NSW finalists win two major awards at the Women in Resources National Awards

The outstanding achievements of NSW women in mining have been recognised, with two state NSW finalists amongst the winners of five national awards announced at the 2024 Women in Resources National Awards held in Canberra last night.

Nadine Heal, Operations Open Pit Supervisor, Evolution Mining, won the Outstanding Tradeswoman/Operator/Technician in Australian Resources award.

After working as a florist in Melbourne, Nadine switched to mining in 2007 as a Haul Truck Operator at Cowal Gold Operations (CGO). Nadine quickly advanced, mastering roles like Blast Hole Driller and Blast Leading Hand. In 2019, Nadine became the Open Pit Supervisor, and the only woman to hold this position at the time.

Nadine’s leadership at CGO has been transformative, including mentoring other women and enhancing their participation in mining, while balancing significant personal achievements with her own professional growth.

Thiess, the operator of the Mt Arthur Mine in the Hunter Valley, won the Excellence in Diversity Programs and Performance award for their ‘Mt Arthur South Indigenous/Inclusive Trainee Employment’ (MASITE) program.

MASITE targets new-to-industry indigenous and/or female candidates to better enable the development of new workers from within the local community and to encourage more Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islanders, and women to work in the mining industry.

The MASITE Program at Thiess Mount Arthur South has significantly increased workforce diversity, raising female participation from 18.5% to 23.7% and Aboriginal participation from 2.5% to 11.5%, with 92% of trainees transitioning to permanent roles.

NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee congratulated the NSW winners and finalists for their accomplishments and recognition through the national awards.

“It’s fantastic to see our NSW winners and finalists recognised nationally for their achievements,” Mr Galilee said.

“Whether it’s through industry-leading employment programs or forging a successful career in the mining sector, these award winners are making an important and growing contribution to our world-class industry.”

“Congratulations to all NSW finalists in this year’s national awards, with their own contributions recognised at our NSW Women in Mining Awards held earlier this year.”

The Women in Resources National Awards, hosted by the Minerals Council of Australia, are the peak industry accolades for women in the resources industry.

The full list of award winners can be found on the Minerals Council of Australia website.