Page 10 - pd292-Apr21-mag-web

opinion

CME champions

more women

in mining

nternational Women’s Day is celebrat- financial hurdles
Ied each year on March 8 to recognise emerged, was very
the social, economic, cultural and politi- nearly left in limbo
cal achievements of women around the in the late stages
world. of her engineering
But it is also a time to reflect – on what degree. Eventually,
has been achieved so far and the work with the assistance
that needs to be done. of lecturers and
For mining and resources, that means supporters, Pooja
acknowledging our sector has historical- managed to gradu-
ly been a male-dominated one. We can’t ate with Honours,
shy away from the fact that women were, found an opportu-
over the course of many decades, very nity in the resourc-
much underrepresented in our sector. es sector and is Paul Everingham
Even with the significant strides that now a valued member of the Fortescue
have been made in this area, the Cham- Metals Group Ltd team at Solomon. riod but was determined to break into
ber of Minerals and Energy (CME)’s lat- Laura Allen, meanwhile, is our Out- mining and got an opportunity in facilities
est diversity report in 2019 indicated only standing Operator/Technician/Trade management in the Pilbara and Gold-
21% of our workforce was female. Woman for 2021. After completing her fields. Through persistence she even-
I’d expect that percentage to increase electrical apprenticeship, she was fre- tually realised her goal of becoming a
appreciably in our next report but there quently the only female on offshore facil- trainee operator and is now an acknowl-
is still a long way to go to approach the ities and also often the youngest person edged leader at Rocky’s Reward, where
50% mark demographics in wider socie- on site. To hear her talk about her jour- she works alongside her husband.
ty would suggest we should be targeting. ney to become Woodside Energy Ltd’s Our list of WIRA alumni – both finalists
All of this is background as to why the first female registered person electrical and winners – features some trailblazing
Women In Resources Awards (WIRA), and moving into roles where she leads women who have gone on to fill high-
held in Perth last month, are so impor- teams of 80 people is inspirational. profile leadership positions at some of
tant to CME, our member companies And, it’s not just our winners who have the sector’s biggest companies. Two of
and our sector in general. remarkable career stories. them, Fortescue’s Elizabeth Gaines and
WIRA is now 12 years old. It has grown One of Laura’s fellow finalists in her Woodside’s Fiona Hick, were there at
from a breakfast event originally expect- category was Linda Deverell, who works WIRA 2021 presenting awards.
ed to attract 200 people (400 eventually as a mine production controller and crew Time will tell whether our WIRA 2021
turned up) to one of the sector’s nights of trainer for Thiess at the Rocky’s Reward contingent follow in the footsteps of the
nights, drawing a crowd of nearly 1,000 project out of Leinster. Linda, her hus- likes of Elizabeth and Fiona.
people. band and her youngest son moved to But importantly, with our sector’s gen-
It’s my favourite event of the year; the Western Australia from New Zealand in uine commitment to equality and diver-
biggest reason being the stories that 2008 seeking an opportunity in the min- sity, and the wide range of jobs and lead-
come from it. ing industry. She left behind a thriving ership roles available to women – they
Just this year we have Outstand- events management business and also know they can take their careers as far
ing Young Woman in Resources Pooja her eldest son, who elected to stay. as they want to.
Haria, who grew up in a poor family in But their move coincided with the GFC
Kenya, was sponsored by her communi- and an economic downturn. Linda re- Paul Everingham is chief executive of the
ty to study abroad and then, when more turned to the events business for a pe- Chamber of Minerals & Energy WA

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