This award category is for exceptional achievements in the resources sector in any occupation. It notes her leadership skills, resilience, her methods of overcoming barriers and seeking out and accepting new responsibilities and challenges.

It also notes her record of encouraging and mentoring other women in the resources sector and her efforts towards building gender diversity within the sector. This award also recognises her contribution to her community, and/or resources community with which she has a connection particularly in helping secure the industry’s social license to operate.

After being inspired to become an engineer by her high school maths teacher in the second year of university, Shannon took the leap and moved across the country to be a nipper on an argyle mine. Shannon was determined to change the opinions of some older male colleagues, and in doing so Shannon proved her competency, and developed a passion for underground work.

In the six years Shannon has worked at Newmont she has travelled to a number of communities across Australia. Her roles have varied during this time and Shannon has maintained a passion for continually challenging herself.

Stepping out of the office as an engineer and taking on the role as Underground Mining Supervisor proved a steep learning curve to Shannon; she flourished in the opportunities and has further developed as Underground Production Superintendent.