Craig Dawson, General Manager of Operations at Talison, delivered the keynote address on Jobs and Skills at the Regions Rising conference in Bunbury on March 10, 2023.
The Regions Rising event series serves as an essential platform for bringing together industry experts, economists, regional leaders, government officials, political leaders, academics, and community sector representatives to discuss the critical factors affecting regional communities.
The address highlighted Talison's position as the leading lithium producer and emphasized how its impacts extend beyond just contributing to the clean energy transition. Talison's operations also provide significant funds to Federal, State, local governments and local communities.
There was discussion on the challenging skills and labour environment Talison faces as it tries to expand its workforce, along with the strategies Talison is implementing to overcome these obstacles.
Mr Dawson shared that despite the high demand for workers in the mining industry, Talison is striving to become more sustainable in the recruitment of its workforce by trying to maintain the balance between hiring locally and ensuring the community's liveability.
He also spoke about initiatives such as the annual Trainee and Apprenticeship programs which have become an important entry pathway into mining in the region, and Talison's partnership with the Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA on their curriculum-linked Digital Technologies Program, which helps provide students in the Warren Blackwood Region with the skills they need for the jobs of the future, starting in pre-primary and continuing through their senior school years.
Mr Dawson concluded his address by stating "While the global transition to cleaner energy relies on the lithium we mine, we rely on the people who make that possible."