The South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy (SACOME) including its Women in Resources South Australia Committee (WinRSA) are pleased to announce the finalists for the Gender Diversity Champion in South Australian Resources category of the South Australian Women in Resources Awards.
The finalists in the 2016 South Australian Women in Resources Awards, Gender Diversity Champion in South Australian resources (sponsored by Thiess Global Mining) are Kate Hobbs and Lucy McEwen.
SACOME President, Terry Burgess, said, “Once again, the judging panel were impressed with the high quality of candidates.”
The 2016 awards will be presented at an upcoming SACOME Lunch event on Thursday, 19 May which also features a keynote address from Kellie Parker, Managing Director, Planning, Integration and Assets, Rio Tinto.
Jason Kuchel, Chief Executive of SACOME said, “Recognising the many outstanding women in the resources industry provides inspiration to other women currently in the sector and also to those young women considering a career in our dynamic industry. The opportunities for men and women alike in the resources sector are enormous and the industry is better served when we have more female participation.”
Winners of each category of the South Australian Women in Resources Awards will be nominated by SACOME for the Women in Resources National Awards (WIRNA), to be held in Adelaide on 1 September 2016.
The five South Australian Women in Resources Awards categories are:
- Gender Diversity Champion in South Australian resources (sponsored by Thiess)
- Excellence in Diversity Programs and Performance (sponsored by the Department of State Development)
- Outstanding South Australian tradeswoman, operator or technician (sponsored by Santos Limited)
- Exceptional young woman in South Australian resources (sponsored by OZ Minerals)
- Exceptional woman in South Australian resources (sponsored by Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd)
The finalists
Kate Hobbs is a Senior Consultant with First Principles Consulting. She has a Master of Mining Engineering (Mine Management), a Bachelor of Management (Marketing) and a Bachelor of Arts (International Studies). She is the current Chair of the Women in Mining Network South Australia (WIMnetSA) and the National Chair of the Women in Mining Network (WIMnet) and has spent the past few years raising the profile and reach of the local group as well as the membership. Kate was a key driver and contributor to the launch of the joint mentoring program between Women in Resources South Australia (WinRSA) and WIMnetSA in 2015 and the new 2016 program.
Kate has a broad range of experience gained in operational, project and consulting roles across a number of industries, including over ten years in the minerals sector. At last year’s inaugural South Australian Women in Resources Award, Kate received a High Commendation in the Gender Diversity Champion category. In 2015, the judges commended Kate for her work as a Gender Diversity Champion, particularly for her involvement with women in resources groups such as WIMNet and WIMNetSA, and her support of mid-career stage women who may be uncertain and/or finding it difficult to remain in the sector. Kate has been a visible promoter of gender diversity initiatives in the resources sector.
Kate is a mad keen volunteer and has taken part in the SA Variety Bash five times, helping to raise over $180k for Variety the Children’s Charity in the last six years.
Lucy McEwen is General Manager, Property Services with Fyfe Pty Ltd where she oversees the Fyfe operations in Northern Territory, New South Wales and the planning and surveying teams in South Australia. Lucy is the first female to hold a business unit manager position at Fyfe and is a member of their Executive Team. She has a Bachelor of Economics, a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Arts (European Studies).
Lucy joined the Women in Resources SA Committee in 2014 and currently holds the position of Chair. Lucy has been involved in both the 2015 pilot mentoring program and the 2016 mentoring program joint initiative between WinRSA and WIMnetSA and is currently the Chair of the subcommittee.
In 2010, Lucy was appointed as a Director of the Board for BioInnovation SA and last year was appointed to the Risk and Audit subcommittee.
