Full Name: Erin Gilfillan
Position: MD of Mining Engineering Technical Services (METS), a division of United Mining Services Group
Main Activity of the Company: Provision of engineering, procurement, design and construction services to the mining industry locally and internationally, with particular focus on underground mining and small to medium-sized process plants
Date and Place of Birth: Paarl, Western Cape
Education: BEng (chemical engineering), Stellenbosch University; MBA, University of South Africa School of Business Leadership
First Job: Process engineer at Bateman Engineering
Career History Prior to Current Position: I worked for engineering companies in South Africa until 2012, when I moved to Australia for a project with Fluor. After four years with Fluor in Australia and a stint in the Middle East, I moved to BHP Iron Ore, where I managed the company’s Project Delivery Group. I returned to South Africa in 2018
Size of First Pay Packet: I cannot remember
First Job with Present Group: GM of METS
Value of Assets under Your Control: Our assets lie in our intellectual capital, but we are currently working on projects across diverse commodities in Southern Africa and North America
Number of People under Your Leadership: A small but highly professional team; we draw on a very broad base of industry professionals in accordance with project requirements
Management Style: I strive to be quite collaborative and communicate with my team continuously
Personal Best Achievement: I am proud of what I have achieved to date as a woman in this industry
Professional Best Achievement: During my tenure at BHP, I had to build a project team from scratch. We had multiple difficult stakeholders and my team’s performance and management of conflicting priorities left me particularly proud
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother, who, as a teacher, was tremendously influential in moulding me into the woman I am today. I also attended an all-girls school, which really focused on the development of girls into well-rounded women
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My mentor in Australia, Kelly
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Barack Obama
Philosophy of Life: Value others and their contribution
Biggest Ever Opportunity: I had an opportunity to work in the Middle East as a project engineer on a very difficult project that was executed across multiple offices and time zones. It was extremely challenging, but very rewarding
Biggest Ever Disappointment: None
Hope for the Future: That my family is happy and healthy
Favourite Reading: James Patterson. Currently, I am reading The President Is Missing
Favourite TV Programme: I do not watch TV that much
Favourite Food/Drink: Italian
Favourite Music: Rock
Favourite Sport: Swimming. Both my children swim, so (before the advent of Covid-19) I would spend many evenings and weekends supporting them at competitions
Favourite Website: None
Hobbies: I like to read and learn new things
Pets: Two dogs
Married: I am married, with two children