A Conversation with Nancy
What is your current job? Please list the title and briefly describe what it involves
As the Senior Corporate Director, Technical Services at Agnico Eagle Mines, I lead a team that provides technical expertise to support the budget /life of mine process. I also provide technical expertise to operations and projects across the company.
What made you want to pursue a career in engineering?
Engineering is an applied science with a lot of possibilities of development in the same discipline. For me, it was a great opportunity to work at different levels of the business – from the technical aspect to management positions. As I like new challenges, engineering provide me an excellent platform.
What’s your favourite part of your job?
My favorite part is to start a new project, from the moment we develop ideas to the study deliverables. All project stages have their own challenges, but the development of scenarios and strategies are an important milestone where we can evaluate positive economics and then have the approval to go to execution phase. It is an intensive work with a lot of challenges but, also stimulating and with a lot of rewards.
How do you celebrate National Engineering Month?
While I have wanted to be involved with volunteering and share with the younger generations all the possibilities that a career in engineering can offer them, my workload has been such that I have not yet been able to do so. On a smaller scale, and being the mother of 3, I share my passion for engineering with my children. This bear its fruits, as one of them (so far) wants to become an engineer.
What advice do you have for young women who hope to pursue a career in your field?
Like in many other domains, the recipe for success is to love and be passionate about your work, to be determined and more importantly, to be open to new opportunities and take the risk to step-out of your comfort zone. That way, you will be in position to develop yourself personally and professionally and achieve great success.
Nancy’s BiographyNancy has a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering from Laval University. She has worked in the mining industry for over 20 years and has extensive technical and operational expertise. She also has engineering experience in process design, management study, commissioning, project management and consultation. Nancy currently leads Agnico Eagle Mines’ Technical Services. In her function, Nancy is responsible for providing technical leadership to operations and projects throughout the company. The emphasis is put on identifying ways to optimize the business practices and support projects development, as well as resolving technical challenges across the business. Prior to Agnico Eagle, Nancy was working overseas (Coffey Mining) as a consultant in processing, and on different projects as a project manager and specialist in processing. Her experience also includes working across Canada in large open pit operations (ArcelorMittal) as director of the processing plant and in gold mines (Agnico Eagle and Cambior) as a metallurgist and responsible of production.
