STAFF WRITER

“THE biggest obstacle to a person’s success can be themselves. People have a way of getting in their own way.”

So says Nansunga Kambinda, a hydrologist from SLR Africa, who has been seconded to manage hydrogeology and hydrology studies within Osino Resources for the Twin Hills Gold Project in Namibia. She says that she tries to remember to stay out of her own way while balancing two jobs and still finding time to be a daughter, sister and friend.

“I have been seconded to Osino while still having key responsibilities within SLR, where I manage the Water Technical Discipline. This requires commitment; I work hard and go the extra mile to deliver.”

Kambinda, who grew up on the outskirts of Katima Mulilo in a large extended family, says cultivating open-mindedness is the antidote to getting in your way. “Staying open to new ideas and the views of other people and connecting with people, clients, and stakeholders has made it easier for me to build meaningful professional relationships, even when situations are tough,” she says.

She has had plenty of opportunities to put this into practice in her role with Osino, where she works with several colleagues, particularly in the Studies Department.

She explains that they are essentially studying different water supply options and their potential to sustainably supply mining operations, vital both for mitigating potential negative environmental impacts, preventing problems from cropping up further into the operation whilst maximising positive benefits from local water resources within the Central Areas of Namibia.

“We work with different consultants and engage with water sector stakeholders,” she says. “Right now, we are closing out the Front End Engineering Design phase and moving into the construction and eventually the operational phases of the project, where hydro studies will take a different form.”

While Kambinda loves her work, she says being a professional in the water sector and focusing on mining wasn’t part of her original plan. “I wanted to be a petroleum geologist, but things changed along the way. I’ve had to learn the major lesson of adjusting to the unexpected.”

And she is glad she did. “I am always learning, and nothing turns out exactly as planned. I’ve also discovered that the power of saying yes, takes one far, even when there is uncertainty.”

This attitude has helped her overcome some of the challenges she’s faced working in the male-dominated mining industry, especially in the early days of her career, where she was often the only woman on site.

Doing her job competently and professionally has helped her gain acceptance among male peers, she believes. Additionally, she says she has been fortunate to work with very supportive male colleagues at SLR and Osino. “Their support sets the tone for the rest of the working community because they are change catalysts in the profession,” she says.

“My female peers and colleagues are equally supportive. In some cases, we have shared experiences that help us to relate to things happening around us,” she adds.. With the right support and opportunities, women are more than capable of excelling in male-dominated sectors, she asserts. And what’s more, this is good for everyone.

“Having more women makes the working environment better. It changes perspectives on so many levels and diversifies opportunities for women who are part of the economic backbone of this country and, in most cases, are breadwinners in their families,” she says.

She advises women who want to follow in her footsteps: “If it’s something you are passionate about, go for it!”

“The landscape is changing, and more women are proactively choosing this path rather than just stumbling onto it. Many women before me have helped break down the historic image of mining as a male-only environment. I try to pay homage to them by doing my job and doing it as a woman with as much authenticity as possible.”