A HIGH-RANKING female employee working in the North West has picked up the top gong at the Thiess Women in Resources National Awards.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
BHP Billiton Cannington Mine asset president Laura Tyler took out the Exceptional Woman in Australian Resources award for her contribution to the industry, including introducing the company’s first diversity plan to attract and retain women in the mining workforce.
The mother and “fly in, fly out working wife” was the first female appointed to her role at the Cannington silver and lead mine and the first female vice-president of the Queensland Resources Council.
Mrs Tyler said encouraging male colleagues to speak out about diversity was one way businesses were starting to see change.
“We must encourage our male colleagues to speak out on the subject. They remain the dominant hiring managers in our business and it is only through their engagement that we will see magnified change in the status quo,’ she said. “Often I am the only woman at the table in meetings. This needs to be corrected.”
Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche said the awards were part of a nationwide bid to increase the number of women in ‘‘non-traditional’’ roles in the resources sector.
“I congratulate Laura on her significant achievements,’’ Mr Roche said.