QRC celebrates Indigenous industry excellence

QRC will release the latest data on the representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the industry at the awards event later this month.

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has announced the finalists for the 2025 Indigenous Awards that celebrate the outstanding talent and contribution of Indigenous people and companies to the state’s resource sector.

Across the six award categories, 15 Indigenous people and three Indigenous companies have been named as finalists.

Indigenous Advocacy

  • Whitehaven environment and rehabilitation manager Byron Ginty
  • Thiess operator, trainer, assessor and crew safety representative Jemma Kemp
  • South32 (ASX: S32) local sourcing professional supply team members Michelle O’Brien, Jenaya Storey and Kylie Allan

Exceptional Indigenous Person

  • Stanmore Resources (ASX: SMR) senior environmental advisor Nelson Dindillo
  • Thiess tyres subject matterexpert principal Clinton Harding
  • Thiess autonomous haulage controller Anna Umba

Indigenous Rising Star

  • Stanmore Resources blast hole production driller Patrice Hambers
  • Thiess executive assistant to the group executive Kirsty Hunter
  • Origin Energy law graduate Jameika Maddock

Exceptional Indigenous QMEA Student

  • Good Shepherd Catholic College student Alexandra Chiauzzi
  • Glenala State High School student Alyssa Ivinson
  • Kirwan State High School student Ezekiel Saylor-Pau

Exceptional Indigenous Business

  • Biodiversity Australia with Bravus
  • MOEC with Origin Energy
  • Ochre Australia with Whitehaven

Best Company Indigenous Initiative

  • Arrow Energy and CQ University Whanu Binal Indigenous Online Entrepreneur program
  • Kestrel Coal Aware, Connect, Represent Cultural Awareness program
  • Stanmore Resources Stanmore Indigenous Trainee Program

QRC chief executive Janette Hewson says the awards show the commitment the sector has made to ensuring Indigenous Queenslanders are proudly part of the state’s largest sector.

“The awards recognise the outstanding Indigenous talent in the resources sector and in 2025 our finalists come from across the state and from diverse management, operational and specialist roles that the sector offers,” she said.

The resource sector is the largest private sector employer of Indigenous people and the awards are part of a strategy to increase participation across the industry.

“Last year Indigenous participation hit a record high of 6.4% which was a great result, but our sector always strives to improve,” Ms Hewson said.

“The amount of money resources companies spent with Indigenous suppliers, contactors and businesses also reached a new high of $142.5m.

“Nearly a third of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working in Queensland’s resources sector are women which is well above the industry wide average of 23%.

“Resources companies operate in many regional and remote parts of the state and continue to proudly promote employment opportunities to local communities wherever they are based,”

Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on June 25.

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