Female SA mine worker Jasmine Richards’ sacrifice was rewarded with coveted award

MOVING away from family interstate and adapting to a fly-in, fly-out lifestyle may have few rewards, but the sacrifice has won one female SA mine worker a coveted award from the industry.

OZ Minerals senior environmental adviser Jasmine Richards won the Exceptional Young Woman in South Australian Resources award. Picture: Calum Robertson

MOVING away from family interstate and adapting to a fly-in, fly-out lifestyle may have few rewards, but the sacrifice has won one female SA mine worker a coveted award from the industry.

Jasmine Richards, 30, a senior environmental adviser at OZ Minerals’ Prominent Hill copper-gold mine, on Thursday received the Exceptional Young Woman in South Australian Resources award presented by the South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy.

“It has been tough making those sacrifices but I enjoy what I do and the opportunities with OZ in the past five years have really helped me grow,” she said.

A hydrogeologist and environmental professional, she is also passionate about diversity in the workforce, pushing for stronger targets from mining sector companies in her role as deputy chair of AusIMM’s Woman in Mining Network South Australia.

Ms Richards was one of five inspirational women to be recognised.

Heathgate Resources regulatory and compliance manager Dr Andrea Marsland-Smith won the Exceptional Woman in South Australian Resources award; Thiess truck operator at the Prominent Hill Kristy Hasting was named Outstanding South Australian Tradeswoman, Operator or Technician and First Principles consultant Kate Hobbs and Fyfe general manager Lucy McEwen jointly shared the Gender Diversity Champion award.

Engineering and surveying firm Fyfe also won the Excellence in Diversity Programs and Performance for having a 50:50 executive team mix.

SACOME chief executive Jason Kuchel said the benefits of gender diversity in the resources sector are many, including improved business performance.

“These awards contribute to increasing this diversity by celebrating the ambassadors, mentors and role models instrumental in encouraging and supporting women in the sector.”