North West Breakfast workshop: ‘Having it all’ - Unique career pressures women face, and how they are impacted by different societal expectations

Sarah Withell has built a distinguished career in the mining industry since starting out as an environmental scientist working in a remote ‘fly in fly out’ operation in the Gulf of Carpentaria. With more than 20 years’ experience in the mining and resources sector she has a proven track record of delivering major mining approvals, effective safety and governance systems and excellent HSEC performance.
Sarah was the first female Head of Health, Safety and Environment for BHP’s NSW Energy Coal Assets. She has held senior positions across open cut and underground operations in both NSW and Queensland and is currently Executive General Manager – HSE at Whitehaven Coal. Winning the Exceptional Woman in NSW Mining award in 2019 is a career highlight and Sarah went on to also collect the Women In Industry - Excellence in Mining Award in 2020. Sarah resides in the Hunter Valley and is a past chair of the Upper Hunter Mining Dialogue.

A passionate supporter and collaborator of the Women In Mining Network, Sarah balances her rewarding career with being a mother to three children.

Jo enjoyed a long career as a senior executive in the corporate world managing large teams across Asia Pacific, before launching a coaching and consulting business. She gets the pressure and politics that comes with big roles and knows that it takes a special women to rise up the ranks.

“The Balance Institute was born out of my frustration at the isolated focus of traditional coaching and leadership programs on work as a silo. For women like us, it's impossible to separate work from life and having learned the skills I needed to build this life, I was determined to shortcut the path for others. I also wanted to build a community of like-minded women where it's ok to be ambitious, to want to work and to have a family“

“My greatest privilege is to spend my days helping fellow ambitious women live a blissful life, where they're in control of their time and mind and get to have it all, instead of doing it all.”

Jo lives in Sydney with her husband and two daughters who are 14 and 11.