Leading the way: Bowen Basin women in mining
From the women leading the way in Bowen Basin mines to the new female apprentices starting out, here are nine inspiring miners making their mark in a male-dominated industry.
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FIFO engineer Lydia Gentle was this week named the 2022 Exceptional Woman in Queensland Resources.
Ms Gentle heads a team of 600 people at BHP Mitsubishi Alliance’s Peak Downs metallurgical coal mine near Moranbah.
With a mining career spanning 17 years, in 2019 Lydia received an Order of Australia for her services to engineering.
She is also the youngest Australian to achieve engineering executive status with Engineers Australia and is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
This year’s Exceptional Young Woman in Queensland Resources, awarded at an event for 1000 people at the Brisbane Convention and Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, was Townsville-based engineer, Jillian Coppo.
Ms Coppo is an Engineering and Projects Superintendent at South32’s Cannington Mine, a silver, lead and zinc mine located 200km south-east of Mt Isa.
She manages a team of 30 staff to deliver a large, annual capital and major operational works program.
Queensland Resources Council Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said the two women were both outstanding examples of the world-class workforce behind the state’s resources sector, which contributed $84.3 billion to the state economy in 2020-21.
He said the door was wide open for more women to follow a trade or professional pathway into Queensland’s minerals and energy sector, which now has 7000 female employees.
Mr Macfarlane said the QRC’s latest diversity and inclusion report showed 20 per cent of the industry’s workforce was now female, with nine out of 10 women working in non-traditional roles such as engineering, trade and executive management positions.
“Automation and other emerging technologies are levelling the playing field for many traditionally male-dominated mining jobs, giving women better access to the outstanding financial and career development benefits our sector has to offer,” Mr Macfarlane said.
“Our female workforce has grown by 53 per cent over the past six years, and we expect these numbers to continue to increase across our coal, metal and gas workforces as well as in our emerging critical minerals and renewable energy sectors.
“Our industry target is 30 per cent female participation by 2026, so we’ve got our work cut out for us, but the women already working in resources have demonstrated beyond a doubt how valuable they are to our industry’s bottom line.
“A more diverse workplace has been shown to increase productivity, improve workplace safety and contribute to a more positive and inclusive work culture,” he said.
“The good news for all Queenslanders is that our sector is looking to recruit more skilled men and women, as we’re experiencing a Covid-related critical shortage of people with suitable qualifications to fill a range of trade, technical roles and professional roles.”
Kirra Harris is this year’s Exceptional Woman in Queensland Resources – Technological Innovation award winner.
From her Brisbane base, Ms Harris manages Anglo American’s Metallurgical Coal Analytics Centre and a multi-disciplinary team of data scientists and mining specialists.
Ms Harris is a passionate advocate for women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and established Australia’s first chapter of the Caterpillar Women’s Initiative Network.
Queensland’s Inclusion and Diversity Champion award winner is work management superintendent Kristy Purdon.
Ms Purdon works for Anglo American’s Capcoal open cut metallurgical coal mine near Dysart.
She has worked in continuous improvement roles across all mining disciplines including open cut, underground and asset portfolio management.
Ms Purdon also heads up the Bowen Basin Women in Mining and Resources Queensland chapter.
Anglo American metallurgical coal business CEO Tyler Mitchelson said Ms Harris and Ms Purdon were leading the way for women across the business.
“Their achievements also highlight the diversity of opportunities that exist for women who are considering where a career in mining could take them,” he said.
“As manager of our new Met Coal Analytics Centre, Kirra is supporting the delivery of new, digitally-orientated ways of working that harness data analytics to help improve our safety and operational efficiency.
“Kristy has been instrumental in building strong networks of women in our operational areas, and helping create psychologically safe workplaces through her work as both the Chair of our site-based Inclusion and Diversity Council, and in heading up the Bowen Basin chapter of WIMARQ.
“At Anglo American, our vision is to create an inclusive environment where everyone is valued and has the opportunity to fulfil their potential, so we’re pleased to be celebrating the achievements of Kirra, Kristy and all of the talented women we work with today.”
In accepting her award, Ms Harris encouraged other young women to consider the future-enabling career opportunities that were forming an increasingly important part of mining operations.
“Careers in mining are becoming even more diverse, with exciting and sustainable career opportunities available across emerging areas like transformation, automation and data analytics,” she said.
“I hope to see more women from these fields considering joining the resources industry.”
Ms Purdon has long-championed regional women in the mining industry through seven years volunteer work for the Bowen Basin chapter of WIMARQ.
“Now at Anglo American, I’m pleased to be helping make further positive cultural change to help ensure we foster more inclusive, physiologically safe workplaces and communities,” she said.
This year’s winner of the state award for Excellence in Company Diversity and Inclusion Programs and Performance is one of the largest Caterpillar dealer networks in the world, Hastings Deering.
The company has successfully implemented a diversity encouragement program in Queensland to increase female apprenticeship and graduate application rates, as well as intake numbers and retention.
Since 2018, Hastings Deering’s intake rates of female apprentices has risen from 5 to 21 per cent.
Mr Macfarlane said Queensland was well positioned to play a prominent global role in producing the in-demand materials and minerals needed to manufacture emerging green technologies, products and infrastructure.
“The future for Queensland’s highly diverse and adaptable resources sector is very bright,” he said.
“The incredible resilience our industry has demonstrated throughout Covid – which has kept the state economy and job market strong – will continue to be our best asset, as resources companies move to lower emissions, use more renewable energy and reduce their environmental impact,” he said.
Diverse apprenticeship class of ‘22 for BHP
The awards come a week after BHP welcomed 51 new apprentices to its Central Queensland mines – 60 per cent female.
It is the second consecutive year there has been more female apprentices than male apprentices.
BHP says the class of ‘22 is its most diverse group yet, spanning school leavers through to mature age people, and reflects the Bowen Basin communities they operate in.
There are 13 apprentices from Moranbah, 17 from the greater Mackay area, three from Blackwater, three from Dysart, three from Rockhampton and Yeppoon, four from Emerald, and a further six from Central, North and Far East Queensland.
The cohort will embark on apprenticeships across a range of trades including electricians, mechanics, diesel fitters, auto-electricians and boilermakers.
The apprentices have just completed the work readiness program at Emerald TAFE and began at their respective sites on February 28.
BMA asset president Mauro Neves said the company took “great pride in training people from local communities to become part of our team”.
“We’re creating 51 new jobs that provide a pathway to a career in mining,” he said.
“Our new apprentices are a diverse group, reflecting the communities in which we operate.
“It’s fantastic that nearly two thirds of the class of ’22 are women and more than a third are indigenous. This is the future of mining.
“Building and fostering an inclusive and diverse workforce is critical for BMA.
“We know from our own data that inclusive and diverse teams are safer, more productive and have a better culture.”
Sophie Chisholm, 22, is in auto electrical at Goonyella Riverside Mine.
The Biloela lass has worked in administration in an accountancy firm for past five years but enjoys working on cars and wanted to turn her hobby into a career.
“I was in admin for about five years before I started this job. So yeah. Bit of a change, but I’m very, very excited for it,” she said.
“I’d be working on my cars or doing this, that, and the next thing, and nobody would really know about it. So, may as well make it a career out of it.
“Sitting in front of a screen isn’t my favourite thing to do.
“After five years, I think it was time for a change. At such a young age, I just thought I may as well get out of it now and start while I’m young. I’m not going to miss admin.”
Moranbah’s Jaila Paniora, 19, is at Peak Downs Mine as a diesel fitter.
From a mining family, her father works at Goonyella Riverside Mine.
“I wanted to be like my dad,” the proud Barada Barna woman said.
“My dad’s a diesel fitter, he owns his own business. Every now and then, I’d go out with him. I started to really, really enjoy it, just being down and dirty, fixing all the machinery and just seeing what the pits’ like.
“I love being out there, just trying new things.
“Dad was very proud when I chose this career. Having no boys in our family, he likes a girl going into that trade.
“I’m actually pretty proud to see all these girls around. All these girls get to prove all these guys wrong. Get to prove to families, friends that they can actually do a trade like this and just challenge ourselves every day.
“At the moment just because it is male dominant, but once more and more females.
“I’ve got younger sisters. If I can show them what it’s like; I can mentor them if they want to go into this industry.”
Emerald’s Toni Gadd, 28, is working at Saraji Mine as a diesel fitter after working as a real estate agent then a cleaner at a mine site.
“I’ve wanted to become a diesel apprentice since I was seven when I first sat in a truck,” he said.
“BHP used to have tours that I’d go on. This has just always been an interest of mine.
“I want to show people that they can be what they want to be, women can do the same thing as men.
“It feels great to be accepted and embark in this new journey in the mining industry.
“Anyone can do it. Just go for it. What have you got to lose?
Rory Muller, 18, is doing electrical at Blackwater Mine after graduating last year from Blackwater State High School.
Her uncle, dad, granddad and great granddad all worked at Blackwater Mine.
“They’re all very proud. It’s great to see change in the industry,” she said.
“My whole family is in the mines, I’ve always been surrounded by it.
“I love a challenge. I enjoy hands on work, and that’s what I’m most excited about.”
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