BHP 2026 WIRNA Finalists
Learn more about our 2026 finalists below.
Southern Cross Gold
VIC
BMA
QLD
Evolution Mining Northparkes
NSW
Newmont Tanami
NT
South32
WA
NSW
WA
NT
VIC
QLD
Rio Tinto Gove Operations
NT
Whitehaven Coal
NSW
Hastings Deering
QLD
Woodside Energy
WA
Newmont Corporation
VIC
Alcoa Portland Aluminium
VIC
South32
NT
DevEx Resources
WA
Endura Mining
NSW
Hastings Deering
QLD
Alkane Resources Costerfield Operations
VIC
Newmont Tanami
NT
Hastings Deering
QLD
Barminco
WA
Glencore Ulan Coal
NSW
GHD
VIC
Rio Tinto
NT
Thiess
QLD
Eastern Guruma
WA
Malabar Resources
NSW
Sarah Berkin
Sarah is a mining professional recognised for her leadership, adaptability and people-focused approach. Originally from King Island, Sarah transitioned into the resources sector after a successful career in manufacturing, bringing strong experience in safety, quality and team development. Since joining Southern Cross Gold, she has progressed from Field Assistant, leading diverse teams and supporting the company’s rapid growth. Passionate about creating inclusive workplaces, Sarah is committed to developing others, improving safety outcomes and fostering a culture where people feel valued, supported and empowered to succeed.
Kymberley Bouchardt
Kymberly is a passionate advocate for women in trades and the resources sector. Beginning her career as an electrical apprentice, she has built experience across maintenance, continuous improvement and frontline leadership, now leading tradespeople and coordinating large maintenance teams in operational mining environments. Kymberly is recognised for her commitment to workplace inclusion, apprentice development and mental health advocacy. Through her involvement with industry mentoring programs, the Tradie Lady Club, QMEA and The Shaka Project, she supports the next generation of tradeswomen and promotes positive cultural change across the industry. She is currently completing a Bachelor of Behavioural Science.
Taleigha Everingham-Potts
Taleigha is a dedicated advocate for tradeswomen in the resources sector. Beginning her mining career as an apprentice Automotive Electrical Technician at Cadia Valley Operations, she developed expertise in underground mobile equipment maintenance, breakdown response and fleet reliability. Now based at Northparkes, Taleigha continues to expand her technical capability while completing a second trade qualification in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology. Passionate about mentoring apprentices, supporting workplace wellbeing and promoting mining careers, she is committed to helping create inclusive workplaces where people are empowered to learn, grow and succeed.
Rhondda Morgan
Rhondda is a highly regarded underground mining professional known for her commitment to safety, compliance and operational excellence. She has built extensive experience across underground operations, progressing from truck operator to Magazine Keeper, where she manages explosives inventory, regulatory compliance and safety-critical processes. Rhondda is recognised for her meticulous attention to detail, strong safety leadership and willingness to mentor and support colleagues across the operation. Passionate about fostering respectful and inclusive workplaces, she leads through example, demonstrating how professionalism, accountability and continuous learning contribute to strong operational and safety outcomes.
Sammi Rae
Sammi a mining leader recognised for her people-focused approach, operational expertise and commitment to workforce development. Beginning her career as a labour hire operator, she progressed through technical and supervisory roles to lead exploration, drilling and blasting teams. Sammi has successfully delivered safety, productivity and capability improvements while mentoring emerging leaders and supporting inclusive pathways into mining. Passionate about developing people, she champions accessible training, diverse recruitment and mentally healthy workplaces. Through her leadership, community engagement and advocacy for women in operational roles, Sammi is helping build a stronger and more inclusive future for the resources sector.
FlexCrew Program
Evolution Mining's FlexCrew Program is an innovative workforce initiative designed to attract and retain talent traditionally excluded by standard mining rosters. Launched at Northparkes in 2025, the program offers flexible operational roles tailored to parents, carers and career changers. The pilot attracted over 100 applicants, 56 per cent were women and 64 per cent had no mining experience. FlexCrew has achieved 100 per cent retention, expanded workforce participation and created new pathways into operational mining careers while maintaining strong operational performance.
Gender Equal Mining Program
BHP’s Gender Equal Mining (GEM) Program is a workforce transformation initiative designed to increase women’s participation, retention and leadership in mining. Originally launched to upskill female operators during the transition to autonomous operations, GEM evolved to include leadership development, Drill & Blast pathways, flexible work opportunities and targeted mentoring. The program has upskilled 146 women, doubled female participation in Drill & Blast, increased female frontline leadership, reduced female attrition to record lows, and helped create a more inclusive, future-ready workforce.
McArthur River Mine Local Language Employment Program
Glencore’s McArthur River Mine Local Language Employment Program (LLEP) creates culturally safe employment pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from local language groups, with a strong focus on increasing Indigenous women’s participation in mining. Through structured traineeships, mentoring, workplace support and culturally responsive recruitment, the program has supported 77 participants since 2023. LLEP is strengthening workforce diversity, developing local talent, improving retention and creating sustainable career opportunities in remote communities while fostering a more inclusive and culturally aware workplace.
Women’s Rescue Training Week
ISH24 Women’s Rescue Training Week is a specialised development program designed to increase women’s participation in emergency response and rescue roles across the resources sector. Through nationally accredited rescue training, immersive simulations, mentoring and leadership development, the program builds technical capability, confidence and professional networks in a psychologically safe environment. Since 2019, 55 women have completed the program with a 100 per cent completion rate, creating a growing pipeline of skilled female emergency responders and leaders across mining and industry.
WomenRise Program
BMA’s WomenRise Program is a leadership development initiative designed to accelerate the progression of high-potential women into senior leadership roles across mining operations. Combining executive sponsorship, coaching, mentoring and career planning, the program addresses barriers to advancement while strengthening leadership capability and succession pipelines. Since launching, WomenRise has supported 56 female leaders, achieved 97 per cent participant retention and contributed to increased female leadership representation across BMA, helping create a stronger, more inclusive leadership culture.
Dr Ainul Azzah Abd Aziz
Dr Abd Aziz is a respected technical leader in process and water chemistry. She has built a career translating complex science into practical solutions for alumina, uranium and mine closure operations across Yarwun, Gove and Ranger. At Gove, she led the development of an innovative UAV-based deep-water sampling and profiling methodology that improved understanding of wastewater pond chemistry and supported more effective treatment planning. Her work has strengthened closure planning, treatment efficiency and environmental outcomes. Dr Abd Aziz is recognised for her technical rigour, collaborative leadership and commitment to building capability across multidisciplinary teams.
Harriet Davies
Harriet is an Environmental Advisor at Whitehaven Coal’s Narrabri Coal Operations, specialising in environmental compliance, data management and digital innovation. She has built a career focused on improving environmental outcomes through technology and continuous improvement. Harriet led the development and implementation of the Environment and Rehabilitation Data Hub, a digital platform that transformed paper-based environmental approvals, monitoring and reporting into an integrated real-time system. Her work has strengthened environmental governance, improved operational efficiency and enhanced compliance management. Harriet is committed to innovation, technical excellence and advancing sustainable environmental practices across the resources sector.
Dr Humaira Ehsan
Dr Ehsan is a Value Analytics Specialist, applying data science, modelling and systems thinking to improve supply chain decision-making for the resources sector. With a PhD in Information Technology from The University of Queensland and 15 years of academic experience, Dr Ehsan transitioned into industry to deliver practical, data-driven solutions. She led the development of SCORE, a Supply Chain Order Recommendation Engine that helps planners anticipate risk, reduce emergency orders and improve parts availability for mining customers. Dr Ehsan is recognised for combining technical expertise, persistence and user-focused innovation to turn complex data into measurable operational outcomes.
Emma Eltringham
Emma is leading enterprise AI adoption and digital innovation across Woodside Energy. After joining Woodside as a Graduate Geospatial Analyst, Emma became an early member of the company’s digital twin project, Fuse, helping introduce product management practices and scale the platform across operations. She later led Woodside’s global product management function before moving into her current AI leadership role. Emma has helped develop and scale Lumina, Woodside’s enterprise AI platform, supporting responsible AI adoption, improved productivity and faster decision-making. She is committed to building trusted, practical technology that delivers real value for people and operations.
Man Ching (Christy) Tse
Christy is an Analyst, applying data science and machine learning to improve operational decision-making in mining. After completing a Master of Data Science, Christy joined Newmont as a Data Scientist and has contributed to innovations across predictive maintenance, operational risk and GenAI. Her work includes developing data engineering methods for crusher wear analysis, supporting remaining useful life modelling, and helping establish Newmont’s first proof-of-concept machine learning deployment on Databricks. Christy is committed to making AI and data-driven tools practical, trusted and accessible for site teams across the resources sector.
Narelle Burns
Narelle is an experienced resources leader, having worked for more than 25 years across mining, smelting, operations, human resources and business improvement. Throughout her career, she has led large multidisciplinary teams and delivered technical, operational and cultural improvements across the aluminium industry. Narelle is a passionate advocate for inclusion and diversity, serving as Australia Regional Lead for the Alcoa Women’s Network and supporting initiatives that strengthen pathways for women in operational and leadership roles. Known for her practical, people-focused leadership style, she is committed to creating workplaces where everyone feels respected, valued and empowered to achieve their potential.
Jeanine Carbone Brown
Jeanine is an experienced health professional and has worked in the mining industry for more than 20 years. She supports remote operations at GEMCO, providing occupational health, injury management and wellbeing support for the workforce. Jeanine is recognised for her commitment to mental health, psychosocial safety and inclusive workplace culture, including her involvement in R U OK? Day, Strong Minds, Strong Mines and trauma-informed community programs. A qualified nurse, mentor and professional athlete, she brings discipline, compassion and practical leadership to her role. Jeanine is committed to creating safer, more supportive workplaces where people feel heard, respected and empowered.
Marnie Finlayson
Marnie is one of Australia’s most experienced mining executives, with more than 25 years of leadership across the global resources sector. A Minerals Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy graduate from the WA School of Mines, she has led major operations and businesses across multiple commodities, including iron ore, diamonds, coal, lithium and base metals. Throughout her career, Marnie has been a passionate advocate for inclusion, mentoring and sponsoring women across the industry through programs including WIMWA and International Women in Resources. Known for her authentic leadership and commitment to building diverse, high-performing teams, she continues to champion opportunities for the next generation of mining professionals.
Matthew Ireland
Matthew is a mining leader with nearly two decades of experience spanning engineering, science, operations, projects and business leadership. Holding qualifications in engineering, science and business, he has led diverse teams across multiple countries and complex mining environments. Matthew is recognised for combining operational excellence with a strong commitment to inclusion, workforce development and psychological safety. He has championed initiatives that improve recruitment, mentoring, accessibility and leadership pathways for underrepresented groups while delivering strong operational outcomes. Through industry advocacy, community volunteering and values-driven leadership, Matthew is helping build more inclusive, high-performing workplaces across the resources sector.
Bec Vesara
Bec is focused on creating safer, more inclusive and psychologically healthy workplaces. Beginning her career in operational and safety roles, Bec has built expertise in organisational culture, behavioural science and workplace wellbeing while completing a psychology degree. She is recognised for leading initiatives that strengthen psychological safety, respectful workplace behaviours and support pathways for employees. Through mentoring, industry partnerships and community advocacy, Bec has championed programs addressing gender equity, domestic and family violence prevention, and bystander capability. Her work is driven by a commitment to embedding inclusion, respect and wellbeing into the everyday systems and practices that shape workplace culture.
Stevie Child
Stevie is a passionate advocate for the future of Australia’s mining industry. After beginning her career as a trainee engineer at Costerfield Operations, she gained experience across mine planning, drill and blast, operations and emergency response while completing a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) at Federation University. Stevie combines practical industry experience with academic excellence, earning multiple scholarships and awards during her studies. Committed to encouraging the next generation of mining professionals, she actively supports student engagement, industry outreach and diversity initiatives. Stevie is dedicated to building a safe, innovative and inclusive future for the resources sector.
Fiona Dawson
Fiona Dawson is an emerging leader at the intersection of mining, data analytics and technology. After graduating with High Distinctions in Mechatronic Engineering and Computer Science, Fiona has built a reputation for translating complex data into practical operational improvements. In just two years with Newmont, she progressed from Graduate Mining Engineer to Production Supervisor, becoming the youngest person appointed to the role at Tanami. Passionate about innovation, she has developed data-driven tools that improve decision-making and operational performance. Fiona is also a committed STEM advocate, mentor and industry ambassador, helping inspire the next generation of engineers and mining professionals.
Georgia Mehmet
Georgia is known for her people-first leadership style, commitment to continuous improvement and ability to drive meaningful change across complex operational environments. Beginning her career while studying nursing, Georgia built a strong foundation in operations, people leadership and business performance before joining Hastings Deering's graduate program. She has since progressed into leadership roles spanning parts, service and operational excellence, delivering significant improvements in safety, efficiency and customer outcomes. Recognised with Hastings Deering Excellence Awards for Safety Advocacy and Innovation and Diversity and Inclusion, Georgia is passionate about developing future talent, fostering collaboration and creating inclusive workplaces.
Jemima Reid
Jemima is a mining professional with experience across underground operations, mine planning and geotechnical engineering. A graduate of the University of Western Australia, Jemima has combined hands-on underground mining experience with technical innovation, including developing a geotechnical modelling application that significantly improved the speed and objectivity of cave back analysis. Her work has been recognised through publication in peer-reviewed research and presentations at international industry conferences. Passionate about developing future talent, Jemima has held leadership roles with the UWA-AusIMM Student Chapter and continues to support mentoring, industry engagement and engineering education initiatives that strengthen the future of the resources sector.
Aleisha Saxby
Aleisha is an emerging leader in Australia’s resources sector. A Chemical Engineering (Honours) graduate from the University of Newcastle, Aleisha has progressed from Graduate Process Engineer to Superintendent in less than five years, delivering more than $53 million in operational value through process innovation and performance improvement. In 2024, she became the first female Production Superintendent at Ulan Surface Operations. Recognised for her technical capability, leadership and commitment to continuous improvement, Aleisha is passionate about mentoring emerging professionals, promoting STEM careers and helping shape a more inclusive and innovative resources industry.
Jody Altmann
Jody is a respected leader in geotechnical engineering and mining consulting. With more than 25 years' experience across underground and open pit mining operations, she is recognised for her technical expertise, safety leadership and ability to translate complex geotechnical challenges into practical operational solutions. As a GHD Principal and Technical Director, Jody leads multidisciplinary teams delivering integrated outcomes across the energy, mining and resources sectors. A passionate advocate for diversity and workforce development, she has held senior leadership roles with Women in Mining Network Victoria and Australian Women in Mining and Resources, helping create opportunities and pathways for the next generation of industry professionals.
Alexandra Dandie
Alexandra is an accomplished engineering and operations leader with experience across Australia and Canada. Beginning her career as a Graduate Reliability Engineer, she has built expertise across maintenance, production, business improvement, engineering and carbon operations. Alexandra is recognised for leading complex teams through change, improving operational performance, and building strong engineering and infrastructure capability in demanding environments. A passionate advocate for inclusive leadership, she has championed workforce diversity, mentorship and cultural change while developing high-performing teams. Her leadership is defined by resilience, technical excellence and a commitment to creating sustainable outcomes for people, operations and the communities in which they operate.
Rae O’Brien
Rae currently leads 13 major mining projects and more than 4,000 employees across Australia. A Mining Engineering (Hons) graduate with more than 30 years’ experience, Rae has held senior operational, technical and executive leadership roles across the resources sector. She is recognised for driving operational excellence, advancing safety and innovation, and developing high-performing teams. A passionate advocate for industry collaboration, research, education and inclusion, Rae has contributed through leadership roles with ACARP, the Queensland Resources Council and NSW Minerals Council. As one of Australia’s most respected mining leaders, she is committed to strengthening the capability, sustainability and future leadership of the resources industry.
Tania Stevens
Tania a respected Aboriginal business leader in Australia's resources sector. As co-owner of Eastern Guruma, a 100 per cent Indigenous and female-owned civil and mining company, she has helped grow the business from a small startup into a leading contractor delivering major projects for Rio Tinto, BHP and Fortescue. Tania is recognised for creating sustainable employment opportunities for Traditional Owners, championing Indigenous participation and driving inclusive workforce development. An advocate for cultural preservation, community partnerships and business innovation, she is committed to demonstrating how Indigenous-led enterprises can deliver commercial success while creating lasting social and economic outcomes for communities.
Penny Woodward
Penny is a respected leader in Australia's resources sector. Beginning her career as a bassoonist with the Sydney Youth Orchestra, she transitioned into engineering and has spent more than 20 years leading operational and technical teams across the mining industry. Penny played a key role in establishing Maxwell Operations, one of Australia's newest underground coal mines, and is recognised for her commitment to safety, operational excellence and people-focused leadership. The first female Chair of the Australian Coal Preparation Society (NSW), she is passionate about mentoring future leaders, championing inclusion and creating opportunities for others to succeed.