Five Western Australian women have been recognised for their contribution to the state’s resources sector, with Cube Consulting’s Rebecca Prain claiming the top honour.
Five Western Australian women have been recognised for their contribution to the state’s resources sector, with Cube Consulting’s Rebecca Prain claiming the top honour.
The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia’s 12th annual Women in Resources Awards highlighted the achievements of 10 other finalists, with this year’s event hosted at the Perth Exhibition and Convention Centre on Friday, in time for International Women’s Day.
The event attracted nearly 1,000 guests.
Ms Prain, who served as a general manager at West Perth-based Cube Consulting for more than seven years before being appointed managing director in December last year, received the Women in Resources Champion award.
She was an account director at Gemcom Software for more than five years before joining Cube in 2013.
South32 vice-president (digital technology) Sara Braund claimed the Outstanding Woman in Resources title, with the category’s junior award given to Fortescue Metals Group reliability engineer Pooja Haria. Ms Haria also received the People’s Choice Award.
Woodside Petroleum process owner Laura Allen was named Outstanding Operator/Technician/Trade Woman in Resources, while the company’s commercialisation manager Alison van Lent claimed the Technological Innovation Award.
Meanwhile, BHP was recognised in the company initiative category.
"These women reflect the enormous value that diversity and inclusion provide to our sector,” CME chief executive Paul Everingham said.
“Some [winners] are currently in leadership positions and some will progress to those types of roles.
“But each is already an outstanding role model for the tens of thousands of women who work each day on mining and resources operations around WA, and many more who might be considering careers in our sector."
Mr Everingham said he was proud to work in a sector with a genuine commitment to promoting and achieving equality, inclusivity and diversity.
“By recognising and celebrating not just our award winners but also the finalists in each category, we can hopefully further shine the spotlight on the extremely wide variety of jobs, career pathways and leadership opportunities available to women in our sector," he said.
The 15 Women in Resources Awards finalists included:
- Santos geophysicist principal Natasha Hendrick
- Woodside asset manager Yvette Manolas
- South32 commercial principal Kristen Pelc
- Resolve Mining Solutions consultant Stephanie Graskoski
- Thiess process owner Linda Deverell
- Chevron production technician Georgie Feakes
- Alcoa of Australia R&D program manager Christina Fahl
- South32 program director Michelle Keegan
- Rio Tinto fixed plant manager Mhairi Cameron
