Two years after Juukan debacle, Rio takes out indigenous award
Two years after Rio Tinto’s Juukan Gorge debacle the industry has handed its indigenous leadership team an excellence award at the Women in Mining conference today.
The caves at Juukan Gorge
Rio was widely condemned when it blew up the caves in Western Australia and its Aborginal artefacts.
But in accepting the award the company noted how much it had moved on from event.
Rio’s Melanie Cooper, who heads the equity inclusion and diversity division in Brisbane won the exceptional woman in Queensland resources award.
About 1000 people were at the awards, including 5 LNP MPs but no Labor, although the Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk attended a satellite event in Mt Isa and ministers were present at other regional events.
Queensland Resources Council chief executive said women now made up 22 per cent of the industry workforce, with a 10 per cent increase in the past year in women working in non-traditional roles.
The percentage of women in trade roles had risen 450 per cent in seven years.
The exceptional woman in Queensland resources award: Melanie Cooper (Rio Tinto),
Exceptional young woman in Queensland resources award: Daisy Ambach (Glencore),
Exceptional Tradeswoman/technician/operator award: Jacqueline Kelly (Shell/QGC),
Excellence in diversity programs and performance: Rio Tinto
Exceptional female student award: Zoe Delroy (Redeemer College, Biloela) and Lianna Woodsby (Good Shepherd College, Mt Isa).
Diversity champion award: Larissa Walker (Shell QGC)
