Gina Rinehart has been awarded this year's Telstra WA business woman of the year for her work in transforming Hancock Prospecting into the country's fourth largest exporter of iron ore.
Gina Rinehart has been awarded this year's Telstra WA business woman of the year for her work in transforming Hancock Prospecting into the country's fourth largest exporter of iron ore.
The announcement is below:
Ms Georgina Rinehart, Chairperson of Hancock Prospecting, has been awarded the prestigious 2009 Telstra WA Business Woman of the Year at an awards function in Perth today.
Georgina took over the business in 1992 turning the company, then in difficulties, into a mining enterprise which is now the fourth largest exporter of iron ore in Australia.
Georgina is active across all aspects of the business and is responsible for the strategy and direction of the company, currently focusing on joint venture projects with Rio Tinto.
Ms Holly Kramer, Group Managing Director, Telstra Product Management and Telstra Business Women's Awards Ambassador, said Georgina demonstrates all the qualities of an astute leader.
"The judges said Georgina was extremely passionate about Australia and Australian business. Within the first year in her role as chairperson she had turned the business around," Ms Kramer said.
Georgina will now progress to the national finals of the 2009 Telstra Business Women's Awards.
In her category win, Georgina took the Commonwealth Bank Business Owner Award.
Ms Gail Hackett, Head of Women in Focus at the Commonwealth Bank said the Group was thrilled to sponsor the Commonwealth Bank Business Owner Award.
Ms Hackett said, "Both Commonwealth Bank and Telstra have a strong commitment to supporting women in business and assisting them to continually build their contribution to the Australian economy.
"Georgina is a wonderful example of someone who is making an invaluable contribution not only to the business sector but to the Australian economy," Ms Hackett said.
Now in its fifteenth year, the awards recognise the achievements of women in business of all types and sizes, from up-and-coming young business women to corporate leaders and those working in the not-for-profit sector. The Awards have recognised over 400 business women since its inception in 1995.
Award winners will compete for the national award in their category at the National Award Presentation Gala Dinner in Melbourne on Thursday, 12 November.
Other winners announced today are outlined below.
2009 TELSTRA VICTORIAN BUSINESS WOMEN'S AWARDS WINNERS
White Pages Community and Government Award
Liz Harris, Freemantle - Challenger TAFE
Liz Harris is the first female managing director of Challenger TAFE, WA's most diverse training provider offering over 400 courses to 26,000 students. Under her leadership, Challenger has adapted to the changing demands of the economic environment, increased its national and international standing and has become one of only six large training providers to receive Gold accreditation against the Australian Quality Training Framework business excellence criteria
Nokia Business Innovation Award
April Jorgensen, Subiaco - Australasian Academy of Cosmetic Dermal Science
April is the Managing Director of the Australasian Academy of Cosmetic Dermal Science, a Registered Training Organisation delivering postgraduate vocational education in the new field of dermal therapies. In 2004, April commenced writing an Advanced Diploma curriculum, which builds theoretical and practical competencies in cosmetic treatments such as intense pulsed light, laser and chemical peeling.
Hudson Private & Corporate Award
Vanessa Torres, Perth - BHP Billiton - Nickel West
Originally a process engineer in Brazil in the 1990's, Vanessa Torres migrated to Australia in 2007 and joined BHP Billiton, the world's third major nickel producer. Now the Vice President of Business Development and Projects at BHP Billiton Nickel West, her proudest career achievement to date was playing a key role in the development of her former employer's nickel business through a greenfields and acquisition strategy.
marie claire Young Business Women's Award
Yvette Manolas, Perth - Woodside Energy Ltd.
At 28, Yvette Manolas is a Senior Engineer at Woodside Energy, Australia's largest publicly traded oil and gas exploration and production company. One of only four recognised global Perforating (explosive) Subject Matter Experts, she also recently developed a software package now used by major oil and gas companies around the world.
