Stanislawa Hickey, PGeo, MSc, Geophysicist

How did you decide on pursuing your degree(s)? Did you know about geology before you entered university?

When I started university, I actually didn’t know anything about geophysics. Originally, I wanted to study physics to become an astrophysicist, so I did all my undergrad in physics at l’Universite Pierre et Marie Curie in Paris, France where I am from. As I was wrapping up undergrad, I realized the career prospects in France for astrophysics were very limited, so I started looking for a different specialization that was still related to physics as it’s something I am passionate about. During the first year of my Masters in applied physics I took some geology courses, which is when I discovered geophysics. In retrospect, it seemed like the obvious path to follow as I was always fond of the outdoors and collecting rocks to study them as a child. After this realization, I fully specialised in geophysics during the last year of my Masters.

Describe your career progression since finishing undergrad

In 2008, when I completed my degree, I was selected for a 6-month internship with Abitibi Geophysics in Val d’Or, Quebec. It was my first experience in Canada and I spent a full summer at Anglo American’s West Raglan exploration camp in the Nunavik region, in northern Quebec, collecting ground electromagnetic (EM) data. Coming from Paris, this was quite the experience. Travelling by helicopter, being surrounded by bugs, living in tents, all with polar bears nearby! Once I completed my assignment in Nunavik, I spent the rest of my internship learning about EM data processing and interpretation at the office in Val d’Or. At this point I knew I wanted to move permanently to Canada and continue my career in geophysics.

In 2009 I made the move to Canada. I spent a couple of years working for geophysical service companies collecting data in the field which included everything from induced polarization in British Columbia, to marine seismic in the north of Saskatchewan. It was hard work, and there were some tough days, but overall it was an amazing learning experience for a young geophysicist. I eventually joined Mira Geoscience in 2010. At that time, I was particularly interested in inversion modelling and interpretation of the data. I spent almost 14 years working with Mira’s consulting team, supporting client’s exploration projects. I was also working closely with the software development team to help advance their geophysical processing tools and inversion codes. During the summer of 2024, I joined VRIFY, a Canadian tech company that has created the world’s first AI-Assisted Mineral Discovery Platform. I joined the AI and Mineral Targeting team at VRIFY as their Senior Geophysicist, as I saw an opportunity to leverage AI and its applications to advance mineral exploration. It’s very exciting to be on the forefront of technology, developing the tools for tomorrow.

If you could go back to your first year in undergrad, would you pick the same degree and career trajectory? Why/why not?

If I had to do it all over again, I would pick the same university studies. I think my degrees in physics and geophysics were a great preparation for the career path I chose. In terms of career trajectory, I would also pick mineral exploration again. I like the consulting environment. The diversity of projects and clients keeps things interesting. Through this, I’ve had the opportunity to work with practically every sort of geophysical method with data collected from projects all over the world.

MDRU course

What are the three best things about your job/career? What are three things you would change?

Best things about my career:

First of all, the people I have met along the way are definitely the highlight of my career so far. I’ve worked with amazing mentors, colleagues, and clients through the years, some of them have even became lifelong friends.

What is also gratifying about this career is the reward of being able to help clients make discoveries. There is something extremely rewarding and validating knowing that working closely with exploration teams and my colleagues was key to contributing to these successes.

Finally, another element I value is that there is always an opportunity to learn something new and try new processes to improve our work as geophysicists. Technology related to geophysics, whether it’s new instruments to collect data or new processing and inversion tools, is continuously changing and improving. This not only keeps me engaged, but also allows me to see how this field is making a tangible impact.

Three biggest challenges with this career: 

Visibility for women in this industry is important. Although things are improving, we can still do better. We all need to make sure we’re out promoting ourselves and not afraid to speak up and share our valuable insights and experiences.

Another challenge I have encountered over the years, and one that I know is common for people working in this industry, is the work life balance. Juggling travel and working odd and long hours while being present for your family is a balancing act that’s not always easy to manage. The recent adoption of remote work and more flexible work arrangements by some companies is helping lift some of that weight.

Finally, dealing with constant changes in this industry and the market that drives it can be challenging. Through my career I found that flexibility and resilience will take you a long way. Changes can seem dauting, but I realized they can be an important part of your growth.

Why is gender balance in mineral exploration/mining/geoscience important to you?

Circe conference

To me inclusion and diversity is key to progress ideas and constructive changes within a team, a company, and the industry as a whole. Welcoming people who don’t have the same background allows us to hear new perspectives that can push us to think outside of the box. It can also help us question conventions and biases that are so engrained in us that we may not necessarily be aware of them. However, I am pleased to see a change in the industry over the last few years. There are more young women geoscientists joining the workforce and more women in leadership positions, which I think is very important. I hope we will not lose this momentum and keep the narrative around supporting women entering the field and growing in their careers.

What advice would you give to young women starting a career in mineral exploration/mining/geoscience?

I would like to tell them that they chose a career that will be challenging and demanding at times but very rewarding if they stay true to themselves and the path they want to pursue. Surround yourself with good people and mentors and put yourself out there to present your work and grow your network.

Don’t be afraid to share your wins. We need to uplift each others’ voices.

What motivates you and keeps you busy outside of mineral exploration/mining/geoscience?

The key things that keep me motivated are my son, going on adventures with my family and friends, and traveling and discovering new places.