Exceptional Woman
Rae O’Brien – Group Executive, Australia East, Thiess
Rae is an outstanding leader whose career spans operational excellence, strategic governance and strong industry influence. She elevates others, drives improvement across the resources sector and champions emerging professionals.
As the first woman in NSW to hold both 1st and 2nd Class Mine Manager’s Certificates, she has led complex operations, pioneered innovation and successfully transformed legacy assets.
Rae developed a globally adopted technical governance framework, chairs the Australian Coal Association’s Research Program to advance safe and sustainable mining, and mentors women and emerging engineers across the sector.
Now a Thiess Group Executive, Rae continues to strengthen safety, empower diverse teams and deliver high performance with integrity, resilience and inclusive leadership.
Exceptional Young Woman
Georgia Mehmet – Customer Care Centre Manager, Hastings Deering
Georgia exemplifies leadership, innovation and resilience, rising from a Reception Coordinator at 17 to driving major operational and strategic improvements at Hastings Deering.
She led the Service Foundations Equipment Assembly project, boosting build accuracy from 75% to 95% and reducing takt times by 10%, significantly strengthening competitiveness.
A passionate safety advocate, Georgia created the Head Injury Awareness initiative, earning the 2023 Hastings Deering Excellence Award for Safety Advocacy and Innovation.
Through mentoring graduates, championing diversity and initiatives like Generation Awareness Month and the Answer the Call podcast, Georgia is shaping future leaders and fostering a more connected, inclusive workplace.
Technological Innovation
Humaira Ehsan – Value Analytics Specialist, Hastings Deering
Humaira is recognised for developing the Supply Chain Order Recommendation Engine (SCORE) – a purpose-built innovation that transforms Hastings Deering’s planning from reactive to proactive.
Drawing on her PhD expertise and 15 years of experience, she led every stage of its creation, integrating complex datasets into a predictive workflow that enables accurate scenario planning months in advance. SCORE has delivered significant operational improvements, including a reduction in emergency orders, lower freight costs, shorter rebuild cycles and substantial savings in planned orders.
Now gaining global recognition, Humaira’s technical leadership is driving high impact, sustainable outcomes for the Queensland resources sector.
DEI Champion
Bec Wright – Employee Experience Specialist, Hastings Deering
Bec is a DEI champion whose leadership embeds inclusion into everyday behaviours and organisational systems. She led Hastings Deering’s 24/7 Respect Program and redesigned conduct and discipline models using behavioural science, creating trauma informed, fair and psychologically safe processes that build trust.
Bec also drives inclusive leadership through mentoring and by amplifying diverse voices, while partnering with universities, industry and advocacy groups to advance domestic violence prevention and gender equality.
Widely recognised for her authenticity and courage, she consistently translates vision into action where inclusion is not aspirational but embedded in systems.
Exceptional Tradeswoman / Operator / Technician
Kymberly Bouchardt – BMA Field Supervisor, BMA
Kymberly has built a career she is proud of overcoming challenges while actively removing barriers for others in the industry, using every opportunity to advocate for women in trades, mental health, development and a stronger resources sector.
Her commitment to inclusion and diversity is evident both in her field supervisor role leading a team of maintenance tradespeople along with extensive volunteer work, creating impact that extends well beyond her personal achievements.
As a tradeswoman, leader, mother, advocate and dedicated industry professional, she brings authenticity and passion to everything she does.
Excellence in Diversity Programs and Performance
BMA WomenRise Program
WomenRise is a transformative leadership program designed to advance female leaders in mining and identify the causes of attrition in leadership roles.
Through immersive workshops, one-on-one coaching, executive sponsorship and strong peer collaboration, it equips participants with resilience, confidence and a clear leadership identity. The program’s impact is reflected not only in retention and career progression but in broader cultural shifts toward more inclusive leadership across BMA.
With 32 leaders already graduated and more cohorts planned for 2026, WomenRise is shaping future ready leaders who drive innovation and strengthen a more diverse, inclusive and sustainable mining industry.
Exceptional Female QMEA Student
Giselle Dickson – Moura State High School
Giselle is from Moura and a passionate supporter of her rural community and the coal industry which surrounds it. She has been a regular participant in both STEM and trade QMEA programs in her school and part of the Queensland Government’s STEM Girl Power Program for the past two years.
In 2025 Giselle received the Mitsui Coal Study in Japan Scholarship. As a Moura State High School Captain and a QMEA Student Ambassador, she has represented her school at cultural and community events including the Coal Festival and annual Miners’ Memorial.
Giselle aims to create a career in the resources sector with a focus on environmental science and sustainability management.
| Congratulations to all the winners and finalists of this year’s awards. All award winners will now go on to represent Queensland in their categories at the Women in Resources National Awards in September. |
