Phillipa is a Yolngu woman from Gapuwiyak in North East Arnhem Land and is pursuing a career operating heavy mining equipment. Phillipa is a Mining Operator at Rio Tinto’s Gove bauxite mine. She started her career in mining with Rio Tinto in 2018, and in 2019 commenced a traineeship within one of Rio Tinto’s two all-Indigenous work crews.

Having fast-tracked her two-year traineeship in Surface Extraction and completed this in just 11 months, in April this year, Phillipa began her current role as a qualified Mining Operator. She now operates heavy mining equipment including 777 haul trucks and loaders, contributing to the supply of high quality bauxite to the international aluminium industry.