Roberto Cier is a Senior Associate Engineer and was appointed as the ATCW Peru Country Manager in March 2025. With 10 years of hands-on experience across four continents, Roberto’s career has taken him from Latin America to the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Australia, providing him with a global perspective on both technical challenges and business dynamics in diverse environments.
Congratulations on your new role as Peru Country Manager. How are you settling in?
Even though I’m Peruvian, I’m also the new kid in town at the moment, which offers me the ability to be somewhat disruptive, and South America is fond of disrupters. When I joined ATC Williams in 2023, I knew of the Peru office and always considered that I would return to my country to contribute my knowledge one day. I imagined perhaps 5–6 years away, though. So, it has happened a lot faster than I expected, and I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to fulfil what has been a quiet internal desire.
We’ve recently reopened our office in Lima. We are in the same building we were in pre-COVID but with new signage and furniture for our four engineers who have been working remotely until now. It’s a vibrant business district and central to our clients in the area. Our office turns 10 this year, and it feels like a coming-of-age moment.
What is your initial focus?
The South American resources market is facing enormous challenges with energy transition and supplying critical minerals. Mining production rates are huge, and some sites can produce in a day what many Australian sites produce in a year. The scale is next level, which presents unique opportunities to bring our international experiences to assist locally.
My initial focus is to expand our client base and offer ATC Williams as a specialised and customised provider that can bring value in quality management standards and technical excellence that local operators cannot.
Did you expect to transition to a management role so soon?
I know that ATCW offers accelerated career pathways, but this progression has happened much faster than I expected. Every day brings a new challenge on my learning curve. The Peru office has one management role — mine! So, I am learning rapidly about many areas at once, and I have the support from the Melbourne Head Office for HR, marketing, and administration needs. The four in-country engineers have been with us for many years and are a good foundation for further recruitment, which we’ll begin soon.
Will you continue teaching while you’re in South America?
Yes, of course. I love teaching and have rejoined the PUCP as part of the staff. I am currently mentoring four undergrads and one master’s student. We are also planning a tailings subject that will be the first Spanish-taught subject at PUCP to focus on tailings management. I will also continue to hold the position of Honorary Fellow at the University of Melbourne.
I enjoy the satisfaction of seeing the students understand something and the retribution of helping them grow their career path through education. It is rewarding to educate new generations in Peru in new ways outside of what they know. I remember people helping me that way and the impact it had at the time. I like to think I can influence students the same way.
I also have joined Peru’s Technical Committee on Tailings and Mine Waste (CT-200), which is sort of an ANCOLD equivalent, as part of building my network and further promoting responsible tailings management.
Do you manage to find time to relax as well?
The work culture in Peru is very fast-paced and demanding, but we also like our restaurants and social life. Astrid and I have even found some local rooftop bars that remind us of Melbourne. My mother and brothers are happy that I am back home, and there have been many family events and cultural celebrations to attend to catch up with my relatives. I am very spoiled that I am in a time zone where I can tune into a football match almost any time and watch Peruvian and European tournaments live again. I do miss the AFL and watching my Demons, though.
