We pride ourselves on our commitment to gender diversity, and this week, we’d like to congratulate eight inspirational women in our workforce, who have been nominated for awards through the Chamber of Minerals and Energy in Western Australia (CMEWA) and the Queensland Resources Council (QRC):

CMEWA Women in Mining Awards Nominees

• Dhakshi Weerawardena, Processing Production Supervisor, Outstanding Young Woman in Resources
• Nicole O'Keefe, Apprentice Electrician, Outstanding Operator / Technician / Tradeswoman
• Tijana Mirkovic, Manager Finance Reporting, Outstanding Young Woman in Resources

QRC Women in Mining Awards Nominees

• Bobbie Foot, Head of HSE Business Partnership BMA Coal, Exceptional Woman in Queensland Resources
• Alicia Brown Graduate Process Engineer, Exceptional Young Woman in Queensland Resources
• Holstein Wong, Supply Analysis, Exceptional Young Woman in Queensland Resources
• Emma Jenkins, Diesel Fitter/Heavy Duty Mechanical Technician BHP Billiton Mitsui Coal, Exceptional Tradesperson, Technician, Operator in Queensland Resources
• Lee Brentzell, Principal Business Planning, Gender Diversity Champion in Queensland Resources

BHP has also been nominated for the Excellence in Diversity Programs and Performance category.

Through leadership and innovation, these women help to open the door for more women to participate in the resources sector and the awards celebrate and recognise their contributions.

“I’m excited to be a finalist because it draws attention to the fact that people at all levels can contribute to promoting inclusion, diversity and studying STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths),” says Holstein Wong, a nominee for an Exceptional Young Woman in Queensland Resources. “Hopefully, my career journey demonstrates that STEM is a solid foundation for a range of career paths within mining and resources.”

Lee Brentzell, nominated as Gender Diversity Champion, says “I hope to inspire the next generation of young women to try STEM subjects at school so they too can have an exciting, rewarding, adventurous and challenging career in Australia and abroad.”

Alicia Brown, Exceptional Young Woman nominee, says, “I am very honoured to have received this nomination… Seeing that the wider organisation is serious about hiring and retaining women in mining shows me that the company has a vision for the future in which women are equally valued and included in the company. This inspires me to see a bright future for myself in the resource industry and to contribute what I can to the company’s goal of gender diversity.”

Congratulations to all the nominees and everyone in BHP working on creating a diverse and inclusive workplace.