Name: Wamunyina Mahalihali
Occupation: Geotechnical Engineer, Specialist Assurance
Industry: Mining
Country of origin: Zambia
Wamunyina Mahalihali (Wamu) is a geotechnical engineer with about a decade of experience in the mining industry. She is currently a Specialist Assurance at a major mining company based in Perth, Western Australia.
Wamu grew up in Zambia, where her father worked in the mining industry. She was inspired by her father’s stories about his work, and she decided to pursue a career in mining engineering. She attended the prestigious Copperbelt University in Zambia, where she earned a degree in mining engineering.
“I joined AMPAA because I wanted to network with other professionals in the mining industry. It only took me a short time to discover AMPAA to be a valuable resource” – Wamunyina Mahalihali
After graduating from Copperbelt University, Wamu was invited to do an internship at a major mining company. She impressed her supervisors with her performance, and they offered her a full-time job. Wamu has since worked her way up the ranks, and she is now a Specialist Assurance.
Wamu also pursued further education in the UK, where she studied MSc in Soil Mechanics and Engineering Seismology at Imperial College London.
While working in Zambia, she was awarded the prestigious “Mining Woman of the Year 2014” by the Zambia Chamber of Mines.
In her current role, Wamu monitors, inspects, and proposes ideas for improving the systems that the organization has established. She enjoys this role because it allows her to use her creativity and problem-solving skills to make a positive impact on the company.
Wamu is also a member of the African Mining Professionals Association of Australia (AMPAA), a non-profit networking organization for mining industry professionals in Australia.
“I joined AMPAA because I wanted to network with other professionals in the mining industry. It only took me a short time to discover AMPAA to be a valuable resource,” says Wamu.
“I never thought I could so easily meet many new friends and mentors through my association,” she adds.
Wamu remains a highly motivated and accomplished engineer. She is passionate about her work, and she is always looking for ways to be part of a movement that improves the mining industry.
Reflecting on her work as an engineer, she says, “I recognize that I am in a unique position as an accomplished woman and an African working as a mining engineer in Australia. As a result, I feel a sense of responsibility in serving as a role model for other women in the mining industry.”
