A mining awards dinner for women in NSW will be held on the eve of International Women’s Day to celebrate the breadth of female talent across the industry and aim to attract more women into mining. NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee said around 100 people will attend the 2013 NSW Minerals Council WIMIN_NSW Awards gala ceremony in Sydney on Thursday night where four Awards are on offer. “We have some amazing women working in NSW Mining and what better time than International Women’s Day to publicly recognise the vast contribution they make across our industry,” Mr Galilee said.

“Guests will be able to congratulate their successful peers, network with their colleagues and be inspired by keynote speaker dual Olympic Athlete Jane Flemming, one of Australia’s best known sporting personalities.” During her 15 year elite sporting career, Jane Flemming won two Commonwealth Games Gold and two Silver medals, 13 national titles and broke literally hundreds of records. Among her many current roles Jane serves as an official ambassador for The National Breast Cancer Foundation.

“Our industry-wide efforts to promote women in mining seek to recognise the talented women currently within our industry and to attract more women to consider a career in mining,” Mr Galilee continued. “NSW Mining offers big opportunities, big potential and big careers for women across the sector and we encourage women to consider non-traditional roles like trades and engineering.” “Congratulations to all entrants, I look forward to announcing the winners, and those not attending can follow the action live on social media via twitter (@nswmc) and facebook (http://www.facebook.com/WIMINNSW).”


2013 NSW Minerals Council WIMIN_NSW Awards and Finalists:

WIMIN_NSW Aspiring Star Award (recognises a woman who has undertaken vacation or short term work in the industry and has the potential to become a future industry innovator)

-           Ms Alix Thornhill, Undergraduate Mining Engineering student, University of Wollongong
-           Ms Karlee Barford, Undergraduate Mining Engineering student, University of Wollongong

WIMIN_NSW Rising Star Award (recognises the exceptional achievement by a woman who has worked in the sector from one to five years, in any occupation or profession)

-           MsHannah Farr, Superintendent Process Control & Improvement, BHP Billiton Mt Arthur Coal
-           Ms Gabrielle Horn, Apprentice Auto-Electrician, Anglo American’s DraytonMine

WIMIN_NSW Outstanding Initiative Award (recognises individuals or companies whose initiatives attract and retain women, particularly in areas where they are underrepresented)

-           Rio Tinto Coal & Allied’s Pathways4Girls and Women in Mining programs

WIMIN_NSW Outstanding Woman in NSW Mining Award (recognises the exceptional achievement by a woman working in the industry, in any occupation or profession)

-           Ms Elizabeth Watts, Operations Manager, Xstrata Coal’s Glendell Mine
-           Ms Heather Bell, Regional Manager NSW, Strategic Mine Planning, Rio Tinto Coal& Allied