91天堂原創

Increasingly diverse workforces are helping resource companies achieve superior performance, safety and stable production, according to BHP Billiton鈥檚 Human Resource President, Mike Fraser.

Fraser delivered the keynote address at the inaugural Women in Resources Awards (WIRNA) in Brisbane on 2 September, with the national awards program building on the state-based Resources Council awards, celebrating the achievements of women, men and companies who make outstanding contributions to the industry.

BHP Billiton boasted four finalists at the Awards, with Laura Tyler, Asset President, Cannington winning the 鈥楨xceptional Woman in Australian Resources.鈥�

Diversity and inclusion

Fraser spoke about the important business benefit that comes from diversity and inclusion: 鈥淒iversity and inclusion make good business sense. We have found that where our workplaces are more inclusive and collaborative, we achieve superior performance results. Safety results are better, production is more stable, employee engagement is higher and turnover is lower.鈥�

Fraser stressed that diversity was not just about gender, but includes different aspects of individual uniqueness including thought, experience, age, disability, nationality, ethnicity, orientation, gender and perspective.

Gender imbalance

He added that BHP Billiton has implemented a number of diversity initiatives to help drive performance: 鈥淲e are addressing the historical gender imbalance we have seen in our industry by having a particular emphasis on increasing female representation in key operational roles.

鈥淔or example, in Queensland, our Daunia and Caval Ridge operations are proving that with a strong commitment, the gender diversity gap in the resources industry can be narrowed.

鈥淔rom the start of development of these projects seven years ago, BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) committed to create a diverse workforce at Daunia and Caval Ridge with at least 30% female and 5% Indigenous employees.

鈥淭he operations offered training for female employees new to the industry and interested in taking on more responsibility. We are now on track to achieve this goal by 2015 with female employees now making up 25% at Daunia and 20% at Caval Ridge.鈥�

BHP Billiton finalists

Fraser also congratulated the finalists and winners of the WIRNA Awards and said that BHP Billiton was very pleased to have four finalists nominated:

• Lucas Dow, Asset President, BMA for the 鈥楨xcellence in Diversity Programs and Performance鈥� category
• Laura Tyler, Asset President, Cannington for 鈥楨xceptional Woman in Australian Resources鈥�
• Jo Barron-Perry, Senior Mining Engineer, Olympic Dam for 鈥楪ender Diversity Champion in Australian Resources鈥� category
• Emma Stevenson, Electrical Instrument Technician, Nickel West for 鈥極utstanding Australian Tradeswoman/ Operator/ Technician category.

鈥淚 would like to congratulate all the finalists, including the BHP Billiton finalists and winner Laura Tyler from Cannington. Participation in these awards will go a long way to raising awareness about the important role that diversity plays in our business and the resources sector generally,鈥� Fraser concluded.

Adapted from press release by

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