Representatives of the mining industry and supplier businesses from across NSW tonight joined with MPs from across the NSW Parliament at the 2017 Industry and Suppliers Awards Dinner.

Amongst the many awardees on the evening, Chief Executive of Hunter Valley Coal Chain Coordinator (HVCCC), Dr Kirsten Molloy was recognised and awarded winner in this year’s Exceptional Woman in Mining category.

Kirsten is passionate about leadership and Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) diversity and equity, and over the years has implemented and supported a range of initiatives to support these areas – developing a Women in Leadership program in a previous role, cofounding the Equal Futures Project in the Hunter region and the Hunter Valley Diversity Awards.

The mark she has made on the Hunter industry was recognised amongst peers at the awards. The Industry & Suppliers awards recognise excellence in the mining sector and emphasise the continued importance of the supply chain to the industry. Kirsten said she was proud to be recognised.

“It is great to receive this recognition from the NSW Minerals Council and I appreciate their leadership on diversity in the industry,” Kirsten said.

“Increasingly organisations operating in mining are focussed on more diverse representation in their workforce and leadership. I am very pleased to be a role model in this regard along with all the other nominees and winners on the night.”

The awards were presented by NSW Minister for Resources, Energy, Utilities and the Arts, The Hon Don Harwin MLC and NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Skills and Small Business, The Hon John Barilaro, welcomed all to the dinner, praising the contribution the NSW mining industry and its thousands of mining supplier businesses make to the NSW economy and local communities.

NSW Minerals Council CEO, Stephen Galilee said that the quality of the entries for this year’s awards were outstanding.

“Our Industry and Suppliers’ Awards highlights the vital role mining plays in NSW, particularly our economic contribution. We had some outstanding entries for the awards this year, reflecting the quality of our state’s world-class mining sector,” Stephen said.

“Whether it be those working directly in mining, or others employed in the many mining supplier businesses across NSW, tens of thousands of people rely on our industry for jobs and the economic opportunities it delivers.”

Other recipients of the awards included PJL Group, Mine Subsidence Engineering Consultants (MSEC), Evolution – Cowal Gold Mine, Whitehaven Coal – Maules Creek, Centennial Coal, Glencore Integra Underground Mine, Rio Tinto Coal & Allied – Mt Thorley Warkworth Mine and Heron Resources.

IMAGE | The 2017 Industry and Suppliers Awards Dinner was recently held, with Dr Kirsten Molloy recognised amongst the winners.