Pilbara workers recognised as finalists for women in resources awards

Two women working in resources in the Pilbara are among the finalists in the running for the WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy’s prestigious Women in Resources Awards.

Rio Tinto maintenance supervisor Donna Stace, a long-term Karratha resident, has been short-listed for outstanding operator/technician/trade woman, and Fortescue Metals Group mine control superintendent at Solomon, April Scott, is up for outstanding young woman in resources at the 2019 awards.

Other finalists with ties to projects in the region include Chevron’s Stephanie Allan (outstanding operator/technician/ trade woman finalist), an operations technician part of the Gorgon Project, and women in resources champion finalist Cordia Johnson, who is an engineering team lead at Chevron’s Wheatstone Project.

Companies in the running for the outstanding company initiative prize include major Pilbara players Woodside Energy and BHP.

Ms Stace, who has worked in the resources industry for about 13 years and is an ambassador for women in trades advocacy group TradeUP, said the sector was still very male-dominated but it was good to see female involvement being increasingly promoted and celebrated.

“Back when I started my apprenticeship, there weren’t any Women in Resources Awards or mentoring groups. You really were out on your own,” she said.

“Now there’s so much more support and conversations being had around it and what we can do it about it, and that can only be a positive thing to generate more interest and change the culture within the industry.”

The CME received more than 70 nominations across the five categories for this year’s awards.

CME chief executive Paul Everingham said the Women in Resources event was growing every year, reflecting the increasing importance companies were placing on gender diversity in the workplace.

“The high standard of entries in this year’s awards has resulted in an extremely competitive awards process,” he said.

“All finalists are leaders in their field who champion the achievements of women and work to improve the participation of women in the workforce,” he said.

Winners will be announced at a presentation dinner in Perth on Friday, March 15.

A people’s choice winner, to be determined by an online vote, will also be awarded.

To vote, go to www.cmewa.com.