BHP celebrates equality

(Posted on 06/03/20)

For International Women’s Day, a number of BHP's Queensland Coal colleagues contributed to the 1000 attendees at the QRC Resources Awards for Women breakfast — to celebrate the important role women play in the Queensland Resources Industry.

Celebrations and support for our finalists was felt across the state, with many watching a live broadcast of the award ceremony in Brisbane’s 480 Queen St Office, the Moranbah Community Centre and across many of our Sites.

This year BHP had five finalists in the awards – Jayson Smeeton, Manager Production at BHP Mitsui Coal's Poitrel operation, Kathryn Young, Geotechnical Engineer BMA Saraji Mine, Demi Keating, Mobile Maintenance Supervisor Operations Services, Tammy Eiser, Project Engineer Coal and Donna Lynn, Principal Integrated Planning Coal.

Jayson Smeeton won the Gender Diversity Champion award and Kathryn Young won the Exceptional Young Woman in Qld Resources award.

Tammy Eiser came runner up in Exceptional Young Woman in QLD Resources and Demi Keating also came runner up in the Exceptional Trade/Technician/Operator category.

Jayson was acknowledged for his work at BMC’s Poitrel Mine through the Mines Traineeship Program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders that has truly transformed lives.

Since its inception, 62 indigenous workers have joined BMC, more than 70 percent of those female, with a 95 per cent retention rate.

It has lifted BMC Poitrel’s Indigenous workforce more than sixfold, from 1.8 per cent to 11.6 per cent, and female representation at BMC Poitrel to 24.2 per cent.

“These trainees have come into a large mining environment with big characters and big machinery and have owned it,” he said.

“They have brought a real energy and enthusiasm to their work, and delivered in high-performance conditions.”

Kathryn, who has championed for young women to join the industry, received recognition for promoting STEM careers, and mentoring and encouraging female students.

She said her role has supported her endeavours, and encouraged her to continue leading the way for young women, by drawing on her personal experience as a young, female engineer.

“I’ve had to learn how to coach and break down barriers and prejudices so that we can improve the way we do things rather than just do them the way they’ve also been done,” she said.

“I believe that attracting women to pursue careers in the resources industry should begin at school and university.”

Congratulations to all of the fantastic men and women who were recognised across the industry for their support towards achieving better balance and diversity in resources.

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day was ‘Each for Equal' — a theme that is particularly relevant as BHP continues to work towards achieving gender balance globally by 2025.