Category: Awards Winners

Women in Leadership Program Rio Tinto Gove – Excellence in Programs and Performance 2023

This award recognises a resources company (or subsidiary) for excellence and innovation in inclusion and diversity programs to create a more diverse workplace in the NT’s resources sector. Companies that have increased the proportion of women in non-traditional roles, such as senior management, engineering, sciences, operators and trades will be particularly highly regarded.

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Eva Lebedeva McArthur River Mine – Skymax Excellence in Technological Innovation 2023

Eva is a Senior Environmental Chemist in the Laboratory at McArthur River Mine. In her role, Eva works as part of an in-house Research and Development team that supports the wider fields of Chemistry and minerology. Working in partnership with Glencore Technology, Eva investigates, trials and develops analytical methods to improve laboratory testing to drive operational improvement outcomes that benefit the wider resource sector.

Eva graduated University in Russia in 2005 as an Environmental Geoscientist. In 2007, Eva received a scholarship from the Australian National University to undertake her PhD at Research School of Physics and Engineering at the Department of Applied Mathematics. The work of her PHD specifically related to the oil industry where she studied interfacial reactions at different mineral surfaces (carbonate rocks and clays).

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Dahlia Docherty & John Rann – ERA Gender Diversity Champion 2023

For the first time in the history of the WiR Awards we have two winners for the ERA Gender Diversity Award.

Dahlia has worked for Newmont Tanami since 2015 in the Training Department. She loves the opportunities provided by Newmont, and has focused the past three years on ways to improve opportunities for other females, especially First Nations women.

John Rann has worked at the Gove site for seven years. During this time, John has held multiple roles within the business and has been a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion within his team and across the Gove site.

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Lindsay Gerrard from INPEX – INPEX Outstanding Outstanding Tradeswoman / Operator / Technician 2023

As a proud Gamilaroi woman, Lindsay Gerrard has had an impressive career journey that has taken her from carpentry to electrical work, with a focus on instrumentation and control.

Lindsay’s dedication, hard work and talent have helped her achieve remarkable success and break new ground in her field.

One of Lindsay’s most significant contributions to the resources sector has been her commitment to mentoring and supporting female apprentices, as well as Aboriginal apprentices. She has invested in building solid relationships and providing apprentices with valuable guidance and advice. Lindsay’s efforts have helped many new inexperienced people entering the industry overcome the challenges they face and navigate their way in this demanding field. Lindsay has also made meaningful contributions to the community volunteering at school events and participating in mentoring programs on site and on country.

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Meg Parry from ERA – Santos Exceptional Young Woman In Resources Winner 2023

Meg Parry has worked for Energy Resources of Australia on the Ranger Rehabilitation Project since March 2019. Meg started her career as a Rio Tinto Environment Graduate in the Rehabilitation and Ecology Team. She was eager to learn and quickly took on more responsibilities, including fieldwork, managing seeds, identifying gaps in the team’s study plan, designing and implementing research, reporting and presenting findings internally and externally, and improving old systems. Meg swiftly became a vital interface with numerous stakeholders, including state and federal government bodies, scientific regulatory boards, and traditional landowner groups.

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Shannon Turner from Newmont Tanami – Glencore McArthur River Mine 2023 Exceptional Woman in Resources Awardee

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.

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Kalpana Maharage- Exceptional Woman In Resources Winner 2018

Exceptional Woman In Resources 2018

Award Sponsor

Kalpana Maharage

In 2008, Kalpana graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) and was selected for Rio Tinto’s graduate program upon completion where she has held various positions since.

Currently employed as a Truck & Shovel Superintendent for GEMCO South32. In addition to this role, Kalpana supports the site by completing the Duty Manager role on a regular basis which involves being the point of contact and senior leadership for the whole operation over weekends.

Since moving to the community of Alyangula in 2016, Kalpana has led the recruitment and training of local community members via a Residential Training Program which has provided opportunities for improved gender diversity by supporting flexible rostering.

Kalpana also volunteers at events held by South32 in the community to show our support with social and family activities.

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ERA – Ranger Women’s Network – Excellence In Diversity Programs 2018

Excellence In Diversity Programs 2018

ERA - Ranger Women's Network

The Ranger Women’s Network was formed in 2017 in direct response to interest from female employees within Energy Resources of Australia for access to support, mentoring and networking and professional development opportunities.

The Network recognises those who champion gender diversity and makes available information to inform its members about gender diversity issues, strategies and statistics.

Since it started, the RWN has raised more the $4500 for Darwin based charity Dawn House Incorporated to directly support the services they provide to women and children escaping domestic and family violence. These services can be accessed by all women in Jabiru, Ranger and Darwin.

The RWN has also raised $1500 in funds and promoted the services of Dolly’s Dream, a charity which aims to raise awareness of bullying, anxiety, depression, youth suicide and improve access to youth support and prevention services.

These include playing host to the Jabiru Area School science students for International Day of Women and Girls in Science to promote career opportunities in STEM fields, organising a site visit and evening function for 30 female engineers in partnership with Engineers Australia offering an opportunity for networking and knowledge sharing and various sponsorships opportunities including a women’s team at the 2017 Darwin Mining Club Charity Ambrose Golf Day to encourage healthy work-life balance and team work as well as organising a pink high-vis shirt drive for Ranger Mine to raise awareness and funds for Breast Cancer research.

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Fatemah Saeidi – Overall Woman In Resources Award 2019

Overall Woman In Resources Award 2019

Fatemah Saeidi

Despite topping her mining engineering class in Iran, Fatemeh migrated to Australia after seeing too many career opportunities slip past her because of her gender. After completing a PhD at one of University of Queensland’s highly regarded Mineral Research Centres, Fatemeh now works for South32s GEMCO a Process and Logistics Analysis and Improvement Specialist, living on Groote Eylandt.

Fatemeh is an active participant in GEMCO’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee and also mentors female students from culturally diverse backgrounds at the University of Queensland to encourage them to also join the resources industry.

Fatemeh recently participated in the Northern Territory Women in Leadership Workshop and is focused on using her experiences to become a motivational speaker

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Leigh Mott – Outstanding Trades Operator 2019

Outstanding Trades Operator 2019

Award Sponsor

Leigh Mott

Leigh began working at McArthur River Mines as an operator in 2011. She started working on trucks then worked her way up to operating excavators and production loaders. She joined the Emergency Response Team and was the only female team member of the 2014 MRM Northern Territory Australian Emergency Response Competition Team.

She has qualification as an EMT-Advanced and holds Certificate IV Training and Assessment, this has enabled her to better treat co-workers and the wider community members in emergency situations as a medic. When she is at work she is on-call 24/7 for emergency response. In 2017 she has taken on the role of Relief Emergency Response Coordinator. 

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