Posted on October 23, 2026
Meet Maria Carolina Oliveira Gonçalves, 🇧🇷 Brazil’s first female Watermaster operator and one of the first women in the world to operate a Watermaster.
Maria Carolina has worked as a heavy machinery operator for four years, a profession where women are still relatively rare. In May 2026, she took on a new challenge and began operating a Watermaster for Construtora Vale Verde S/A on the Paraopeba River in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais.
We asked Maria Carolina about her work and what she would say to other women considering a career as a machine operator.
– What kind of work are you doing with Watermaster on the Paraopeba River?
“I work on removing tailings resulting from the dam collapse, as part of the environmental restoration effort for the Paraopeba River.”
– What do you like most about operating Watermaster?
“What I enjoy most is the challenge and the chance to learn something new. It is a unique machine that requires precision, attentiveness, and strategic thinking during operation.”
– What would you say to other women who are considering a career as a machine operator, especially in water restoration work?
“I would tell others to believe in their abilities and not be afraid of challenges. Seek knowledge and training, and seize opportunities. Women belong in operations roles, too, including contributing to environmental restoration work.”
We wish Maria Carolina all the best. She is setting an example that we hope many more women around the world will follow.
Read more about the project: https://lnkd.in/dpsFTZqy
