The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia’s (CME) annual Women in Resources Awards were held on March 22, where women working across the resources industry were recognised for their achievements in their respective fields.
Attended by more than 1000 people at the Perth Exhibition and Convention Centre, 18 nominees were recognised and seven awards were presented, leaving lots to celebrate.
Outstanding Young Woman in Resources
This award recognises an outstanding young woman recognised as an emerging leader, who has achieved significant career milestones in their career to date. It also recognises their contribution to the resources sector and broader community.
The Outstanding Young Woman in Resources Award at this year’s Women in Resources Awards went to Eliza Dennis from Shell.
Dennis first joined Shell as an operations graduate, where she fostered a “safety-first approach” while leveraging her analytical and detail-orientated skills to enhance operational efficiency.
Dennis is currently working as a design process engineer for the Crux project, where she represents the project on making crucial technical decisions.
Outstanding Operator/Technician/Trade Award
This award recognises an outstanding woman who has broken new ground for women in non-traditional fields. It also recognises her contribution to the resources sector and broader community.
Dianne Deegan from INPEX took out this year’s Outstanding Operator/Technician/Trade Award.
Deegan first joined the mining industry in her early 30s, where she became Australia’s first female Aboriginal open crane operator.
Deegan eventually transitioned to the offshore operations sector of the industry, where she joined INPEX through the Solid Pathways Program, earning recognition as the first female service technician and competent crane operator in the company.
Outstanding Woman in Resources
This award recognises the outstanding achievements of a woman in the Western Australian resources sector, in any occupation. It recognises professional success, leadership skills, resilience in overcoming barriers, and accepting new challenges.
Josie Fourie from Woodside Energy was presented the 2024 Outstanding Operator/Technician/Trade Award.
Fourie is known for becoming the most senior woman in offshore drilling in Australia, breaking barriers in a male-dominated field.
Fourie’s carer trajectory at Woodside has included roles such as Pluto maintenance superintendent and head of Wells Australia.
Throughout her career, Fourie has led ground-breaking projects like the Enfield well abandonment and the contracting of a modern drilling rig for the Australian decommissioning, drilling and well completion programs.
Women in Resources Technological Innovation Award
This award recognises the achievements of women in technical fields who have developed and/or applied technological innovation in mining. It also recognises the innovative solutions that they have developed and applied in a unique and innovative way in the resources sector.
This year’s Women in Resources Technological Innovation Award went to Evelyn Ng from Callidus Group.
In her current role as manager of materials and innovation at the Callidus Group, Ng has contributed to the FM-1500 and BM-1600.
Both patented technologies address severe service conditions in the mining industry, significantly enhancing the reliability of valves fundamental to the processing of critical minerals.
The BM-1600 has extended valve lifespan from four weeks to a year and the FM-1500 increases valve in-line use from six to 24 months.
Women in Resources Champion Award
This award recognises an individual, of any gender, who has encouraged, promoted, and advocated for the attraction, retention, inclusion, and promotion of women in the resources sector.
The 2024 Women in Resources Champion Award recognised Vivienne Chan from Chevron, who became Curtin University’s first female PhD in Chemical Engineering.
Chan is currently involved in Chevron’s graduate recruitment program, where she ensures applications are treated impartially and unconscious gender bias is addressed during the selection process.
Chan is also the lead of the Petrotech Women’s Network, where she drives initiatives such as the Inspirational Women of Chevron series and promotes leadership training programs for women.
Peoples’ Choice Award
Every individual finalist in the 2024 Women in Resources Awards was eligible for this award.
Lily Meneghel from Roy Hill was honoured with the 2024 Peoples’ Choice Award.
Meneghel started her mining career with computer programming. Then she transitioned into operational roles, where she made a mark on innovative projects.
At Roy Hill, Meneghel orchestrated the successful relocation of the Automated Haulage System Control Operations. Through this project, she demonstrated her leadership in managing complex transitions.
Outstanding Company Initiative Award
This award recognises a company that has demonstrated a commitment to increasing the proportion of women in their workplace through the implementation of a gender diversity program, initiative or suite of broader initiatives.
Engineering group Monadelphous took home the Outstanding Company Initiative Award for its Crane Operations Pathway Traineeship Program.
The company’s Crane Operations Pathway Traineeship was created in 2021 as part of its 2021–2024 gender diversity and inclusion plan.
The program was established by Monadelphous’ heavy lift general manager Lorna Rechichi to combat gender disparity in the crane and heavy haulage sectors.
The 36-month program prepares female trainees to become qualified crane operators. When completed, participants receive nationally recognised qualifications while maintaining their full-time role with Monadelphous’ heavy lift business.
CME chief executive officer Rebecca Tomkinson said the winners highlighted a sector-wide commitment to diversity and inclusion.
“Their stories, achievements and leadership qualities show what is possible in WA mining and resources, and also the great benefit that diversity brings to our sector,” Tomkinson said.
“As an industry, we are making progress towards the gender parity we aspire to, with a significant increase in the rate of participation for women compared with a decade ago, but there is still much work to be done.
“More women in resources means a louder voice advocating for an inclusive work environment that benefits from a diversity of problem solving.
“It also means more career options are available to our younger generations, and a more balanced industry workforce means engaged, diverse thinking about what our best energy future can look like.”
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