Award Winners
2009 WA Award Winners
2009 Telstra Western Australian Business Woman
Georgina Rinehart
West Perth
Georgina is Chairman of Hancock Prospecting, an exploration and mining company founded in 1955 by her father, Lang Hancock. She took over the business in 1992 turning the company, then in difficulties, into a mining enterprise which is now the 4th largest exporter of iron ore in Australia, and is progressing further major projects in West Australia and Queensland.
During this year Mrs Rinehart’s private company commenced manganese mining at Nicholas Downs, and announced the commencement of a new mining project at Hope Downs 4 in joint venture with Rio Tinto, a project Mrs Rinehart’s company had initiated. Also this year Mrs Rinehart founded ANDEV – Australians for Northern Development and Economic Vision.
Commonwealth Bank Business Owner Award
Georgina Rinehart
West Perth
Georgina is Chairman of Hancock Prospecting, an exploration and mining company founded in 1955 by her father, Lang Hancock. She took over the business in 1992 turning the company, then in difficulties, into a mining enterprise which is now the 4th largest exporter of iron ore in Australia, and is progressing further major projects in West Australia and Queensland.
During this year Mrs Rinehart’s private company commenced manganese mining at Nicholas Downs, and announced the commencement of a new mining project at Hope Downs 4 in joint venture with Rio Tinto, a project Mrs Rinehart’s company had initiated. Also this year Mrs Rinehart founded ANDEV – Australians for Northern Development and Economic Vision.
White Pages Community and Government Award
Liz Harris
Fremantle
Liz Harris is the first female managing director of Challenger TAFE, WA’s most diverse training provider offering over 400 courses to 26,000 students. Under her leadership, Challenger has adapted to the changing demands of the economic environment, increased its national and international standing and has become one of only six large training providers to receive Gold accreditation against the Australian Quality Training Framework business excellence criteria.
Hudson Private and Corporate Sector Award
Vanessa Torres
Perth
Originally a process engineer in Brazil in the 1990’s, Vanessa Torres migrated to Australia in 2007 and joined BHP Billiton, the world’s third major nickel producer. Now the Vice President of Business Development and Projects at BHP Billiton Nickel West, her proudest career achievement to date was playing a key role in the development of her former employer’s nickel business through a greenfields and acquisition strategy.
Nokia Business Innovation Award
April Jorgensen
Subiaco
April is the Managing Director of the Australasian Academy of Cosmetic Dermal Science, a Registered Training Organisation delivering postgraduate vocational education in the new field of dermal therapies. In 2004, April commenced writing an Advanced Diploma curriculum, which builds theoretical and practical competencies in cosmetic treatments such as intense pulsed light, laser and chemical peeling.
marie claire Young Business Women’s Award
Yvette Manolas
Perth
At 28, Yvette Manolas is a Senior Engineer at Woodside Energy, Australia's largest publicly traded oil and gas exploration and production company. One of only four recognised global Perforating (explosive) Subject Matter Experts, she also recently developed a software package now used by major oil and gas companies around the world.