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Prain reigns as champion

Outstanding Woman in Resources
Sara Braund, Vice President – Digital Technology, South32 Ltd
Outstanding Young Woman in Resources
Pooja Haria, Reliability Engineer, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd
Outstanding Operator/Technician/Trade Woman in Resources
Laura Allen, Process Owner, Woodside Energy Ltd
Technological Innovation Award
Alison van Lent, Commercialisation Manager, Woodside Energy Ltd

Outstanding Company Initiative
BHP Ltd, Office creche and family-friendly workspaces – Perth and Newman

People’s Choice Award
Pooja Haria, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd
Women in Resources Champion Rebecca Prain, managing director of Cube Consulting. Prain’s mentoring of young women in the resources
sector goes well beyond the nine years of formal practice she is credited, with many more countless informal contributions made during
her career. Prain has been a driving force behind the Kambalda Geology Symposium, while her own WIMWA Summit presentations have
showcased the ability for women to have longevity in mining and resources while also managing family commitments
biography of Rebecca Prain describes the Tinto Ltd, BHP Ltd and Fortescue Metals Group to business managing the 20-strong crew at
A Cube Consulting managing director as Ltd had initiated change within industry in the Cube.
being well-regarded for her meaningful, per- last decade by recognising the young women Like many in the sector, Cube has revelled
sonal and persistent advocacy for women in in their organisations and the attention needed in a strong mining environment and Prain was
the sector with an authentic leadership-style to nurture and retain such talent in their busi- scouting additions for her team.
that easily earns people’s trust. nesses. “When things are good, attracting the right
A fitting description of the newly crowned The blue chips draw fair kudos for trying to people and having to compete with the salaries
Chamber of Minerals and Energy Western Aus- lead industry towards being more inclusive and and prestige of working with majors is a chal-
tralia Women in Resources Champion whose diverse and it was apt that representatives from lenge. Getting the right person with the right
own appraisal of her leadership qualities closely Fortescue, South32 Ltd and Woodside Energy mindset to be a consultant is a challenge be-
reflect the external view. Ltd were also recognised with individual award cause it is a very different type of job,” Prain said.
“I can only take the approach that goes with alongside Prain at the 12th annual CMEWA “They have to come to us with a lot of experi-
my personality and I like to have a fairly warm Women in Resources Awards ceremony in ence, they have had to have been in an opera-
relationship with the women I am mentoring,” front of almost 1,000 people at the Perth Exhibi- tional mine, so at the moment it is the challenge
Prain told Paydirt recently. tion and Convention Centre in early March. of getting people. We managed to keep the
“As a mentor we are not coaches or employ- Prain – a geologist by training – celebrated team together between 2014-16 and were in a
ers, so we are not only looking specifically at as- the moment which goes some way to recognis- good position when the upturn arrived. Another
pects of their working life; we are taking a look at ing her passionate approach in the grass roots mining engineer and one or two geologists we’d
the bigger picture.” championing of gender equality in the mining like to add this year, we don’t want to get too big
The canvas of life that Prain is well-versed and resources sector through her involvement because we have to keep the standard up of
in is navigating the plains of the professional in the Women in Mining WA community, how- what we do.”
ladder, starting a family, and maintaining and ever, when she spoke with Paydirt it was back – Mark Andrews
achieving career ambitions.
The actual acknowledgement of gender in-
equality in the mining and resources sector in
the current day is testament to the likes of Prain
and others who have dedicated themselves to
championing a more balanced representation
in the industry.
While not perfect, the opportunity for women
in the resources sector is better than it was 18
years ago when Prain entered the realms of
motherhood for the first time.
“Things were very different 18 years ago,”
Prain said. “I try and help people open their eyes
to what it’s like managing family commitments
and working.
“There were legal things 18 years ago that
I found disadvantaged by having a child and I
want to be there to help these women; I guess I
am there to help them negotiate with employers,
it is not easy for anybody.” Laura Allen (Woodside), Katie McDonald (BHP – company initiative award), Rebecca Prain
Prain said industry heavyweights such as Rio (Cube Consulting), Sara Braund (South32), Pooja Haria (FMG) and Alison van Lent (Woodside)

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