The organisation has grown since its incorporation in 2012, and now advocates for increased inclusion and diversity within the NT’s resources sector for 500 female members and male associates.

Each year the Women in Resources Committee hosts the Exceptional Women in Resources Awards. These awards recognise the great achievements of women, men and Territory businesses who are making an outstanding contribution towards a more diverse workforce in the resources sector.

The promotion of resources as an industry of choice for women is extended to NT’s only university, CDU.

Female engineering, environmental science and trade students are invited to join the event as guests of the resource industry and table sponsors SLR and MT Todd Gold Mine. This event allows the students to network with key people from the various NT mining organisations, and to see first-hand the celebration of women who are being recognised in the industry for their skills, community engagement, career development and mentoring.

The winners of the 2021 Exceptional Women in Resources are all automatically registered for the National Awards:

• McArthur River Mining Exceptional Woman in Resources – Elmarie Fagan
• Newmont Tanami Operations Exceptional Young Woman in Resources – Georgia Bass
• INPEX Outstanding Tradeswoman/Technician/Operator – Lauren O’Neill
• Rio Tinto Gove Gender Diversity Champion – Paul Arnold
• WiR Excellence in Gender Diversity Program – Rio Tinto, Gove Inclusion Collective
• Skymax Excellence in Technical Innovation – Susan Hart,
• The overall Exceptional Women in Resources NT for 2021 is Elmarie Fagan.

Elmarie is the Women in Resources’ ambassador over the next twelve months and will promote the resource sector as a career choice for women.

The gala awards dinner is not the only event that WiR run. The committee provides professional development sessions to its members and has recently developed a mentoring program for women within the resource sector. The program is aimed at partnering women in senior management roles with male or female mentors who will provide professional advice and coaching specific to the industry.

WiR has built strong relationships with many organisations within the NT’s resources sector who have become allies in the actualisation of diversity in employment, promotion and engagement.

WiR in the last 12 months has become a strong promoter of diversity outside of the NT, including becoming a foundation member for the International Women in Mining Alliance.  

The efforts being undertaken in the resources sector are to be commended, particularly considering the dynamic shift we saw in working and family roles last year. The industry should be encouraged to celebrate our most recent statistics, such as:

• The increase in gender engagement to 18% (mining) and 23% (O&G).
• The reduction in the gender pay gap to 13% (mining) and to 21% (O&G).
• The provision of paid parental leave (to all genders) of 62% (mining) and 75% (O&G).