A groundbreaking leader in occupational health research and an innovative childcare initiative have been crowned among the winners of the 2025 Queensland Resources Awards for Women.
This has been announced alongside new data showing that female participation in the state’s resources sector has reached unprecedented levels.
Co-hosted by the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) and Women in Mining and Resources Queensland (WIMARQ), the 19th annual awards ceremony — delayed from its usual International Women’s Day timing due to ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred — drew 1,100 guests to Brisbane’s Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Attendees were the first to hear the sector’s latest diversity metrics, which revealed women now make up 23 per cent of Queensland’s resources workforce, up from 22.1 per cent in 2022-23, with a record 8,681 women employed in the industry.
The data highlighted significant progress across leadership tiers, with women now occupying 28.1 per cent of executive management roles (up from 26.1 per cent) and 27.4 per cent of senior management positions (up from 25.5 per cent).
Superintendent roles saw female representation rise to 20 per cent, while operator and production roles reached 17.1 per cent — a marked increase from 15.5 per cent the previous year.
QRC Chief Executive Janette Hewson hailed the results as transformative, noting a 610 per cent surge in women trade workers over the past decade.
“These numbers prove our sector is becoming truly inclusive, but we can’t stop here,” she said.
“Diverse workplaces are safer, more productive, and better equipped to address skilled worker shortages.”
WIMARQ Co-chair Sally Rayner emphasised Queensland’s leadership in attracting younger female talent, with 40 per cent of the sector’s women aged 34 or younger — surpassing the national mining average of 32 per cent.
“Our industry offers life-changing careers, and [the] winners exemplify the innovation driving this progress,” she said.
Among the recipients was a pioneering researcher recognised for advancing dust exposure and health safety protocols, though specific details of her work remain undisclosed.
Equally celebrated was a workplace childcare project redefining support for resources sector families, addressing a critical barrier to workforce participation.
The awards spanned six categories, showcasing excellence in technical innovation, trades, leadership, and advocacy.
While full winner details await official release, QRC described the cohort as “trailblazers and changemakers shaping the industry’s future”.
The latest figures underscore Queensland’s resources industry as a national leader in gender diversity, with 91 per cent of female employees now working in non-administrative roles — including engineering, data science, and production supervision.
With 43 member companies contributing data (up from 37 last year), the sector’s transparency and commitment to improvement continue to strengthen.
As the industry eyes its next diversity milestones, these winners stand as a testament to the profound impact of inclusive policies and visionary leadership in reshaping one of Australia’s most vital economic engines.
