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Whether it’s starring on national TV, taking a punt on a new job, or moving countries for love, Karen McDonald firmly believes there are great opportunities out there if you are open to them.

Starting her Roy Hill journey seven years ago when she took a two-week contract as an Advisor in the HR team, Karen’s time has been filled with many opportunities and she wouldn’t change a thing.

Now an Analyst in the Community and Indigenous Affairs team, Karen says her variety of roles have taught her valuable skills along the way but something that runs through them all is her love of interacting with people.

“My initial two-week contract started just after Roy Hill had shipped its first ore in December 2015. One of my first tasks was to hand out the ‘First Ore’ polo shirts and really from day one, I was getting to know people and learn what Roy Hill was about.

“Two weeks quickly turned into nine weeks which turned into a year. I often reflect how that two-week contract came along at just the right time for me,” Karen says.

Her next role as Business Support Coordinator had her leading a team of 18 which honed her leadership skills.

“This was a really fulfilling role, and I still find it rewarding when I see the great things people in the team have gone onto it. Each has taken their own path, and to know I played a part in it is something that’s special to me,” Karen says.

Roles supporting the GM of People, Leadership Development and Training teams followed – each building new expertise and experience that has led Karen to her role today.

“Through my career journey at Roy Hill, I have had some amazing experiences for example leading Induction for two years as part of the Training team. You learn so much when you need to engage with people and being one of the first people they met at Roy Hill was an honour.

“Now, as part of the Community and Indigenous Affairs team, I’m able to take everything I’ve learnt and focus it on an area I’m really passionate about.

“It’s such an exciting time to work in this space and the team have been so welcoming. Learning more about the communities that we operate in has been fantastic and we are working really hard to make a lasting difference,” Karen says.

Originally from Suva, Karen spent some time in New Zealand in her late teens. She was a nanny in Auckland for three years and had the unique experience of being on TV show Blind Date, successfully winning a ski trip but no ever-lasting love.

Eventually she felt it was time to head home in 1994.

It was then however that love did come knocking and she met a young Tuyen McDonald, who was in Suva for work. Fast forward nine months, Tuyen was heading home to Perth and Karen joined him.

That was 27 years ago.

“Now, Tuyen and I both work at Roy Hill! Tuyen’s a GIS Analyst and started around three years ago.

“Our family is so important to us and through the generosity of Mrs Rinehart, we have achieved a lot of goals for our family.

Our daughter, son and his partner and their son, our grandson have all benefited and we are really grateful.

“If you had asked me when I agreed to that two-week contract, if I’d still be at Roy Hill seven years later working with my husband, I probably would have laughed.

“But it was a great decision.”