion Toby Price.Jess caught up with Toby and Tony for this episode of Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface brought to you by NSW Mining, responsibly mining coal for today and tomorrow with experts restoring land after mining at every single mine.

Here it is, Episode 3 of Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface!Coal Australia was born out of the Bowen Basin in Queensland as an organisation to promote the wonderful coal mining industry. Fast forward to now and there are more than 50,000 'Friends of Coal Australia' and the not-for-profit has been celebrating and sharing the wonderful stories of our industry right across NSW and Queensland. Stuart Bocking was named CEO of Coal Australia last year and he is one of the most passionate advocates for the industry. Jess sat down with Stuart to talk all things coal mining for Episode 3 of Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface!

Welcome to Episode 2 of Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface! International Women's Day is on March 8 and to celebrate women in mining Jess caught up with Sienna Mallon. Sienna is a mining manager in Central Queensland, and she's only 28 years old. Mining wasn't her first industry, she took a chance at a job moving up to Queensland from an agronomist role in Victoria.Sienna gained popularity on social media talking about being a female in the mining industry at a high level and encouraging other young women to take the leap into the industry no matter how young they are. She has shared advice, experiences and plenty of fun with her growing audience. Enjoy episode 2 of Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface!

Digging Deeper with @ The Coalface, the podcast that shares the incredible stories of the talented and passionate people in our industry who not only shine on site but are doing incredible things in their local communities, on the national stage, and sometimes even making a global impact.We often interview people and would love to share the WHOLE story with you, so here it is.Welcome to Episode 1 hosted by Jessica Rouse. For the very first episode Jess is joined by CEO of the NSW Minerals Council Stephen Galilee and CEO of the Queensland Resources Council Janette Hewson to talk all things coal mining, which state is better and what frustrates them the most about what people think of the coal mining industry.