Two Queenslanders have been recognised for their contributions to the resources sector at the BHP (ASX:BHP) Women in Resources National Awards in Canberra.
The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) says Gold Coast-based fly-in-fly-out engineer Ashara Moore, and support manager Kanae Dyas (pictured above with Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) Chief Executive Simon Trott), were honoured for their efforts.
Moore (pictured right), who works at BHP’s Saraji Mine in Central Queensland, was awarded the Exceptional Young Woman in Australian Resources award, while Anglo American (LON:AAL) Workplace Support Manager Dyas was recognised as the Gender Diversity Champion in Australian Resources.
In parallel, Anglo American was awarded in the Excellence in Diversity Programs and Performance Award category.
CEO Janette Hewson says both women are deserving winners of the awards, and all of the finalists are “outstanding examples” of the workforce behind Queensland’s resources sector.
“Ashara Moore heads a team of engineers as portfolio lead, responsible for over $45 million in capital projects and has shown what women can achieve through a dynamic career in the resources sector,” Hewson says.
“Kanae Dyas is a champion for diversity and equity reform who is dedicated to improving health and safety outcomes for women and marginalised people to create a safe and welcoming workplace for all involved in the industry.
“Awards like these, and the joint QRC and Women in Mining and Resources Queensland (WIMARQ) State Resources Awards for Women are just one way of recognising the sector’s commitment to achieve a better gender balance in our workforce.”
The QRC and WIMARQ actively encourage more women into the sector through delivering its diversity and inclusion programs, which support women once in roles.
Hewson adds that since 2006, female participation in the state’s resources sector workforce has increased from 6% to over 22%.
“But we know we can do better to meet the growing skilled workforce needs of our industry,” she says.
“The door is wide open for more women to move into a trade or professional career pathway in Queensland’s minerals and energy sector.”
The QRC is Queensland’s peak body for coal, metal, and gas explorers, producers and suppliers across the resources sector. The resources sector contributes one in every four dollars to the state economy and supports one in six Queensland jobs.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Queensland Resources Council
