Hanh Ma, Healy join hall of fame

Pharmacist and entrepreneur Emma Hanh Ma and Koori woman and mining boss Amanda Healy have been inducted into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame under the business category.

The 16 2022 inductees were announced at an award ceremony on Friday night at the Government House Ballroom.

After owning and operating two pharmacies, Ms Hanh Ma opened Health World Pharmaceuticals in 2017, a wholesale business which exports products between Australia and countries in South East Asia.

Ms Hanh Ma has been recognised for her work, winning the 2017 WA Women in International Business Award shortly after she opened her business.

She now dedicates a lot of her time and energy to community work.

Ms Hanh Ma said she was excited to be recognised because it would give her exposure and allow her to lead by example.

“The way I did things was different and outside the norm and I want people to embrace in their uniqueness and the way that they do things as well,” Ms Hanh Ma said. 

Alongside Ms Hanh Ma, Ms Healy also joined the WA Women's Hall of Fame. 

Ms Healy has more than 35 years’ experience in the mining industry working for companies including BHP and Western Mining, and starting three of her own businesses.

In 2003, she founded Maxx Engineering which she later sold to ThyssenKrupp Australia in 2015.

After completing her MBA, Ms Healy co-founded engineering business Warrikal and currently works as its chief executive.

Warrikal made history in 2021 by winning a five-year $350 million shutdown and maintenance contract, the largest ever awarded to an Aboriginal business.

She also runs social enterprise Kirrikin that sells luxury resort wear featuring art from Aboriginal artists.

Reflecting on her career, Ms Healy said WA had come a long way in removing gender biases, but businesses still had improvements to make.

“I think that the board room is the next big challenge for women and I am ready for it,” Ms Healy said.

Former 40under40 winner and Murdoch University forensic entomologist Paola Magni was also inducted into the hall of fame, in the STEM category. 

Dr Magni uses insects and other small creatures to help solve murders, suspicious deaths, and cold cases, and she is leading the world in her niche area of solving crimes that happen underwater.

The WA Women's Hall of Fame was established on International Women's Day in 2011. 

You can read more about Ms Healy and Ms Hanh Ma in the next edition of Business News, out March 14.