Women in Resources and Manufacturing Awards 2022

About the Awards…

The Tasmanian Minerals, Manufacturing and Energy Council (TMEC) are partnering with AusIMM Women in Mining Network Tasmania (WIMnet) for the 9th year in hosting the Women in Resources and Manufacturing Tasmania Awards 2022.

The Women in Resources and Manufacturing Tasmania Awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of women and inclusion and diversity champions across Tasmania’s resources and manufacturing sectors.

The Awards are an important part of changing the paradigm which is held by many in the community regarding the opportunities for women to flourish in the industry sectors represented by TMEC. The Awards provide the opportunity to hear the voices of our female employees who are vital contributors to the industry and at the same time encourage other women to follow in their footsteps. Tasmanian award winners proceed to national events in resources and manufacturing later in the year.

Representatives from Tasmania have taken out national awards on a number of occasions, proving yet again Tasmania punches above its weight.

The 2022 Women in Resources Tasmania Award winners

Exceptional Woman in Tasmanian Resources, award sponsored by Bell Bay Aluminium.
Winner: Kerrilyn Cope, Caterpillar Underground Mining Pty Ltd, Human Resources Manager.
Highly Commended: Annette Raimona, Liberty Bell Bay, Training Specialist.
Kerrilyn Cope is the Human Resources Manager at Caterpillar Underground Mining Pty Ltd, commencing at Caterpillar in 2008. She is one of two female managers within the company, the only female leader on the Hard Rock Vehicle Management Team and the first female Australian resident to become Human Resources Manager. Having a seat at the table with a very supportive management team, she says she is able to participate in and engage in strategy sessions further promoting women in the resources sector. Among her focuses is working with the local recruitment team to increase the effectiveness of the job advertisements, putting measures in place to conduct meaningful gender-specific and intentional candidate sourcing – and ensuring that there is at least one female on all interview panels. Kerrilyn has also completed 6 Sigma Black Belt training – and she is this year’s Exceptional Woman in Tasmanian Resources.

Exceptional Woman in Tasmanian Manufacturing, award sponsored by the Elphinstone Group
Winner: Samantha Boarder, Elphinstone Pty Ltd, Safety, Health, Environment & Quality Manager.
Samantha Boarder is in a very different role to the one she started out in more than 30 years ago as a biochemical technical officer in medical pathology. Her career path has been shaped by her interest in improving work health and safety through challenging culture and the status quo. She has four children – managing to juggle a career and motherhood with – at one point – 4 children under the age of 5 (including twins) and the challenge of having an autoimmune disease. She says her life experiences have created a strong sense of resilience.

Samantha Boarder, Elphinstone Pty Ltd, Safety, Health, Environment & Quality Manager.

Exceptional Young Woman in Tasmanian Resources, award sponsored by Caterpillar Australia
Winner: Jade Locking, Grange Resources, Pit Operator.
Highly Commended: Jessica Hill, MMG Rosebery, Level D Operator – Remote Loaders.
Jade Locking is a pit operator at Grange Resources, starting there after migrating from the UK. She is spearheading the Grange Resources 2022 Inclusion and Diversity workgroup. Among her projects include a current trial introducing the “Grange Sanitary pack”. The pack allows access to free sanitary items to all female workers on-site if they need them. She says inclusion and diversity is about recognising and respecting individual differences such as gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and personal appearances and valuing how these differences can have a positive influence.

Outstanding Tasmanian Tradeswoman, Operator or Technician, award sponsored by Liberty Bell Bay
Winner: Lorien Gear, Liberty Bell Bay, Maintenance Planner.
Highly Commended: Jayna Aitken, Bell Bay Aluminium, Process Operator Potlines.
Lorien Gear is a maintenance planner at Liberty Bell Bay. She hopes to inspire other women to pursue their careers in trade. In 1991 she was successful in gaining an industrial electrician apprenticeship with the Hobart regional water board – and the rest is history! There was a career change where she was a postie but was introduced to automatic sorting machines – bringing her back into a technical position. While working as a shift electrician at a Bell Bay sawmill she had the motto – “to ensure I learnt at least one new piece of knowledge daily”. Lorien has been with Liberty Bell Bay for around six months have a positive influence.

Inclusion and Diversity Champion in Tasmanian Resources, award sponsored by MMG Limited
Winner: Joshua Clark, Bell Bay Aluminium, Superintendent South – Potlines.
Joshua is a superintendent in potlines at Bell Bay Aluminium, having started in 2016. He’s held various leadership positions, progressing to superintendent in 2020. He’s focused on setting clear messages on respectful behaviours and educating the team on an inclusive culture to ensure women are respected and valued in the team. And since starting in the role there has been an increase in female participation from 26% to 30%. Becoming a father in November 2021 has pushed him harder to advocate for improved maternity support for team members. He has a goal to increase the number of females in technical leadership roles in Potlines.