Rio Tinto recognised for gender diversity and anti-domestic violence program

According to Mining News Pro - Rio Tinto has received two awards at the 2018 Women in Resources National Awards (WIRNA) for gender diversity and anti-domestic violence initiatives.

The mining major won in the Excellence in Diversity Programs and Performance category, while employee Rachel Durdin, a growth & innovation project shaping general manager at Rio Tinto, was named winner of the Gender Diversity Champion in Australian Resources category.

The company secured the Excellence in Diversity Programs and Performance award for its White Ribbon Workplace Australia accreditation, which it received earlier this year for meeting 15 necessary criteria under three standards to support gender equality and offer support for women who have experienced violence in and out of the workplace.

Durdin meanwhile was recognised for her achievements within the company for ensuring the company remain safe and equal for all employees.

“It has been a long journey but I’m so pleased with how far we have come in achieving real change for women in our sector,” she said.

“While there’s a long way to go, we are headed in the right direction by providing safe and supportive workplaces and continued opportunities for women in all types of roles across our business.”

Rio Tinto also received commendations for its Inclusion Network at Weipa Operations in Queensland (also in the Excellence in Diversity Programs and Performance category), and for finalist Jo-Anne Dudley in the Exceptional Woman in Australian Resources category for her work to promote women in engineering.

WIRNA, which is now in its fifth year, is a partnership between state mining bodies such as the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA), Queensland Resources Council (QRC), Chamber of Minerals and Energy Western Australia (CMEWA), NSW Minerals Council, South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy, and Tasmanian Minerals and Energy Council (TMEC). The MCA also hosted this year’s awards.