Breaking Ground Episode 5: Marisol Valerio on Visibility, Community & Women in Mine Stability

GEOVERT
8 hours ago
4 min read

In this episode of Breaking Ground, Geovert's Hannah Thomas speaks with Marisol Valerio, Principal Rock Mechanics Engineer at WSP and co-founder of Women in Mine Stability (WIMS), about turning conference frustration into global action and why visibility matters for career success and industry change.

Watch the Full Episode

About Marisol Valerio

Marisol Valerio is a Principal Rock Mechanics Engineer at WSP based in Canada. Originally from Costa Rica, Marisol discovered geological engineering during her first year at the University of British Columbia (UBC), drawn to the field's balance of office and outdoor work and the unique challenge of designing with variable natural materials.

Through UBC's co-op program, Marisol gained remarkable international field experience before graduation - from helicopter diamond exploration in northern Canada to working at mines in Australia.

Marisol is co-founder of Women in Mine Stability (WIMS), an international nonprofit association that has transformed representation at technical conferences and created a thriving global community of women in mining geotechnical roles.

Key Highlights from the Conversation

From Costa Rica to Geological Engineering

Marisol's path to geological engineering wasn't predetermined. Growing up in Costa Rica, geological engineering wasn't even an available career path. It wasn't until her first year at UBC, during a course where professors from different engineering disciplines presented their programs, that geological engineering captured her attention.

"It seemed like a really good balance between office and field work. You get to still be outside, and one thing that I found really interesting is you'd be designing with natural materials, which is something that's very different from all the other disciplines."

Early Career Adventures and Finding Her Passion

Through UBC's co-op program, Marisol's very first job was as a field assistant for Kennecott Canada Exploration, collecting soil samples via helicopter for diamond exploration in northern Canada. She followed this with four months at Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada's Northwest Territories and eight months at a uranium mine in Australia, all before graduating.

Initially considering environmental engineering, Marisol found that remediation work - fixing problems that had already occurred - wasn't the right fit. Mining offered something different, contributing to safety from the design stage.

"Specifically geotechnical engineering in mining, a lot of what you do is related to safety," Marisol explains. "Being able to design with safety in mind and consider things like rockfall mitigation. I found that really rewarding."

What captivates her most is managing variability and uncertainty - collecting data, analysing it, developing design parameters while accounting for assumptions at every step.

"Some people hate that part of it," she laughs. "But I always found that part really fascinating."

The Conference That Sparked a Movement

Three years ago, at the Slope Stability Conference in Tucson, Marisol noticed something impossible to ignore: minimal female representation in the technical program, no female keynote speakers, very few female session chairs.

"It wasn't the first time; this was a pattern. But at that conference, we happened to have a lot of women that were very passionate about the subject."

Those 10-12 women kept the conversation going and formed what would become Women in Mine Stability (WIMS). When they approached the organisers of the next conference in Perth, Australia, the response was enthusiastic.

"I would say it was the greatest representation of women I had seen at any conference. There were so many papers presented by women. About 50% of the track chairs were women. It was incredible, beyond anything any of us would have expected."

WIMS has since formalised as an incorporated nonprofit with monthly meetings, established subcommittees, and formal sponsorship programs.

Why Visibility and Community Matter

For Marisol, visibility serves two purposes: career advancement and inspiring others. Early in her career, she lacked examples of women operating at senior levels in her field.

"I always wondered, is this an industry that's for me? If I don't see myself reflected? The more that you have women being visible, successful in their technical disciplines, the more that encourages more women to step up."

WIMS now maintains a database of accomplished women in the field, so conference organisers no longer have to wonder if qualified female speakers exist.

"When you have a community that's fighting for the same goal with you, that's when you can really make quick and transformative changes together."

The group also combats isolation. Many women in slope stability are scattered across regions and companies. WIMS revealed that there are actually many women in senior positions doing exceptional work; they just weren't all in one visible place.

Progress and Vigilance

Marisol has noticed positive change throughout her career, from better PPE availability to more female senior leaders.

"If we think about diversity and inclusion as a journey, I think the mining industry is still close to the beginning of that journey, but it's really taking off," she observes. "We just can't take the foot off the gas. We need to be vigilant."

Advice for the Next Generation

Visibility is essential. Do great work - technical excellence is foundational. But you also need to be visible and get recognition to advance. Your visibility isn't just for you, it's for people looking up to you who need to see what's possible.
Speak up. Your voice matters. When you see something that isn't quite right, speak up. People need to hear your opinion, and when you speak up, it encourages other people to also speak up.
Build your community. Find your people. Connect with others working towards similar goals. Achieving goals collectively happens faster and feels more rewarding than struggling alone.

About Breaking Ground

Breaking Ground is a podcast series featuring conversations with leaders in geology, mining, and geotechnical engineering. Hosted by Hannah Thomas from Geovert, the series explores career journeys, technical expertise, and the evolving landscape of the mining industry.

Previous Episodes:

Episode 1: Marianne Rogers
Episode 2: Carrie Heaven
Episode 3: Julia Potter
Episode 4: Amanda Adams