For John Dalby, Leading Hand Driller at Olympic Dam, that investment has played an important role in his own career journey.
John joined Macmahon five years ago as an offsider. While he already had drilling experience, transitioning into raise drilling meant learning new systems, procedures and ways of working.
I had an excellent team of mentors who helped me learn and adapt to raise drilling. The support from supervisors to upskill and progress also made a big difference.”
Since then, John has continued to take on new challenges and responsibilities, developing both his technical expertise and leadership skills along the way.
“One of the most challenging experiences was a pull-through 3.5m angle reamer removal using cranes and very little room for error,” he explains. “And of course, stepping into leading hand roles to cover leave was another big learning experience.”
As part of his development, John recently completed Macmahon’s Emerging Leaders program – an initiative focused on helping employees strengthen leadership capability and prepare for future opportunities.
I loved the Emerging Leaders course. It was really engaging. Some of my key takeaways were learning how to resolve conflict or challenging situations and having those difficult conversations with your crew.”
For John, effective leadership is grounded in communication, approachability and problem-solving.
“Good leadership to me is someone who can set clear expectations, is approachable and has the knowledge to resolve issues in real time.”
He encourages others looking to grow their careers to stay curious and embrace development opportunities.
Ask questions and be proactive – and never say no to development programs like the Emerging Leaders course.”
John’s story reflects Macmahon’s commitment to supporting career development and empowering employees with opportunities to grow, lead and succeed.
