Written by Kimberley Saflian (EarthScience Information Systems) and Sally Bonham (Environmental Auditor at Vic Audits)
What has been the highlight of your Branch/SIG this year?
The highlight of our year was the International Women’s Day (IWD) events run across Australia and New Zealand, with ALGA hosting 7 IWD events during March.
We listened to various panel members and speakers who shared their experiences and knowledge around empowerment, equality, flexibility and the strides we all continue to make towards progress for women in our contaminated land industry. The networking was positive and the excitement and mood in each room made for a fabulous series of events.
The highlight of the Melbourne IWD breakfast was listening to Brittany Jackson of Matrix Drilling Australia speak about becoming Victoria’s first licensed female driller. Her career to date has been inspirational for many and we as a SIG really look forward to watching her continue her journey!
Thank you for all of the organisation and effort from ALGA staff, Branch Committee Members and SIG members who were outstanding – we can’t wait to start planning again for next year!
What are you most excited about in the new financial year (1 July 2025 – 30 June 2026)
As we look ahead to the coming year, we are incredibly excited about the opportunities for growth, collaboration, and impact within the ALGA Women in Contaminated Land and Groundwater Specialist Interest Group (SIG). The aim of this group is to become a platform for connecting passionate professionals, fostering leadership, and creating space for voices that need to be heard more often in the contaminated land industry.
Our primary focus remains on networking and mentorship into the next financial year, with a series of ongoing collaborative events – both in-person and online. Through the recent commencement of our mentoring program, we are also aiming to create structured opportunities for women at all career stages to connect, support each other, and share insights that help build both technical skills and confidence.
Overall, we will continue to build an inclusive culture through connection which will allow us to celebrate the diversity of perspectives in our industry and ensure that the barriers to participation and leadership are recognised and actively addressed at all levels.
Sally Bonham – Environmental Auditor at Vic Audits.
Kimberley Saflian – (EarthScience Information Systems)