Five individuals and one company have been crowned winners of the 2025 Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA (CME) Women in Resources Awards in an annual celebration of the invaluable contribution of the sector's growing female workforce.
More than 1100 people gathered at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre on Thursday night to hear the inspirational stories behind each of the 16 finalists.
CME Chief Executive Officer Rebecca Tomkinson said WIRA - now in its 16th year - was an annual reminder of the value of diversity and the increasing prominence of women in industry.
"WA's resources sector has long benefited from the passion, commitment and expertise of women workers filling roles from frontline mining operations right through to the C-suite," Ms Tomkinson said.
"The calibre of WIRA finalists grows every year and their career journeys often offer a timely reminder of just how far the sector has come since the first awards ceremony back in 2010.
"Today's industry is a far more diverse and welcoming workplace, as evidenced by substantial recent growth in both female and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation."
CME's latest Diversity and Inclusion Report, released in September, found women accounted for nearly one in four jobs (24.8 per cent) among surveyed members in 2023.
That was a significant improvement on 17.8 per cent in 2015.
Of particular note were substantial gains in the proportion of female managers (23.5 per cent in 2023, up from 15 per cent in 2015), machinery operators and drivers (21.4 per cent, up from 14 per cent) and technicians and trade workers (12.9 per cent, up from 6 per cent).
Ms Tomkinson congratulated all of the WIRA winners and finalists for their outstanding achievements.
"Every finalist has an exceptional story and their success highlights the enriching careers now on offer for women in resources," Ms Tomkinson said.
"Their passion, professionalism and expertise set the standard for the entire industry and have helped create a safer, more dynamic and more inclusive sector.
"We still have a long way to go to reach gender parity but it is pioneering women like our WIRA finalists who are lighting the way for others to follow in their footsteps."
The 2025 WIRA award recipients are:
Outstanding Company Initiative Award
Fortescue: Mentored Road Traineeship
Bio: https://wira.net.au/finalists/fortescue/
Women in Resources Technological Innovation Award
Amanda de Azevedo Marques, Rio Tinto
Bio: https://wira.net.au/finalists/amanda-de-azevedo-marques/
Outstanding Operator/Technician/Trade Award
Krystal Findlay, Roy Hill
Bio: https://wira.net.au/finalists/krystal-findlay/
Outstanding Young Woman in Resources Award
Irene Chandra, Woodside Energy
Bio: https://wira.net.au/finalists/irene-chandra/
Outstanding Woman in Resources Award
Julie Fallon, Woodside Energy
Bio: https://wira.net.au/finalists/julie-fallon/
Champion of Women in Resources Award
Brendan Harris, Sandfire Resources
Bio: https://wira.net.au/finalists/brendan-harris/
Peoples' Choice Award
Irene Chandra, Woodside Energy
Bio: https://wira.net.au/finalists/irene-chandra/
