As the Oscars red carpet is rolled up in Hollywood, it will be rolled out in Brisbane next week for Queensland’s most outstanding resources sector women.
They’ll be in the spotlight in the 10th annual Resources Awards for Women hosted by the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) and Women in Mining and Resources Queensland (WIMARQ). The awards will be presented at the QRC/WIMARQ International Women’s Day Breakfast at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday 6 March.
QRC Chief Executive Michael Roche says the awards and breakfast play an important role in the resources sector’s mission to increase the participation of women in non-traditional roles in the sector to at least 20 percent by 2020. ‘The long-term sustainability of our sector relies on attracting and retaining sufficient skilled people and we need to continue to keep our eye on future needs, even when we are experiencing difficult times,’ said Mr Roche. ‘We need to continue to encourage people from sectors of our community who are under-represented in our ranks to consider resources sector careers, and women remain the obvious prime targets,’ he said.
‘We have made good progress, with the proportion of women in non-traditional roles such as engineering, geology, trades, operators and senior management increasing from 6 percent in 2006 to 13.5 percent in 2013-14. ‘And a number of QRC’s member companies have already attained the 20 percent goal. ‘However we can’t rest on our laurels, and we need to continue the initiatives put in place over the past 10 years to ensure women continue to share in the great careers and prosperity provided by our sector.’
As well as the Brisbane event, people in Blackwater, Mackay and Moranbah will take part in simultaneous breakfasts, with a live webcast of the awards presentation from Brisbane.
Keynote speaker at the Brisbane event is Dr Kirstin Ferguson, named by the Australian Financial Review as one of Australia’s top 100 influential women in 2014, and special guests will include the new Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dr Anthony Lynham.
Bookings for all four breakfasts can be made by clicking the links below
The finalists are:
Exceptional Woman in Queensland Resources
Michelle Elvy BHP Billiton Mitsui Coal – Manager Production Processing South Walker Creek
Janette Hewson Peabody Energy Australia – Director, Services, Supply Chain Management
Jessica Simpson BHP Billiton – Senior Manager, Community, Group Corporate Affairs
Gender Diversity Champion in Queensland Resources
Rachel Durdin Rio Tinto – Principal Advisor Strategic Planning, Technology and Innovation
Jacqui McGill BHP Billiton Mitsui Coal (BMC – Asset President
Exceptional young woman in Queensland resources
Sandra Newman Rio Tinto Coal Australia – Project Lead West Dam – Hail Creek Mine
Michelle Radlof Rio Tinto Alcan Weipa – Civil & Environmental Engineer
Emma Riles BHP Billiton Cannington – Metallurgy improvement Specialist– Cannington
Outstanding Queensland Tradeswoman/operator/technician
Melissa Brown Glencore Coal Assets Australia – Clermont Open Cut Team Leader – Haulage
Anna Kepper Rio Tinto Alcan – Weipa Fitter and Turner
Julie Stainkey Rio Tinto Alcan – Weipa Crew Leader, East Weipa Mine Operations
Further information: Caroline Morrissey 0417 770 893
Click below to book for International Women’s Day breakfast events
| QRC /WIMARQ Brisbane International Women’s Day Breakfast | |
| Moranbah International Women’s Day Breakfast | |
| Blackwater International Women’s Day breakfast | |
| Mackay International Women’s Day Breakfast |