In a significant stride towards fostering gender diversity in the resources industry, the Girls in Resources Leadership Skills (GIRLS) mentoring program has successfully concluded another round, celebrating the achievements of 20 young women from across Queensland. The program, now in its sixth year, has been instrumental in nurturing the aspirations of female students in Year 12, providing them with the guidance and confidence needed to explore careers in the resources sector.

The GIRLS program, an initiative by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA), the educational arm of the Queensland Resources Council (QRC), is delivered in collaboration with Women in Mining and Resources Queensland (WIMARQ). This mentorship initiative connects participants with experienced female professionals from the resources industry, offering a unique opportunity for these young women to gain insights and inspiration from role models who have successfully navigated their careers in this traditionally male-dominated field.

QRC Chief Executive Officer Janette Hewson highlighted the program’s impact on both the participants and the industry. “Having a mentor in the resources sector while completing Year 12 is invaluable,” Hewson stated. “It will help the students as they make decisions about their career pathway.”

“It is an exciting time to join the resources sector as we meet the challenges of increasing sustainability and decarbonisation targets while meeting productivity demands,” she said. “We need the enthusiasm and innovation of young people to help us on that journey.”

The program’s success is evident in its outcomes: over 80 percent of past participants have gone on to pursue professional or trade careers within the resources sector. This impressive statistic underscores the program’s effectiveness in sparking interest and providing the tools and encouragement necessary for young women to take decisive steps towards a future in this vital industry.

One of this year’s participants, Charlotte Congram from Wavell State High School, shared her experience of the program. She joined the GIRLS program to connect with other girls interested in STEM and to learn from someone who has been through it all. “I am keen to study engineering and maths next year and having a mentor who is an experienced in these fields through her role at BHP has motivated me to pursue a career as a mining engineer,” said Charlotte.

The GIRLS mentoring program enjoys robust support from the industry, with BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) serving as the platinum sponsor since the program’s inception. BMA’s Head of Human Resources, Tamara Barden, expressed the company’s pride in being part of an initiative that empowers young women and enriches the industry with new talent. “This is about more than financial sponsorship, many of our people have been involved in the program as students and then returned to be a mentor to others, which is a testimony to its success,” Barden remarked. The GIRLS mentoring program “is a highly respected program which is having an impact, with four out of five participants going on to have a professional or trades career in the resources industry.”

In addition to BMA, the GIRLS program is supported by several other major industry players, including ConocoPhillips, Jellinbah, Glencore Technology, Rio Tinto, Thiess, and Whitehaven Coal, all of whom have committed to fostering diversity and inclusion within the sector. These companies recognise the importance of initiatives like the GIRLS program in creating a more equitable and inclusive work environment, which in turn drives innovation and growth.

WIMARQ Co-chair Sally Rayner emphasised the importance of such initiatives in achieving a more diverse workforce. “Initiatives like the GIRLS mentoring program play a crucial role in attracting talented young women to be a part of the future of the resources sector, which helps create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive environment. There is an abundance of career opportunities for women interested in trade and professional roles in the resources sector; this mentoring experience will give them the confidence to pursue those dreams.” Rayner said.

As the GIRLS program continues to grow, it stands as a testament to the power of mentorship and the positive impact that a supportive network can have on the career trajectories of young women. By encouraging their interest in the resources sector and providing them with role models who have successfully navigated the industry, the GIRLS program is helping to shape a more diverse, innovative, and sustainable future for the resources sector in Queensland.

Images: Queensland Resources Council