Natasha's living her passion

Pilbara-raised fly-in, fly-out worker Natasha Cann hopes her example will inspire other women in the male-dominated resource industry.

Ms Cann was announced as a finalist in the 2012 Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia Women in Resources Awards, after being nominated in the outstanding technician/operator/trade woman category.

The winner will be announced on March 8 to coincide with International Women’s Day.

As the only independent female maintenance planner in WA, Ms Cann said she has never considered her gender a hindrance.

“For example, I’ve started shutdown meetings as the only female in the room,” she said.

“I have not allowed this to worry me, but spoken up, contributing to discussions to earn credibility so that they are able to look past the fact that I am not male.

“My varying skills have gained me respect from co-workers and clients, making my gender irrelevant.”

Born in Dampier and raised in Karratha, the mining industry is in Ms Cann’s blood, with her father having worked for Hamersley Iron and her grandfather and great-grandfather having worked for Kalgoorlie Mining.

She established maintenance planning service business NM Cann three years ago, and is working on contract for BHP Billiton in Port Hedland.

Ms Cann said her business offered both mechanical and electrical planning, and she did not have a trade background.

“I enjoy my career, I work 12-hour days … one of the driving factors in setting up my business was the need for flexibility, which with long-term planning I should achieve,” she said.

However, Ms Cann does not allow the mining industry to dominate her life and also runs a photography business, which won a small business award in 2008.

“I developed a love of nature and landscape photography as a child growing up in the Pilbara region,” she said.

“Capturing emotion in a still image carries many challenges … combining the experience with the drama of nature and the art of creating keeps me motivated.

“I am the luckiest woman in WA, living my passion for the resources sector … and making the most of my passion for photography in my spare time.”