Anna Krause Mining underground
Interview

Women in engineering - Interview with Anna Krause

Anna Krause, Application Engineer at TOMRA Mining Test Center in Germany, is a shining example of the increasing presence of women in various organizational roles. Her journey in the mining industry is not just a testament to her individual growth, but also a fascinating narrative that reflects the evolving dynamics of the sector. Her experiences and insights offer a unique perspective on the industry, making her story intriguing.
4 min
We asked Anna Krause how she came to her career in Mining:
“Raw materials are essential in society today. I studied mining with a passion for making the industry more sustainable and protecting our earth’s resources. In my first week at university, we were visiting the big lignite open-pits in North-Rhine-Westfalia, and while standing next to these huge wheel excavators I fell in love with heavy equipment!”
 
Right from the start, she knew that Mining was the industry for her: 
“In my first internship I worked in one of the last underground coal mines in Germany. Many commented on how brave I was as a female to work in such a male-dominated environment. I am not brave. I am passionate about mining, mineral processes, and sensor-based sorting.”


She told us about her current position at the Test Center in Wedel, Germany and what she loves about it:
​“I specialize in TOMRA’s XRT applications. My job is quite diverse. I conduct test work in the Test Center to find out if an application can be sorted with XRT. I also travel to customers’ locations for on-site optimization and commissioning of our installations and I deliver training for our teams as well as for our customers so that they can use and understand the full potential of our sorting equipment.”

“I love the variety and challenges that every deposit and application brings. The process flowsheet of two mines directly next to each other can be completely different. There isn’t always only one solution, mineral processing has thousands of possibilities to combine.”​

Anna Krause Profile

Every industry would benefit from having more women present. We need clever and smart people to create a positive impact in the industry – and women can do this just as well as men.

Anna Krause Profile
Anna Kruse Application Engineer, TOMRA Mining
Working in the mining industry has had challenging moments for Anna, but overall her experience has been positive and she is seeing an evolution for the better:
“Of course, there have been some negative experiences, but I don’t associate them with the mining industry. I think it happens in other sectors too. Most importantly, in those situations, I have been supported very well by my male colleagues and clients. My site visits have all been positive.”

“Every industry would benefit from having more women present. We need clever and smart people to create a positive impact in the industry – and women can do this just as well as men.”

Anna-grube