Mining gender gaps persisting despite equality efforts

Lynas Rare Earths CEO to retire after 12 years Amanda Lacaze will step down from her role as chief executive of Lynas (ASX: LYC), having led the company’s shift from a “troubled startup” to the largest rare earths producer outside China.Lynas’ market value has grown about $14.6b since 2014, according to Lynas board chair John Humphrey.“Under leadership, the company’s production and operating footprint has grown and our market value has increased from around $400m in 2014 to $15b,” Mr Humphrey said.“The company was in a very difficult position when took on the role of chief executive.“It is thanks to hard work, drive and tenacity that Lynas is today a leading rare earths producer and critical supplier to global manufacturing chains.”Ms Lacaze will remain with the company until the end of FY25 to enable a smooth transition as the board begins its search process for a new chief executive, considering both internal and external candidates.“It has been a great privilege to lead the company from a troubled startup to an ASX50 company,” Ms Lacaze said.“Having successfully concluded the Lynas 2025 capital investments program and launched the Towards 2030 growth strategy, it is the right time to make this transition.”The announcement comes as Australia refocuses on its previously announced $1.2b Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve, with Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers briefing G7 members on new details this week.Antimony, gallium and rare earth elements will be the first minerals targeted by the reserve.Lynas stands as an example of Australia’s potential as a refiner, a crucial component of critical minerals value chains that are significantly concentrated in China.“We are refining right now. Lynas Rare Earths in Kalgoorlie is doing an important stage of this,” Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King said.“Lynas Rare Earths from the deposit at Mount Weld is the only Western supplier of rare earths processing at the moment.”In 2025, Lynas emerged as the only commercial producer of separated dysprosium and terbium ex-China after achieving first production at Lynas Malaysia.

Tivan (ASX: TVN) has established a community development initiative with the Central Land Council (CLC) to provide grant funding to support Traditional Owners and Native Title Holders in Central Australia.Tivan will provide up to $1m to fund regional community development initiatives, structured as $250,000 in initial funding, and three further annual funding stages of up to $250,000 over the next three years.Existing projects under the Community Development Program are targeted at delivering positive outcomes across health, cultural strengthening, education, infrastructure, employment and enterprise development.Tivan executive chairman Grant Wilson comments on the initiative.“The board of Tivan is proud to support this landmark initiative, that will provide much needed development funding to some of the most remote communities in Australia,” he said.“For too long resources companies in the Territory have adopted an adversarial and transactional approach to land access and have focused on bare minimum outcomes in respect of Aboriginal Australians. Tivan is different. The early and genuine inclusion of Traditional Owners and Native Title Holders is a foundational principle at our company, and we are committed to furthering a durable alignment of interests throughout the project development lifecycle.“Tivan will fundamentally reshape how resources projects are developed in the Territory in the years ahead.”Tivan says that wherever possible, initiatives are delivered in partnership with Aboriginal-controlled organisations and companies, strengthening local capability and economic participation.

Court strikes down award limits on union delegates A Full Federal Court has ruled the Fair Work Commission (FWC) unlawfully narrowed workplace delegate rights in modern awards, ordering it to redo the award terms.The Federal Court found the FWC made three jurisdictional errors in varying modern awards to include a workplace delegates’ rights term.The court found the FWC impermissibly confined delegates’ representation rights to employees of the delegate’s employer, narrowed the statutory communication right and imposed absolute constraints that could unlawfully restrict the reasonable exercise of delegates’ rights.The ruling has sparked industry backlash, with Australian Resources & Energy Employer Association (AREEA) chief executive Steve Knott saying workers’ rights have been extended to engage with workplace delegates on the employer’s time and resources, provided only that they are eligible to be members of that union.“The laws create unprecedented new powers for unions, risk turning employees into de-facto union organisers, and apply across all workplaces, including non-union sites with no enterprise agreements,” he said.“ decision materially expands the scope of workplace delegate rights. It extends the right of workplace delegates, paid for by employers, to communicate with contractors and labour hire employees working at an enterprise, regardless of whether those workers are union members.”Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) chief executive Tania Constable has called the decision an “over-reach of union power”.“Today’s decision by the Full Federal Court to overturn the FWC’s orders that placed reasonable limits on the exercise of union delegate powers confirms that unions will continue to push for expanded powers which absolve union delegates of their obligations as employees and interfere with the normal performance of work,” she said.“The decision shows that the Federal Government’s Closing Loopholes legislation gives unions significantly more power than what the independent umpire determined was a fair and reasonable balance.“Australian mining companies are already feeling unprecedented cost pressures, including from industrial relations changes, mounting energy prices, lengthy and costly project approval delays and increased royalties – driving investment offshore to low-cost jurisdictions with poor environmental and emissions standards.”The MCA says it will work with other affected industries to closely review the decision and its implications and take further action as appropriate. 

University graduates invited to work with Glencore Glencore has opened applications for its 2027 graduate program which offers university graduates the opportunity to launch their careers with the leading resources company.Open to graduates in engineering, environmental science, geology, accounting, health and safety, human resources and IT, the program begins in February 2027 and provides a strong foundation for long-term careers in the mining industry.The two-year program combines hands-on site experience with structured development, mentoring from industry leaders and access to a strong professional network, along with a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits.Since 2020, 668 graduates have joined Glencore’s Australian coal and metals operations, gaining practical experience while contributing to major regional projects and local communities.Glencore coal human resources manager Michelle Montgomery says the coal graduate program was designed to give graduates real responsibility, strong support and early exposure to operational environments.“Our Graduate Program gives emerging professionals the chance to learn, grow and thrive in a supportive and challenging environment, while building strong foundations for long-term careers,” she said."Beyond technical skills participants develop confidence in communication, teamwork and leadership, all underpinned by a strong safety culture, integrity and responsibility for solving real challenges.”For graduate geotechnical engineer Nicholas Grady, the coal graduate program offered opportunities he had not found elsewhere in the industry, particularly the chance to gain experience across both underground and open-cut operations.“I chose to apply for the Glencore graduate program because it offered opportunities other programs didn’t, particularly as a geotechnical engineer,” he said.“I’ve had the chance to work in both underground and open-cut coal operations and gain plenty of hands-on experience.“The support on site has been great. I have a direct supervisor who has been extremely helpful and someone I can always speak to, even when we’re not on site together. It’s a unique opportunity for graduates looking for real responsibility early in their careers, and I would encourage students to give it a go.”Glencore Mount Isa Mines human resources manager Shari Barwick says the metals graduate program is designed to give graduates meaningful responsibility while providing the support they need to succeed.“Our graduate program helps early-career professionals build skills, confidence and leadership capability in a supportive and challenging environment, laying the groundwork for rewarding careers in regional Queensland,” she said.“Alongside technical skills, graduates develop teamwork, communication and problem-solving abilities, guided by our strong focus on safety, integrity and real-world impact.”For metallurgist Mikayla McKenna the opportunity to challenge herself, gain practical experience and build confidence was a defining part of the program.“I joined the graduate program because I wanted hands-on experience, not just theory,” she said.“That is one of the best parts of the graduate program, learning from people who’ve been solving problems for years. That knowledge doesn’t exist in textbooks, you only get it by being here, amongst the action.“Within months of arriving, I was solving real operational problems and working with people who trusted me. That’s what made this experience unlike any other.”