Ask any woman balancing her career and family, and she’ll tell you how tough it can sometimes be.
According to the 2024 National Working Families survey, Parents at Work and UNICEF Australia, almost three quarters (74 per cent) of women carers and mothers felt stressed balancing work and family commitments. This is compared to 57 per cent of fathers and men with caring responsibilities.
Looking at the statistics, it’s no wonder we see less women in leadership positions.
But there are women who are showing us it is worthwhile, and possible – if your workplace has the right leadership, and the right support.
Ann Glover is a fixed plant maintenance manager at BHP. She resides in Newman, a typical mining town located about 1,186km north of Perth, Western Australia and manages the maintenance for BHP’s Iron Ore processing plants.
As a mum of two, and a manager of about 300 staff, Ann has never felt more supported.
“There’s been a huge change in the industry. There’s a lot more women building their careers,” Ann told Women’s Agenda.
The leap of faith
Ann has always known she wanted to be a leader. When she was 27, a young engineer in Perth, Western Australia, she joined BHP to do just that.
“Although I had a great job and enjoyed my work, there just wasn’t the career progression I was hoping for.” Ann said.
“I made that leap of faith to join BHP and I haven’t looked back.”
The opportunities to grow as a professional and leader have been excellent, Ann said. “If you have a good attitude and work ethic, the opportunities are limitless.”
Ann has worked across many areas of BHP’s Iron Ore operations, and eventually worked her way into a leadership role with the resource company. She became a fly in, fly out (FIFO) Manager at BHP’s Jugari mine site (formerly known as Yandi).
While she enjoyed her challenging leadership role and FIFO lifestyle, Ann felt it was time for her to start a family.
Aware that she would have to go through IVF, there was a touch of concern on how she would balance that with her role.
But her leader at BHP eased those concerns very quickly. “I was very open with my boss on my intentions and the process I would have to go through, and he was just incredibly supportive,” Ann said.
Of course, it’s one thing to have policies, and another to have the right leaders to implement those policies. For Ann, her leaders were nothing but supportive. Upon return from parental leave Ann still wanted to work with BHP’s operational teams. However now with a young daughter, returning to FIFO didn’t feel like the right decision for her. Her leader helped her find a residential leadership role in Newman, so she could be at home every night with her family.
“I think the policies and the leadership we have in place has definitely supported me personally through starting a family,” Ann said.
Striking the balance
Now, Ann is a mother of two daughters, a three year old and five month old. She is enjoying the residential lifestyle in Newman with a young family.
About 50 per cent of her staff also have residential positions in Newman. “It’s got a real community feeling about it, where everyone knows each other, and they all support one another,” Ann said.
Ann has gained so much of her time back, helping her strike that work-life balance that is so important with a young family.
“My average commute time is 10 minutes, that includes dropping my three year old off at daycare,” Ann said.
Having quality time each day to spend with my family is so important and really puts things in perspective. “I can come home from work and walk up to the daycare centre with my daughter’s scooter, and she can scooter home.” Ann said.
“We have time in the afternoon where we can bond as a family before cooking the dinner, having the bath and putting the kids to bed.”
Ann knows she is no expert. She has good days as much as she has bad days.
“I’m still learning how to be a working mum,” Ann said.
“I’m not the master. And I feel that every day I have a win, I don’t get something right, and I give it another go tomorrow. That’s the life of a working mum.”
But there’s a couple of things she’s learned so far as a working mum in a leadership role.
“Being so close to work, its easy to let that creep into your family time,” she said. “We really try to put the technology and work conversation away in the afternoons and focus on our family.
“I am guilty on thinking too much about all the stuff I haven’t done that day, when actually I have done quite a lot.” Ann said. “I am getting better on congratulating myself on the things I have done. As that makes such a big difference to the way I end my day.
“And have the courage – and it is the courage – to ask for and get help if you need it.”