From the classroom into the field

Press Release –

Monday, July 14, 2014

Some of Canada’s newest mining professionals are getting unrivalled training to kick-start their careers thanks to the De Beers Mine Professional in Training (MPiT) program.

When asked to give advice to new MPiTs, a second-year participant was quick to respond: “When you get to your first placement, take a minute to really appreciate where you are.”

The MPiT program is made up of 21 recent graduates, in the areas of mining, maintenance and chemical/metallurgical engineering, geosciences and environmental science, whose careers with De Beers in Canada commences with a three year on-the-job development program. The MPiTs will have “fit for purpose training” and exposure to different operations across the country including the Victor and Snap Lake Mines, as well as working with the Exploration and Gahcho Kué Project teams

“This is the second year of the Mine Professional in Training (MPiT) program which is built on the foundation of the existing graduate placement program Engineers in Training (EiT), who have been “grandfathered” into the new program,” explains Pamella Ellemers, Mineral Resource and Revenue Estimation – Lead.

So what are the first year trainees looking forward to? Lots of firsts: going to a mine site, riding in a helicopter and living and working in Canada’s north. Overwhelmingly though, they are excited to work at De Beers, and are looking forward to gaining valuable experience and exposure to different areas of mining and exploration within the company. “One of the great things about this program is that it’s tailored to you,” says a second year MPiT The program is also constructed to help the graduates work towards their professional designations.

As for the second year group, they have had some incredible experiences and are quick to admit they probably wouldn’t have been advanced as far in their skills development at another company. Things like learning to drive a 100-tonne haul truck, learning about the different Aboriginal cultures and gaining real hands on experrience in both open-pit and underground mines.”

“The program is part of De Beers’ capacity building for the Gahcho Kué Project and focusses on bringing in talented graduates who are northern focused and have a long-term view of employment in De Beers Canada,” says Leo Fusciardi, Head of Technical. “Ultimately, no matter how good the graduate is, the success of the program relies on individual supervisors who are willing to share their experience and to coach and mentor the recent hires so they can quickly adopt substantive roles at the operations.”

The MPiT program provides experience in production-related areas, management and technical roles for these recent graduates, which will help develop the operational and specialist skills required to run our operations in remote northern areas.