What does a Process Engineer do at a Coal Handling & Preparation Plant (CHPP)? Jenny Park GLENCORE

Summary

Jenny, a corporate process engineer at Glencore, shares her journey from a graduate to her current role. She discusses her experiences in the Glencore graduate program, which included rotations at different plants and learning about coal processing. Jenny highlights the importance of keeping an open mind, stepping out of her comfort zone, and the value of mentorship in her career development. She also provides insights into her day-to-day responsibilities, such as overseeing wash plants and ensuring coal recovery and plant efficiency.

Takeaways

• 😀 Jenny is a corporate process engineer for New South Wales at Glencore, having spent her entire professional career with the company post-university.
• 🏠 Born and raised in Sydney, Jenny moved to the Hunter Valley after joining Glencore's graduate program, marking her first time living away from home.
• 🎓 Initially unsure about her career path, Jenny discovered her passion for chemical engineering at a university careers fair, influenced by her sister and her sister's friends.
• 🔬 Jenny's university degree required a 12-week engineering vacation work, which she completed at a consulting firm focused on energy balances and cost savings.
• 🌟 The Glencore graduate program appealed to Jenny due to its structured two-year program with multiple rotations, focusing on processing and chemical engineering in a global mining and commodities company.
• 🏭 Jenny's first role was at Liddell, an open-cut mine, followed by a position at Yule Land prep plant, where she gained experience with diverse coal qualities and equipment.
• 📈 In her current role, Jenny oversees all wash plants in New South Wales for Glencore, focusing on coal recovery, throughput maximization, cost minimization, and production rate optimization.
• 👥 Jenny values the mentorship and support she received throughout her time at Glencore, which has been instrumental in her professional development.
• 🏡 Jenny recently bought a house in Newcastle and is still in the process of settling in, reflecting her personal life developments alongside her career.
• 📚 Jenny wishes she knew the importance of keeping an open mind and stepping out of her comfort zone when she was in high school, as it has significantly contributed to her current success.

Q & A

What is Jenny's current professional role at Glencore?

Jenny is currently a corporate process engineer for New South Wales at Glencore.

How long has Jenny been with Glencore after her university education?

Jenny's entire professional career post-university has been with Glencore.

What was Jenny's first experience living away from home?

Jenny's first experience living away from home was when she moved to the Hunter Valley, specifically Singleton, after joining the Glencore graduate program.

What was Jenny's first job within the Glencore graduate program?

Jenny's first job within the Glencore graduate program was in Mudgee, where she worked for two years.

What was Jenny's initial career interest before she discovered chemical engineering?

Jenny had no idea what she wanted to do as a career post-school, so she chose subjects she enjoyed in high school, mainly maths and chemistry.

How did Jenny become interested in chemical engineering?

Jenny became interested in chemical engineering after attending a careers fair at the University of Sydney with her sister and her sister's friends who were engineering students.

What was Jenny's engineering vacation work about during her degree?

Jenny's engineering vacation work was with a consulting firm in Sydney, where she worked on energy balances and tried to save money for their utility use.

What motivated Jenny to consider working outside of Sydney?

Jenny was motivated to work outside of Sydney because her vacation work was office-based, and she found it difficult to conceptualize everything without being at the site.

What was the biggest appeal for Jenny about the Glencore graduate program?

The biggest appeal for Jenny about the Glencore graduate program was its two-year structured program with multiple rotations focused on developing her processing and chemical engineering skills.

What was Jenny's first full-time role after the graduate program?

Jenny's first full-time role after the graduate program was as a process and logistics coordinator at Yalland.

What are the four main pillars Jenny oversees for each wash plant in her current role?

In her current role, Jenny oversees the recovery of all the coal, maximizing throughput, minimizing costs, and ensuring production rates for each wash plant.

What advice does Jenny wish she had known 10 years ago when she was in high school?

Jenny wishes she had known the importance of keeping an open mind, not being afraid to get out of her comfort zone, and the value of mentorship, as she has had many mentors since joining Glencore.