The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia (CME) has announced the finalists for the 2015 Women in Resources Awards.
CME Chief Executive Reg Howard-Smith was pleased to announce the individuals and the company initiatives selected as finalists for the awards, which will be presented at a breakfast on 6 March 2015.
“Now in its sixth year, the awards continue to grow with more than 94 nominations submitted. The awards celebrate both the inspirational women we have working here in Western Australia, and the effort of companies in the sector to improve participation of women in our workforce,” said Mr Howard-Smith.
“Nationally over the past ten years the number of women working in the resources sector has more than doubled. It is vital to keep this momentum, particularly as the sector transitions to a production phase,” said Mr Howard-Smith.
“To enable this momentum to continue it will be necessary for companies to re-examine existing strategies aimed at attracting and retaining women and give them renewed priority,” said Mr Howard-Smith.
“Celebrating women in leadership roles provides inspiration for other women to explore a career in resources,” said Mr Howard-Smith.
The finalists of each individual category (excluding the Outstanding Company Initiative finalists) are eligible for the People’s Choice Award. Please view each profile below before submitting your vote at the panel on the left side of this page.
Only one vote per person is accepted. The People’s Choice Award will be presented at the Women in Resources Awards Breakfast on Friday 6 March 2015.
Voting closes at 5:00pm on Tuesday 3 March 2015.
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Amanda Pearse-White
Laboratory Group Leader
Alcoa of Australia
Category NominationOUTSTANDING OPERATOR/TECHNICIAN/TRADE WOMAN
Amanda Pearse-White actively pursued her dream of working in the resources sector when she packed up and moved from New South Wales to Kalgoorlie in 2004. With a background in industrial chemistry and manufacturing, she accepted the position of Laboratory Manager at Black Swan Nickel Operations. When the global financial crisis hit, causing mine closures, Amanda made the decision to leave her beloved Goldfields for a position in chemical waste management before accepting the position of Laboratory Group Leader at Alcoa’s Wagerup Refinery.
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Anousha Hashemi
Leader Geology Services
BHP Billiton Nickel West
Category NominationOUTSTANDING WOMAN IN RESOURCES
Anousha Hashemi is a highly energetic person who juggles a professional career at BHP Billiton Nickel West, with academic and research commitments and motherhood. Born in Tehran, Iran, Anousha holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Tehran University, Iran and a Masters and PhD (Geophysics) from Curtin University. Anousha became the first female Head of Airborne Geophysics for the Geological Survey of Iran, was responsible for the discovery of five new manganese projects, for Consolidated Minerals and was part of the team that discovered the Venus, nickel sulfide deposit at Leinster, in 2012. In Anousha’s current role as Geology Services Leader, she has overseen a 40 per cent cost reduction in administration expenses for the exploration team and automation of exploration data capture process.
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Bronwyn Barnes
General Manager Corporate and Deputy CEO
Alliance Mining Commodities
Category NominationOUTSTANDING WOMAN IN RESOURCES
Beginning with an unconventional path into the sector, Bronwyn Barnes’ 15 year mining career has included roles at companies from BHP Billiton to emerging juniors in director, leadership and operational roles. She has a passion for the industry and its relationships with the outside world, and an outstanding track record of ensuring effective corporate governance, winning government endorsement and approval, and driving equity for Indigenous people. She has steered major projects from exploration to operation, and connected the Western Australian resources sector with international mining investment.
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Cheryl Edwardes
Strategic Advisor
Atlas Iron
Category NominationOUTSTANDING WOMAN IN RESOURCES
The Hon. Cheryl Edwardes advises companies in relation to the range of complex statutory approvals with a focus on environment, native title and land access. Cheryl was the lead negotiator on the Roy Hill State Agreement. Cheryl currently works as a strategic advisor at Atlas Iron and FTI Consulting, and is Chair of Vimy Resources, a small uranium explorer. Cheryl’s advice and leadership is valued across these organisations, particularly in their engagement with government and traditional owners.
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Francesca Bardoe
Training Coordinator
Alcoa of Australia
Category NominationOUTSTANDING OPERATOR/TECHNICIAN/TRADE WOMAN
After a 20 year career in the aged care sector, Francesca Bardoe applied for an operator position with Alcoa recognising the potential career growth opportunities available in the resources sector. Her hard work and determination to take on different responsibilities has seen Francesca progress from operator to training coordinator and take on a range of other voluntary roles at Alcoa.
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Geeta Thakorlal
Director of Consulting and Hydrocarbon Select, Australia West
WorleyParsons
Category NominationOUTSTANDING WOMAN IN RESOURCES
Geeta Thakorlal has had a highly successful and inspiring career spanning over four continents. She has 28 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry and is the mother to two children. Others have confidence in her ability to affect change because she has a proven track record of leading specialist teams of engineers and scientists to deliver significant and measurable outcomes despite challenging circumstances.
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Kalpana Maharage
Superintendent Mine Development
Rio Tinto Iron Ore
Category NominationOUTSTANDING YOUNG WOMAN IN RESOURCES
Kalpana Maharage is an accomplished Mining Engineer. She was selected for Rio Tinto’s graduate program in 2009, and within a year of completing the program achieved a promotion to Superintendent with Rio Tinto Iron Ore’s Greater Paraburdoo mine operations. At this time she was the youngest operational Superintendent on site at 26 years of age.
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Linda O’Farrell
General Manager Fortescue People
Fortescue Metals Group Limited
Category NominationWOMEN IN RESOURCES CHAMPION
Linda O’Farrell is a senior Human Resources executive with 18 years’ experience in the Western Australian resources sector. During her career Linda has helped break new ground for women in leadership, holding executive roles for leading resources companies including BHP Billiton Iron Ore, and Mount Gibson Iron; she is now leading the People function for Fortescue Metals Group (FMG).
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Liza Carpene
Company Secretary
Northern Star Resources
Category NominationOUTSTANDING WOMAN IN RESOURCES
Liza Carpene’s career in the resources sector began by accident. Returning home after four years working in corporate finance in London, Liza was asked to do a favour by spending a week at Wiluna Gold covering reception. This favour turned into a seven year stint at the fly-in fly-out (FIFO) operation and started a love affair with mining. During this time Liza completed formal qualifications, paving the way for future career progression.
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Lynn Olssen
General Manager Geosciences
Snowden Group
Category NominationWOMEN IN RESOURCES CHAMPION
Lynn Olssen is General Manager Geosciences for the Snowden Group, and is a resource geologist with over 20 years’ experience in the mining industry. Lynn has been with the Snowden Group for over 10 years and spends the majority of her time mentoring and training mining professionals. Lynn has been the Equal Opportunity Support Officer for the Snowden Group since 2009, working internally as the ‘go to’ support person within the company.
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Margeaux Janenko
Electrical Technician
Kentz Engineering and Construction
Category NominationOUTSTANDING OPERATOR/TECHNICIAN/TRADE WOMAN
Margeaux Janenko is a talented female tradesperson and passionate advocate for social change. Working as an Electrician at Chevron’s Gorgon site for Kentz Engineering and Contracting, Margeaux maintains a positive energy during a demanding work schedule. Despite her limited time off-site, she enthusiastically engages as a volunteer ambassador for female tradespeople in her role as board member for the Western Australian based not-for-profit TradeUp Australia.
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Samantha Wood
Production Supervisor
Mt Gibson Iron
Category NominationOUTSTANDING YOUNG WOMAN IN RESOURCES
Samantha (Sam) Wood is Production Supervisor at Mt Gibson Iron and is the company’s youngest and first female supervisor. She is also captain of the site Emergency Response group which she says gives her a deeper understanding of safety systems.
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Sharon Warburton
Executive Director, Brookfield Multiplex
Non Executive Director, Fortescue Metals Group
Category NominationWOMEN IN RESOURCES CHAMPION
Beginning her career at KPMG, Sharon Warburton was soon fast tracked through finance to commercial analytical roles at Rio Tinto in Perth and London. Today, she holds high-level positions in both the private and not-for-profit sectors.
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Vanessa Bullock
Graduate Mechanical Engineer
Woodside Energy Ltd
Category NominationOUTSTANDING YOUNG WOMAN IN RESOURCES
At the age of 24 Vanessa Bullock is at the start of her career in oil and gas. Having recently graduated from university she entered the workforce at Woodside in February 2014. Considering how recently she has entered the professional world she has shown significant promise and has achieved some remarkable milestones in a short space of time. Of particular note is her selection to speak at the 8th Australasian Congress on Applied Mechanics on the topic of ‘Vortex Induced Vibrations of Subsea Pipelines’ and presented on behalf of her mechanical engineering skill pool to members of management on the role and contribution of her discipline within Woodside, helping to better foster inter-departmental communication.
Outstanding Company Initiative
Atlas Iron – Women in Atlas
Women in Atlas is a strategic and proactive group with clear objectives set to improve diversity and the work environment for their female employees.
BHP Billiton Iron Ore – Kworp Kooling Mining Skills Program
Kworp Kooling is a residential program that provides training in haul truck operations which prepares Indigenous women without resources sector experience for a seamless transition to site.
Newmont – Global Inclusion and Diversity at Newmont
Global Inclusion and Diversity at Newmont is an initiative embedded in their business with a vision of creating a diverse and inclusive culture where all people can achieve and contribute to their greatest potential.
Rio Tinto Iron Ore – Diversity’s Edge Campaign, Nammuldi Below Water Table Extension
Diversity’s Edge is a successful recruitment campaign that was designed to improve diversity within the workforce by promoting career pathways to women and Indigenous talent.
