As the world marks International Women’s Day (IWD) on Sunday 8 March, the Australian Resources & Energy Employer Association (AREEA) proudly highlights its national TRAILBLAZERS campaign, celebrating a host of incredible women who have shaped and those who continue to make their mark in Australia’s resources and energy sector.  

TRAILBLAZERS showcases female pioneers and contemporary leaders contributing at every level of Australia’s resources sector – on site and offshore, in engineering and operations, in corporate and commercial roles, and in executive leadership and boardrooms.  

AREEA’s Deputy Chief Executive Tara Diamond said International Women’s Day is a powerful reminder that while progress has been made, there is more to be done.  

“Many of Australia’s early female leaders in resources were trailblazers in the truest sense – the first to enter worksites, boardrooms and the technical disciplines previously closed to women,” Ms Diamond said.  

“These women paved the way for future generations and helped build one of the most advanced, innovative and responsibly operated industries in the world.” 

Despite meaningful gains, AREEA notes gender representation in key areas of the resources sector* shows there is still opportunity ahead: 

• 25% of senior management roles are held by women in the sector. 

• 32% of professional roles in the sector are held by women. 

• 33% of apprentice roles in the sector are women. 

• Only 10% of technical and trade roles in the sector are held by women. 

• Comparatively, 26% of CEOs in all industries are women, yet only 8% of CEOs in the sector are women. 

“These numbers highlight both the progress and the persistent gaps,” said Ms Diamond. 

“That’s why it’s critical that our industry actively recruits, retains and supports women so the next generation sees themselves reflected in the workforce, from site roles to the C-suite.” 

Some TRAILBLAZER names are instantly recognisable such as Gina Rinehart AO, Executive Chairman, Hancock Prospecting, and Amanda Lacaze, CEO and Managing Director of Lynas Rare Earths.  

Other TRAILBLAZERS are remarkable women whose achievements deserve recognition, such as:  

• Eve Howell, former Executive VP with Woodside who in 2006 assumed responsibility for the North West Shelf Project, Australia’s largest and most complex resource development; and  

• Carol Dooley, Shipmaster and Marine Pilot, who in 2004 became the first woman in Australia to captain an LNG carrier and one of few female LNG captains in the world at that time.  

“These Trailblazers demonstrate that incredible and groundbreaking role women have played and continue to play across technical excellence, leadership and innovation in the resources and energy industry,” Ms Diamond said.  

“They represent the breadth of careers available and serve as role models for young women and young people generally considering STEM and resources pathways.” 

Explore the full TRAILBLAZERS stories and campaign assets at www.areea.com.au/trailblazers/ 

*Includes Coal Mining, Metal Ore Mining, Non-Metallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying, Oil and Gas Extraction, Exploration and other Mining Support Services.  

Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA). Industry data explorer 2024-25: Workforce composition. 

ENDS 

MEDIA CONTACT: Orla Sullivan | [email protected] 0409 781 580  

AREEA TRAILBLAZERS & BIOS 

1. Gina Rinehart AO — Philanthropist & Business Leader, Executive Chairman, Hancock Prospecting 

Mrs Gina Rinehart AO is a Trailblazer in the Australian mining sector, transforming Hancock Prospecting into Australia’s largest private business, expanding the massive Hope Downs iron ore mines and spearheading Roy Hill, the world’s largest greenfield mining debt-financing exercise. Through diversification into coal, copper, gold, cattle, and critical minerals, Mrs Rinehart has built a global powerhouse employing thousands.  

2. Amanda Lacaze — CEO & Managing Director, Lynas Rare Earths 

Amanda Lacaze is a leading figure in Australia’s resources sector and CEO and Managing Director of Lynas Rare Earths. Joining in 2014, Lacaze transformed Lynas into the world’s only commercial producer of separated light and heavy rare earths outside China, strengthening global critical minerals supply chains. Internationally recognised for her leadership, Lacaze has set a benchmark for resilience and commercial excellence in mining. 

3. Eve Howell — Former Executive VP North West Shelf, Woodside Energy 

Eve Howell is a former Executive Vice President at Woodside Energy and one of Australia’s pioneering female leaders in oil and gas. Across more than four decades’ Howell’s technical and executive skills shaped the development of Australia’s major offshore fields, championed world class safety and performance standards, and opened boardroom doors for women across the sector. 

4. Julie Fallon — Executive VP Technical & Energy Development, Woodside Energy 

As Executive Vice President Technical and Energy Development at Woodside Energy, Julie Fallon oversees project development, reserves, engineering and critical technical functions. She was the first female LNG Operations Manager in Australia and was awarded the 2025 Women in Resources Outstanding Women in Resources Award. 

5. Tottie Kendall — Small-Scale Prospector, Coober Pedy Opal Fields

Tottie Kendall was an Aboriginal small-scale prospector whose efforts transformed Coober Pedy’s opal industry. A Barngarla woman, from Country encompassing the Eyre Peninsula to the southern Flinders Ranges, Kendall’s 1946 discovery ignited a opal boom, lifting the town from post-Depression hardship. Working in harsh conditions, Kendall represents the largely unrecognised role of Aboriginal women in small-scale mineral discovery. 

6. Sarah Wells — Technical Services Manager, Thiess

Sarah Wells is a proud Biripi woman and Technical Services Manager at Thiess’ Mount Pleasant Operations in the Hunter Valley, leading multidisciplinary teams to deliver safe and efficient mining outcomes. Wells is recognised for her inclusive leadership, commitment to reconciliation, and advocacy for Indigenous voices, building capability and cultural understanding within Australia’s resources sector.  

7. Captain Carol Dooley – Shipmaster and Marine Pilot

Captain Carol Dooley’s career has broken multiple barriers in the resources sector. Dooley was the first female electrical fitter hired by an Australian mining company, and went on to become one of the first women globally to command LNG carriers in 2004, Shell Shipping’s first female captain and the first woman to serve on the board of the National Maritime Training Centre. Dooley has redefined women’s role in high-stakes energy operations. 

8. Delia Troy Principal Inspection Engineer | Subsea Inspection Controller, Fugro

Delia Troy is a senior subsea inspection specialist and technical leader within Australia’s offshore and subsea engineering sector.  As a Principal Inspection Engineer and Subsea Inspection Controller, she brings more than 20 years of experience in asset integrity management, inspection engineering and corrosion control across onshore and offshore environments