For International Women’s Day, we are speaking to women throughout the quarrying industry on what makes their job special to them and how we can encourage more women into the field.
We were joined by Philippa O’Leary, Senior Operations and Development Geologist at Cemex, to talk about her career path in the world of geology and quarrying.
Philippa, how did you discover your passion for geology?
That question brings back some memories! When I was a kid, I loved collecting and examining rocks. I’m sure every geologist will tell you the same thing - if you’re obsessed with rocks as a kid, you’re destined to become a geologist.
I spent a lot of time on the coast with my grandad as a child, specifically at Lee on the Solent near Portsmouth. This is a beautiful part of the country with cobble beaches and rocks galore. We would hunt for fossils and collect shark teeth, which made it a really special time for me.
In high school, I had a fantastic geography teacher who introduced me to geological topics such as volcanic and igneous rock... thanks, Dr Rummery! Following that, I was fortunate enough to study geology at college. This is quite a rare privilege as it is not offered in many colleges and it allowed me to move onto my degree in geology.
What does a normal day look like for you in your role?
A normal day for me is very, very busy! I love that it’s not a relaxing role, because there is always something to do.
There are two parts to my job. One part is working on planning applications for new mineral reserves and designing new quarries. The other part is assisting with active quarry operations. We’re a small, but effective, department and we help design and develop active quarries. We now also have an exploration geologist to help with drilling projects.
Day to day, I work with various types of software and plenty of data. I also go to various sites around the country and work with quarry managers. Each site is very unique and has their own challenges and opportunities, so I am always engaged at work and no two days are the same!
What advice would you give to young women looking at their future career paths?
If you are looking at a job in geology, be open to different industries because I never knew I would be working in quarries in the role that I have today.
My life was changed six years ago when I applied to a job that I saw on LinkedIn. I am now part of a career filled with opportunities and amazing people. It is an interesting industry where specific skills are required, and it’s great to be a part of it.
I went to the University of Birmingham to achieve my undergraduate degree in geology. I graduated in 2016... time flies when you’re having fun! My degree really kickstarted my career and I see it as a huge turning point for me. Immediately after university, I started working in retail before finding a way to get my foot in the door of the geological industry.
I saw a LinkedIn job advert for a ‘Trainee Quarry Manager’ with Cemex and I applied with just one click. Six weeks later, I was moving to Wales! It was a bit of a whirlwind. I spent a year and a half as a trainee, then a year and a half as Assistant Quarry Manager. I am now a Senior Operations and Development Geologist at Cemex and I love my job.
How can we encourage young women to look at roles in traditionally male-dominated fields?
It starts at a young age and we need to encourage all young people to get into the field. We don’t want knowledge to be lost when people retire from roles that they have proudly held for decades, so let’s start encouraging new, young talent!
We need to spread awareness of the existence of this industry to young people, as it is mostly hidden from the public. Strangely, you don’t learn a lot about the quarrying industry during a geology degree, despite learning about minerals. Also, people who didn’t grow up near quarries often aren’t aware that quarries aren’t just historical sites to visit. There are working quarries across the UK with potentially amazing career paths.
It is great to see initiatives such as ‘Minerals Matter’ making great steps towards encouraging new people into the industry. They work with volunteer supporters who go into schools to raise awareness and ignite passion in young people, so they can progress towards a degree and a career in quarrying, mining, and mineral products.
What’s the most interesting thing you have found on a site?
I have so many rocks in my house! We find lots of fossils on site, as well as big chunks of lead and calcite, and I have found plenty of devil’s toenails in Swinderby. I have also identified what I believe to be fluorite due to its purple colouring, but I haven’t tested it and it would be a very rare find in Wales.
We do a lot of archaeological exploration as part of the planning and permission process, often finding things like fishing weirs and different types of preserved wood. These are found by another department, but I love looking at them!
How has Cemex helped you develop your skills and passion for what you do?
When I was an Assistant Quarry Manager, Cemex funded my foundation degree in Mineral Extractive Technologies from the University of Derby. I completed this degree in 3 years and achieved a Distinction. This was an amazing part of my education that I never thought I would be able to do.
I have also learned to use LSS software, as well as gaining qualifications in geotechnical training and blasting. Cemex has provided me with tonnes of opportunities to learn and improve my skills.
Alongside my education, I have been able to volunteer with the Quarries National Joint Advisory Committee (QNJAC), providing essential health and safety guidance to the industry. I am the Deputy Chair for QNJAC Geotechnical Working Group, alongside Chairman Rob Palmer from Tarmac. My experience gained from this over the past year and a half has been invaluable, so thank you to Cemex for allowing me time to be part of it.
Finally, I also run a community group called ‘Early Careers Geoscientist Group’ with Emma Lindsay, Strategic Planning Geologist from Tarmac. We run face-to-face and online events to spread information to early career geoscientists. We kicked off 2025 with a trip to the National Stone Centre for a site tour and learning about everything from drilling to 3D modelling. It was our most attended event to date with 27 geoscientists attending from 12 companies.
If you are looking to enter the world of geology and quarrying, reach out to me or other women in the industry who will be happy to offer some advice!
