Women’s Week encourages more females into resources

Women are set to make more of a contribution to the resources sector. Recognition of current achievements and fostering emerging talent are high on the agenda this week during Queensland Women’s Week. The week is an expansion of international Women's Day which sees the Girls in Resources Life Skills mentoring program launched in Brisbane. Today's function hosted by the QRC’s Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) and Women in Mining and Resources in Queensland (WIMARQ). There's been a 116 percent increase in mentee applications for the program since starting three years ago and 20 Year 12 students from across Queensland have been selected to participate this year. They will also attend the 2021 Queensland Resources Council/WIMARQ Resources Awards for Women today (Wed 10 Mar 21) which features the presentation of the annual Resources Awards for Women. Brisbane to host 1000 A group of around 1000 supporters are being hosted at the Royal International Convention Centre in Bowen Hills this morning. Elizabeth Baker is an in-house Lawyer who took on a legal counsel role at Queensland Alumina Ltd (QAL) more than 20 years ago. When she arrived at QAL, Elizabeth was one of very few females in this male-dominated environment, being fewer than 25 women amongst 1000 men. Elizabeth set up QAL's first Legal Department. Keynote speaker is QUT Chancellor Dr Xiaoling Liu and the MC is prominent journalist and host Jennifer Byrne. Crowds in Moranbah and Mount Isa are watching via live telecast. Maria Joyce is and engineer by profession and Head of Business Planning at BHP. She has been part of the resources sector for 17 years, working in leadership, operational, technical, business improvement and strategic roles. Women are increasingly having their presence felt in mining and resources. There’s been 25 percent increase in the number of women employed in the sector over the past 12 months, from 5,472 in 2018-2019 to 6,841 in 2019-20. It’s up more than 50 percent in the last five years. This year’s finalists are from Gladstone, Brisbane, Mount Isa, Moranbah, Airlie Beach, Mackay and Sunshine Coast. There are 14 women, three high school students and two companies vying for seven awards: Exceptional Woman in Queensland Resources Exceptional Young Woman in Queensland Resources Exceptional Trade/Technician/Operator in Queensland Resources Exceptional Woman in Queensland Resources Technological Innovation Exceptional Female QMEA Student in Queensland Resources Gender Diversity Champion in Queensland Resources Excellence in Diversity Programs and Performance They work in resources as CEOs, legal counsels, general managers, engineers, blast hole drillers, project leads, leading hands, longwall electrical coordinators, business analysts, procurement managers, digital transformation underground project leads and culture and inclusion specialists. CQ students top talent pool for resource sector award Finalists revealed in 2021 Resources Awards for Women Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Shannon Fentiman says this year’s Queensland Women’s Week was more important than ever as Queenslanders need to do all they can to recognise the achievements of women and girls. “We know women were disproportionately impacted by COVID; their economic security was hit hard,” she says. “Women endured the double impact of working in many of the continuing frontline jobs such as health care and cleaning and being concentrated in industries most impacted by shutdowns such as retail and hospitality.” The theme for this year’s Queensland Women’s Week is ‘Celebrate our present. Own our future’, acknowledging the achievements of women in a year that was heavily impacted by the risks and challenges of COVID-19, as the community strives to move forward. Below is the full list of 2021 Resources Awards for Women finalists:

Women’s Week encourages more females into resources

Industry Queensland

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