The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia

We are pleased to announce that we have extended the nomination deadline for the CME Women in Resources Awards! We understand the unique challenges faced by FIFO workers balancing their rosters and personal commitments, and we want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to submit a nomination. This extension is designed to provide the extra time needed to recognise the incredible women who are making significant contributions in the mining and resources sector. Whether it’s a colleague who leads by example, a mentor who inspires those around her, or a technical specialist who has delivered an outstanding innovation, now is the time to celebrate their achievements. Submit your nominations by Friday 11 October at https://hubs.ly/Q02RYCZZ0.

The CME congratulates experienced environmental practitioner, Darren Walsh, for his appointment as WA's Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Chair, and thanks Lee McIntosh for her contribution as Acting Chair during a period of substantial reform associated with the Vogel McFerran review. The CME also thanks outgoing EPA Board member, Professor Fiona Haslam McKenzie for her contribution and governance, and acknowledges the appointment of Karen Caple as her replacement. The CME looks forward to continuing a productive relationship with the EPA. board.

Fantastic to have Minister for Finance, Commerce and Women's Interests Sue Ellery join us to officially launch the seventh edition of the CME's Diversity and Inclusion report on Thursday evening. While the latest results are encouraging - headlined by a doubling in the number of women working in the resources sector in just two years - there remains a lot of work ahead. As John Galvin, long-time chair of the CME's Diversity and Inclusion Reference Group, writes in the report: "My view is that these exciting improvements are the outcome of multiple initiatives and programs and more importantly a uniform cultural commitment across all of our members to improvement in the diversity and inclusion space. "Without the appropriate culture there cannot be change and the results in this year’s report clearly highlight that the culture is driving us in the right direction."

Today's final Boardroom Briefing featured Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation Director General Rebecca Brown providing an update on WA's ongoing diversification and decarbonisation agenda, with a focus on strategic industrial land activation, approvals reform and Carbon Capture, Use and Storage (CCUS). A big thank you to everyone who took part - especially our presenters - in what has been an insightful and informative series.

Every two years, the CME surveys our members on the composition of their workforces as part of efforts to track progress towards improving diversity in the resources sector. The seventh edition of the Diversity and Inclusion report is headlined by a hugely encouraging insight: the number of women working in resources and mining in WA doubled between 2021 and 2023. And those women are increasingly working in traditionally male-dominated roles, from plant operators and technicians through to engineers and board directors. Read the report for yourself here: https://hubs.ly/Q02Rbf820

Recent changes to WA's domestic gas policy, progress towards Carbon Capture, Use and Storage (CCUS) in WA and ongoing work to streamline project approvals stemming from the Vogel-McFerran review were all on the agenda when Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety Director General Richard Sellers joined us for the CME's penultimate Boardroom Briefing on Wednesday.

The CME today convened a Coordinator General Roundtable to give members an opportunity to hear direct from key Department representatives about progress towards implementing the recommendations stemming from the Vogel-McFerran review. We continue to engage closely with the State Government to remove duplication and accelerate assessments for resources projects and energy infrastructure. A big thank you to Rebecca Brown, Chris Clark, Lee McIntosh and Alistair Jones for their time and insights on a Friday!

Decarbonising the South West Interconnected System is vital to industry meeting both voluntary and legislated 2030 emissions reduction targets. However, progress on the transition appears to have stalled. Today, the Chamber of Minerals and Energy has released a new report underscoring the urgent need for action to tackle increasing reliability and pricing pressures on the State’s primary power grid. To read the comprehensive insights and recommendations outlined in the full report, please click on the below link. https://hubs.ly/Q02QnP560

Congratulations to Josie Fourie and Dr Evelyn Ng who are amongst winners of the prestigious 2024 Women in Resources National Awards. Josie Fourie, from Woodside Energy, was named the Dyno Nobel Exceptional Woman in Australian Resources while Dr Evelyn Ng, from Callidus Group, took home the Maptek Woman in Resources Technological Innovation gong. Chamber of Minerals and Energy Chief Executive Rebecca Tomkinson said both Ms Fourie and Dr Ng were shining examples of the growing pool of talented women breaking new ground in the resources industry. Both Ms Fourie and Dr Ng were among seven winners of the CME’s 15th annual WA Women in Resources Awards, which were presented in March.

Nominations for the Women in Resources Awards close in 2 weeks! ✨ These awards, now in their 16th year, celebrate individuals and organisations advancing career opportunities and the participation of women in the resources sector. Key Dates: Nominations close: Friday 20 September 2024 Finalists announced: Wednesday 13 November 2024 Awards dinner: Thursday 13 February 2024 Nominate your outstanding employee: https://hubs.ly/Q02P3tBs0 Learn more about WIRA here: https://hubs.ly/Q02P3sT30