BHP 2025 Women In Resources National Awards

BHP 2024 WIRNA Winners

Learn about the 2024 WIRNA Winners below

2025 WIRNA Finalists & 2024 WIRNA Winners

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Josie Fourie

Exceptional Woman in Australian Resources

Ashara Moore

Exceptional Young Woman in Australian Resources

THIESS

Excellence in Company Programs and Performance Award

Kanae Dyas

Inclusion and Diversity Champion in Australian Resources

Nadine Heal

Outstanding Australian Tradeswoman/Operator/Technician

Dr Evelyn Ng

Women in Resources Technological Innovation Award

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Have a question or need assistance? Email us at wirna@conlog.com.au

Nadine Heal

Congratulations to Nadine Heal, winner of the Bloomfield Group Outstanding Tradewoman / Operator / Technician Award at the 2024 BHP Women in Resources National Awards!

Nadine is an Open Pit Supervisor at Evolution Mining's Cowal Gold Operations (CGO), where she is currently the only female in this role. Nadine began her professional life in Melbourne, where she managed a florist by the age of 18.

Her career took a pivotal turn in 2007 when she joined CGO as a Haul Truck Operator, initially intending to save money for her own business. However, Nadine quickly fell in love with mining and CGO, rapidly advancing through various operational roles, including Blast Hole Driller, Backup Dispatcher, Drill and Blast Leading Hand, and Mine Production Leading Hand.

Ashara Moore

Congratulations to Ashara Moore, winner of the Newmont Australia Exceptional Young Woman in Australian Resources Award at the 2024 BHP Women in Resources National Awards!

Ashara is a civil engineer who graduated in mid-2018, balancing full-time work with an extended study load during her tertiary education. Ashara began her career as a Site Engineer, quickly adapting to her role as the sole engineer on major projects in Queensland, which enhanced her technical skills and interpersonal resilience in a male-oriented industry.

Her rapid career progression to Project Engineer, Senior Engineer, and Project Manager led her to work on major projects across several states. After achieving her goal of becoming a Project Manager, she joined BHP as a project specialist and pursued leadership roles while starting her doctoral studies in applied geochemistry, aiming to develop green technology for primary industries. As a portfolio lead, Ashara manages over $35M in projects and six directr reports, emphasising empathetic leadership and team skill development.

Kanae Dyas

Congratulations to Kanae Dyas, winner of the Rio Tinto Inclusion and Diversity Champion in Australian Resources Award at the 2024 BHP Women in Resources National Awards!

With over three decades of experience, Kanae Dyas is a Guinea-born advocate for inclusion, diversity, and equity (ID&E), focusing on psychosocial hazards, mental health, and cultural and gender safety.

Kanae's journey began with volunteer work in gender safety and women's health programs in PNG, leading to managing health and safety programs in the USA supporting culturally and racially marginalised individuals. Returning to Australia in 2006, she joined Rio Tinto Australia, where she developed the Acheive Health Program to address women's health in mining.

Her lived experience as a woman of colour has informed her work, allowing Kanae to create impactful programs and drive change. Kanae has presented a major conferences, served on multiple committees, and developed numerous programs focused on intersectionality, psychosocial safety, and the support of marginalised groups. Kanae's current role at Anglo American Steelmaking Coal involves leading initiatives recognised as best practice in psychosocial hazard management.

Dr Evelyn Ng

Congratulations to Dr Evelyn Ng, winner of the Maptek Woman in Resources Technological Innovation Award at the 2024 Women in Resources National Awards!

Dr Evelyn Ng holds a PhD, MASc, and BASc in Materials Engineering from the University of Toronto, Canada, where she also taught engineering as a teaching assistant. Her passion for engineering was ignited during her undergraduate studies in Japan, where she was inspired by a prominent female leader to pursue graduate studies.

Dr Ng's professional journey spans five continents, including roles in Canada, Japan, Finland, Zambia, and Australia. Dr Ng began her career with First Quantam Minerals at Africa's largest copper mine in Zambia. After moving to Australia, Dr Ng progressed from a materials engineer at Callidus Group to a Subject Matter Expert in forensic investigations, and eventually to her current role as Group Manager of Materials & Innovation. In this role, she has developed four patents, with two already commercialised and a third in the pipeline.

THIESS

Congratulations to Thiess, winner of the Mitsubishi Development Excellence in Company Programs and Performance Award at the 2024 Women in Resources National Awards!

In March 2021, Thiess launched the Mt Arthur South Indigenous/Inclusive Trainee Employment (MASITE) Program. The Program is targeted at new to industry indigenous and/or female candidates to better enable development of new workers from within the local community and encourage more Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and women to work in the mining industry.

The participants of the MASITE Program come from a diverse range of backgrounds, ages, and life experiences. Over the course of the 12-month traineeship they develop the skills of a Production Operator and upon completion are awarded a Certificate III in Surface Extraction, CAT 793 rear Dump Truck Skill, Light Vehicle competency and First-Aid Certificate. Participants are provided theoretical, and practical experience under the guidance of industry leading mentors and trainers providing a solid platform for a successful career in the industry.

Josie Fourie

Congratulations to Josie Fourie, winner of the Dyno Nobel Exceptional Woman in Australian Resources Award at the 2024 BHP Women in Resources National Awards!

Josie studied Chemical Engineering at RMIT. Embarking on a 25-year career in upstream energy, Josie earned recognition for her achievements in engineering, operations management, and business leadership. She became the most senior woman in offshore drilling in Australia, breaking barriers in a male-dominated field. Her commitment to inclusive leadership reshaped teams, enhancing safety, culture, and performance.

Josie has led ground-breaking projects, such as the Enfield well abandonment and the contracting of a world class, modern drilling rig for the Australian decommissioning, drilling and well completion programs. Beyond her professional success, Josie actively contributes to the industry, holding leadership roles on industry committees and mentoring others.