Zaneta Mascarenhas works with mining companies to help them become more environmentally friendly.
Camera IconZaneta Mascarenhas works with mining companies to help them become more environmentally friendly. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Engineering a better world

Staff ReporterCanning Gazette

Ms Mascarenhas graduated from Curtin University in 2004 in chemical engineering and works at Energetics, a company involved in climate change management.

She works with mining companies to help reduce carbon emissions, rehabilitate land and increase efficiency.

Ms Mascarenhas said she was also part of the climate reality project with 300 other Australians, trained by Al Gore to inform people on climate change in 2009.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

‘It was pretty amazing, he is really inspiring and committed to what he does,’ she said.

‘He taught us for half a day, and was at the conference for two days in total.’

She has also done engineer-related volunteer work in Bang-ladesh through the Australia Youth Ambassadors for Development program, helping communities with water and sanitation.

Ms Mascarenhas grew up in Kambalda, a little mining town near Kalgoorlie, which influenced her career in engineering.

‘My dad was in the industry so I guess you could say it is in my blood,’ she said. ‘I’ve always been interested in climate change, and growing up in a mining town led me to join the two together.’

Ms Mascarenhas is the vice-president of the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers Australia.

She also runs community presentations on climate change and speaks to schools through the Scientists in Schools program.