Exploration and Blast Hole Driller and Trainer and Assessor Ange Daley took home the award for Exceptional Trade/Technician/Operator in the 2021 Exceptional Women in Resources Award.
Ange said she was highly honoured to receive the award.
“Winning this tremendous award was extremely overwhelming,” she said.
“I felt very honoured to be among so many talented women last Wednesday.
“They were all very inspiring.”
QRC Chief Executive Officer Ian Macfarlane said the winners were leaders in their fields and helped to highlight the wide range of career opportunities for women in the resources sector.
“There is fierce competition to attract skilled people into our industry, which means we need to attract and retain more women, so we can continue to grow our sector to supply the world with the minerals and energy it needs,” he said.
“Queensland can play a global role in producing in-demand raw materials and critical minerals needed for renewable energy infrastructure and technologies, we need a skilled and diverse workforce in place to make this a reality.”
Ange, who grew up in Bundaberg and has worked in the industry worldwide, including in Serbia, Armenia, Fiji, and Africa, said she enjoyed working in the industry because of its diversity.
“[There] were no women when I started in exploration,” she said.
“I think it’s important for women to be acknowledged for their achievements in this industry to empower them to step out of their comfort zone and try non-traditional roles.”
A QRC report titled Winning Women stated the number of women in trade careers had risen 70 per cent in the previous 12 months.
Mr Macfarlane said the figures were indicative of increasing diversity in the resources sector.
“I think we can take a moment to celebrate how far we’ve come before we pin our ears back and set new targets to create the step-change needed to bring the resources workforce closer to gender parity,” he said.
He said the resources sector had shown “remarkable resilience and determination to keep working, earning and employing” throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think history will reflect positively on our sector during this challenging time, as we have proved our worth to the state economy and to jobs,” he said.
“We’ve shown that when the chips are down, you can count on resources to help Queensland recover.”
Ange said she was looking forward to further expanding her career.
“I will be doing my shot firers ticket next month,” she said.
“I’m always looking to challenge myself.”
