Now into its 15th year, WIRA recognises the power of gender diversity in WA mining and resources and highlights the outstanding efforts of individuals and companies to deliver progress in this area. 

CME received more than 144 nominations for this year’s awards, with the quality of nominees reflected in an inspirational group of finalists, who perform a wide range of on and off-site roles for operations around the State. 

There are also three mining and resources sector companies that have been chosen as finalists in the outstanding company initiative category. 

CME Chief Executive, Rebecca Tomkinson, said the WIRA selection criteria were designed to identify both professional excellence and commitment to activities that contributed to the community in a meaningful way. 

“The WIRA presentation dinner is always a highlight of our events calendar and showcases some of the finest people and initiatives in our sector,” Ms Tomkinson said. 

“WIRA allows us to acknowledge inspirational women working in Western Australia, the men and women who champion gender diversity and the efforts made by companies in the sector to improve the participation of women in our workforce. 

“CME and its member companies are proud of the growth in female participation in our industry over the past decade, particularly the increasing number of women occupying leadership roles. 

“We also recognise that gender equity remains an area in which there is still significant work to be done. 

“Events like WIRA celebrate the contributions being made by women in the WA mining and resource sector, sometimes overcoming personal and professional challenges to do so. 

“WIRA is not just for women; it’s an incredibly positive way for everyone, equally, to shine a light on the career opportunities that are mapping the path to our shared future,” she said.

The 2024 Women in Resources Awards dinner will be held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday 22 March.

The 2024 finalists are as follows:

Outstanding Young Woman in Resources Award

• Eliza Dennis, Shell 
• Jemma Ehsman, Rio Tinto 
• Danielle White, BHP 

Outstanding Operator/Technician/Trade Award 

• Clarisse Orchard, Callidus Welding Solutions 
• Tahnee Brosnan, Woodside Energy  
• Dianne Deegan, INPEX 

Outstanding Woman in Resources Award 

• Lisa Robson, Shell  
• Josie Fourie, Woodside Energy  
• Lily Meneghel, Roy Hill 

Technological Innovation Award 

• Suzy Urbaniak, CoRE Learning Foundation 
• Celine Mangan, Mineral Resources  
• Evelyn Ng, Callidus Group 

Champion of Women in Resources Award 

• Vivienne Chan, Chevron 
• Candis Rhodes, Rio Tinto 
• Warren Shirley, Shell  

Outstanding Company Initiative Award 

• “Bamboo” Flexible Work Program, BHP  
• Crane Operations Pathway Traineeship Program, Monadelphous  
• Transferrable Pathways, Rio Tinto

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What do you enjoy most about your job?

Every day there are new challenges and opportunities for innovation and development across the business. To be a part of that and see the teams thrive during cultural advancement is really incredible.

Describe your career path to your current job?

I commenced at Alcoa in 2009 doing school work experience each Friday at Pinjarra Refinery. This ignited my love of complex processes; I was amazed at how it was even possible. As a result, I took a HSE pathway for the next three years completing a Certificate IV in TAE & OHS, before moving to the logistics sector to work in operations. During my time with Aurizon, I completed a traineeship in rail, before moving to an Operations Coordinator role and then I was promoted to Regional Operations Leader shortly thereafter. In these roles I successfully completed a Dual Diploma in Business and Leadership Management.

Not one to say no to an opportunity, I accepted an offer to relocate to Adelaide to work as an Assistant Terminal Manager in oil and gas. Here I diversified my experience and skillset for the next 18 months which saw me continue to grow professionally and personally.

In these testing Covid19 times, we welcomed our son which saw us make the big move back to WA to be with family and our support network. After 12 months maternity leave I was fortunate to be offered my current role at Alcoa’s Kwinana Alumina Refinery. As soon as I turned the car on to the access road, I was thinking ‘I’m coming home’. There is just nothing like being in the refinery. Amazingly so, with the support network I have at Alcoa I have been able to continue my studies towards a Double Masters – MBA and Global Project Management, I’m almost halfway through, so watch this space regarding what comes next!

What attracted you to a career in mining and resources?

Initially I was attracted to the lifestyle mining and resources could offer. It wasn’t until I was embedded in the sector that I truly appreciated the career opportunities available and passion I had to break the female stereotype. I saw it as a challenge, and still do, that has limitless potential no matter your career interest.

How do you juggle working in mining and resources with family life?

Up until a couple of years ago, everyone would always say to me I couldn’t have it all, it is a choice of either family or career. This could not be further from the truth.

As diversity and inclusive cultures cultivate, it is becoming easier to be a working parent. I have found myself having to leave work early due to a sick baby or needing to take a day off, but with a good communicative relationship with my leader, it has always been a smooth transition. I am given the opportunity during these times to work from home and there are flexible work arrangements available for all employees evaluated on an individual needs basis. With my current work hours, I am able to be home with my son each afternoon from 2.30pm onwards which really does give me the best of both worlds.

What do you think of the general perception that mining and resources is a male-dominated sector?

The general perception mining and resources is a male-dominated sector is still backed by statistics. However, the important takeout from this is that companies are putting into practice critical initiatives to attract women to operational roles and bridge the gender pay gap whilst eliminating behavioural tolerances. It is such an exciting time for women to be a part of the sector as it revolutionises and recognises the value diversity and inclusion brings to teams and the business. Support within the workplace and outside is phenomenal with mentors in abundance and platforms like this to network and build relationships.  

What advice would you give to other women considering a career in the sector?

Absolutely anyone can achieve anything they work hard enough for. The role you start in doesn’t have to be the role you finish in, and there is absolutely no rule stating you need to know what you want to do. The mining and resources sector really is a lifestyle and one you need to be willing to make some sacrifices for, but the opportunities and experiences are limitless and the perfect place to have it all.  

What’s the biggest thing you would like other women to know about working in mining and resources?

Be prepared for it to be hard, and there will be challenges. And there will be the odd individual who makes you uncomfortable, which is not acceptable. But no one will make you feel the need to prove your place as much as your own self-concept of being a female in the workplace. Remember you deserve to be there, you have every right to be there, and you never would have been employed if you weren’t the best candidate for the job. Own it.

What initiatives/policies has your employer put in place to encourage more women to be involved in the sector?

Alcoa is a proactive supporter of diversity and inclusion. It founded the Alcoa Women’s Network across global operations, each has a site-level committee to provide a great support network and help chain. There are also flexible work arrangements that can be utilised and a great parental leave policy. Alcoa is also extremely fortunate its operations are based close to cities removing the need for a FIFO workforce, this promotes a great work-life balance.

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What do you enjoy most about your job? Working with lots of people and constantly challenging myself in a fast-paced environment.

Describe your career path to your current job? Completed a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering and Commerce at Curtin University, worked part-time at Alcoa whilst completing my degree, now I’m a second-year graduate at Alcoa.

What attracted you to a career in mining and resources?
Locally based job and the complexity/large scale of the refining process.

What do you think of the general perception that mining and resources is a male-dominated sector? It’s somewhat true but it is changing for the better.

What advice would you give to other women considering a career in the sector? Definitely go for it, the work can be challenging but it’s worth it and there are a lot of people here to support you.

What’s the biggest thing you would like other women to know about working in mining and resources? It’s not as scary as it seems, although it’s male-dominated the employees are very respectful and great to work with.

What initiatives/policies has your employer put in place to encourage more women to be involved in the sector? HR catch-ups at different stages in your onboarding, KPIs to encourage diversity in the workplace, the AWN, or Alcoa Women’s Network to support women.

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What do you enjoy most about your job?

The thing I enjoy most about my job is getting to meet a variety of different people and also getting to work with 8 other women in mining.

Describe your career path to your current job?

I started Admin when I left school and continued on with it until I had my children. I returned to the workforce about 3 years ago as department secretary. After doing that role for 9 months I moved to Divisional secretary and now supervise the Admin team as well. The next step for me ideally would be a superintendent role on the mine site as well.

What attracted you to a career in mining and resources?

Living in a mining town is what attracted me to the role.

How do you juggle working in mining and resources with family life?

It can be a challenge at times but I find organisation is key to success here. Ensure the use of reminders in calendars for activities etc. Meal prep is also a good way to save time.

What do you think of the general perception that mining and resources is a male-dominated sector?

I think that as a whole it is a male-dominated environment however women are generally given the same opportunities as males. It is a fair work environment

What advice would you give to other women considering a career in the sector?

Jump in with both feet. It is the best thing I have ever done, not just for me but for my family.

What’s the biggest thing you would like other women to know about working in mining and resources?

The opportunities are endless if you have the drive and passion to do a good job.

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What do you enjoy most about your job?

The people! I work with individuals from a variety of backgrounds, some of whom have been in the industry for 30+ years while others who are just starting out. Everyone is keen to share knowledge and information, and while we may have robust conversations on the best way to tackle a problem or task everyone is working hard towards the same goal. We occasionally have some fun while going about it too!

Describe your career path to your current job?

I did a Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Engineering double degree at UWA. Afterwards, I joined the Glencore (then Xstrata) Mount Isa Mines graduate program. I was given the opportunity to rotate through a variety of roles at both the Copper Smelter and the Zinc-Lead Concentrator, including plant metallurgist, senior metallurgist, operations supervising, forecasting and modelling. We moved back to WA in 2018, chasing the coastal lifestyle and to be closer to family, and I started at Alcoa Kwinana Refinery as a Senior Chemical Engineer.

What attracted you to a career in mining and resources?

The mining and resources industry is dynamic and ever-changing, you are part of producing commodities which are then used in a myriad of ways in society – health, travel, construction etc. The current drive towards sustainability and minimising waste makes the industry even more exciting and attractive.

How do you juggle working in mining and resources with family life?

I have two kids, a 5-year-old daughter and a 3-year-old son, and the biggest help with the juggle is that I have always had encouragement from my managers to prioritise my family’s needs. I’ve worked part-time for nearly six years, I’ve had to take a LOT of carer’s leave for a sick kid. And I’ve never been made to feel like I need to ‘sneak out’ to attend mothers’ day picnics, school sports carnivals or assemblies etc. This support then makes me happy to make up the hours when I can, whether it’s checking on the plant on weekends, coming in on days off for important presentations, or firing off emails when the kids have gone to bed. The trust goes both ways.

What do you think of the general perception that mining and resources is a male-dominated sector?

Mining and resources statistically is still very much male-dominated. However, the industry is progressing rapidly to address the historical inequality. Environmental, safety and ergonomic initiatives are being rolled out, the workforce is being educated on how diversity enables high-performing teams, and there is greater awareness of imbalances at varying levels and roles. The best part of this revolution is that it is resulting in inclusive workforces for all minority groups, not just the male-female aspect.

What advice would you give to other women considering a career in the sector?

Find a role that you personally find interesting or exciting. Don’t feel constrained to the more ‘traditional’ female roles within the industry. Companies are more than ever conscious of bias in recruitment, and actively seeking the right candidate for a job regardless of their gender.  Be prepared for an occasional challenging conversation with the less-accepting co-workers, but consider them as an opportunity to educate and ambassador for diversity in the workplace.

What initiatives/policies has your employer put in place to encourage more women to be involved in the sector?

The Alcoa Women’s Network (AWN) is a strong support network within the company and is backed by company executives and leaders (male and female). Flexible work policies are being implemented. There are also committees addressing environmental, safety and ergonomic barriers to female inclusion in certain roles.

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What do you enjoy most about your job?

The interaction I have with people from different workgroups and the variety of challenges, I deal with different tasks every day!

Describe your career path to your current job?

I started with Alcoa in 2008 as a Graduate Chemical Engineer and was employed as a Chemical Engineer in 2011 at the Wagerup Alumina Refinery. During my time as a Chemical Engineer (2011-2017) I had the privilege of switching areas every 2-3 years to experience other roles through secondments (Equipment Care Team Group Leader, Senior Capital Project Engineer, and Procurement Manager for Refining Commodities).

Then I went on maternity leave mid-2017 and I thought this is where my career journey will be parked for some time, but I was wrong. On the contrary, I was one of the Senior Chemical Engineer role candidates at Pinjarra Refinery and fortunately, I was given the opportunity to pursue this path as soon as I returned from maternity leave.

After a year at Pinjarra Refinery, I had my second maternity leave and an opportunity appeared for the Process Coordinator Superintendent role when I came back from maternity leave.

What attracted you to a career in mining and resources?

The huge opportunities to experience different career paths at Alcoa and more importantly to make a difference in the community environmentally.

Working for Alcoa, I can be involved in reducing the production cost which encourages more industries, and more people to use aluminium based material where it is 100% recyclable.

If you have children, how do you juggle working in mining and resources with family life?

I have a young family with two toddlers (2 and 4 years old) and the most important element for our family is communication. This way my husband and I can work together to schedule our daily routine as he also works full time. Normally he does the morning routine and I do the afternoon routine; however, this might change as sometimes work has different demands. We rely a lot on the childcare and after-school services which we are very grateful that they are easily accessible with our current work conditions.

What do you think of the general perception that mining and resources is a male-dominated sector?

I think that perception is slowly disappearing as more women are employed in the industry. To be honest, even though I am surrounded mostly by male colleagues, I do not feel being the minority in the room as I believe I can offer a different way of thinking from the others.

What advice would you give to other women considering a career in the sector?

Go for it, believe in yourself, and do not be afraid to speak up.

What’s the biggest thing you would like other women to know about working in mining and resources?

The endless opportunities to move upwards and to experience different career paths which have broadened my personal and professional skills.

What initiatives/policies has your employer put in place to encourage more women to be involved in the sector?

We have a diversity target in each department, an equal percentage between male and female of the new candidates to be interviewed for a vacant job, Women in Operations program (to encourage women into line supervisory roles), and AWN (Alcoa Women Network) at each site location as a support network between women.

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Her current role is allowing her to expand her skills and knowledge while meeting new people and leading a large team.

With a double degree in Mechanical Engineering and Commerce from the University of Swinburne in Melbourne, Victoria, Katie’s passion for engineering was sparked in high school by an inspirational teacher who helped her realise physics could be fun.

Her advice to future female engineers is about resilience, ambition and relationships. Katie said remaining resilient when dealing with others’ perceptions of being a young female in a male-dominated field, being open about her career aspirations and never underestimating the importance of relationships and networking, had been keys to her success to date.

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What do you enjoy most about the job?

I enjoy the range of people, within and outside Rio Tinto, I get to work with to solve challenges and support interesting projects across the globe. I enjoy the mental challenge of being involved with many different projects and the opportunity to drive improvements to how we protect and enhance our natural environment around our operations.

Describe your career path to your current job?

I studied in Christchurch and Auckland, New Zealand, completing my MSc in Environmental Science, during which I worked at the local university in Suva, Fiji while conducting research for my thesis. Following this, I spent time in Cambodia supporting marine research for NGO’s and working in Perth, in environmental consulting, on oil spill response research, turtle research and carbon abatement projects. Jumping into the Oil & Gas sector, I worked in a range of roles including offshore exploration, GIS, scientific research and approvals and exploration campaigns in Myanmar and Senegal. To broaden my technical skills, I sought a role in mining as the Cape Lambert Environment Advisor and then moved into my current role in January 2021.

What attracted you to a career in mining and resources?

I was attracted to the resources sector and more recently to a career at Rio Tinto, as I was looking to add value in a sector with the means to implement large scale positive change in our environment and communities. The resources sector plays a significant role in building an understanding of our natural environment, through scientific and community partnerships. Information gathered through this work informs management and protection measures within resource companies like Rio Tinto, but also through community and government agencies. With projects spanning the globe, jurisdictions and environments, Rio Tinto is full of opportunities to implement positive change.

What do you think of the general perception that mining and resources is a male-dominated sector?

I agree, the sector is male-dominated, but this changing. I believe we all a have a responsibility to ensure the mining sector is more representative of the societies in which we work, whether this involves supporting those within the sector to develop professionally, encouraging challenging conversations and diverse ideas, providing equal access to family support arrangements, questioning our own biases and enabling access and opportunity for those looking at careers in the sector.

What advice would you give to other women considering a career in the sector?

Don’t be afraid to seek out support, put your hand up or ask for what you want. In my time at Rio Tinto, I have been humbled by the willingness of my colleagues and peers in supporting my curiosity, as I build a network in mining and their willingness to support me as a professional.

What’s the biggest thing you would like other women to know about working in mining and resources?

The mining sector is full of great opportunities to tackle big challenges, make great friends and have a career beyond your desk.

What initiatives/policies has your employer put in place to encourage more women to be involved in the sector?

Rio Tinto supports a range of STEMM programmes for young people, is a founding member of Champions for Change Coalition and supports the AUSIMM Women in Mining Network, amongst other initiatives. In-house, Rio Tinto has a range of development services and policies in place to support all employees, however, Rio Tinto also provides supportive parental leave arrangements and is working to eliminate the pay equity gap, which currently remains at less than 2%. At a corporate level, gender representation is being improved through corporate targets and increased numbers of females in leadership roles across the organisation.

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What do you enjoy most about your job?

I love that there is always something to learn, it’s an extremely dynamic environment, which I find really attractive. There are endless opportunities available when you find what career path you would like to pursue

Describe your career path to your current job?

I originally started as a local trade assistant at another gas plant facility. This inspired my interest to explore career opportunities within Operations.  From here I pursued an Operations Traineeship where I was a successful candidate for a Traineeship at an Ammonia Production  Facility in the Pilbara. This then led me towards my current employment at Wheatstone where I have been able to assist with the start-up and commissioning of the facility to where the facility is now operating in a steady state. My career path so far has lead me into the position as a Utilities CCR technician that I am really enjoying.

What advice would you give to someone considering a career in the sector?

You need to put yourself out there, find any job that is at a mining/gas facility and get your foot in the door, whether that’s cleaning, Driving vehicles, or being a trades assistant. From there you can talk to the people around you to see where your strengths may lie, see if there is any jobs that may be of interest to you. I have found over the years, once you get on-site, job roles are easier to understand, you can talk to the people that do the roles to see what they like about them. Also, the opportunities for traineeships and apprenticeships get rolled out yearly and most of the time if you are on-site you would know about it.

What’s would you like other women to know about working in mining and resources?

Working within the resource sector can be extremely rewarding, I have had so many opportunities since I decided to take the plunge into this world. Not only have I created a career path for myself, that I am passionate about and enjoy, I have also grown from a personnel perspective

What initiatives/policies did your employer put in place to encourage more women to be involved in the sector?

As Chevron Australia is particularly a new business unit, they are still developing strategies to make it easier on women on site, in particular women coming back from maternity leave. There has been a lot of work done in this space over the last 2 years, having the availably of a private room with a fridge freezer to accommodate the needs of women with young children has been a new addition. There is also a Women’s employee network where you can talk with other likeminded women within the industry and participate in events held by the group

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Currently based at the Kwinana Alumina Refinery in Western Australia, Christina is a key member of the Continuous Improvement Centre of Excellence where her work is helping to drive innovative technology solutions and process improvements for Alcoa’s global refining system.

With a degree in Metallurgy from Curtin University’s School of Mines in Kalgoorlie, Christina has been proudly challenging stereotypes and helping to promote the role of women in the profession for more than 20 years.

Christina said that skills of resourcefulness, tenacity, and inventiveness are the basis of innovation in her field and importantly, are skills that have no gender.

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