2012 Western Australian Winners Announced
16 Oct 2012
Innovative WA gold mine manager wins top Business Women’s Award
The General Manager of an underground gold mine who led the development of an engineering innovation with international potential for the safety of mineworkers has today been named the 2012 Telstra Western Australian Business Woman of the Year.
Julie Shuttleworth heads the Granny Smith mining and ore processing operations of Barrick Gold Corporation, the world's leading gold producer. A metallurgist with 18 years experience in the gold and copper mining industry in Australia and overseas, she also won the Hudson Private and Corporate Sector Award and the Nokia Business Innovation Award in Perth today.
Since 2010, she has led a team of 700 people at the Granny Smith Gold Mine, located 950 kms from Perth near Laverton and Kalgoorlie.
Previously she ran a mine site with 2000 employees and also led Barrick's Buzwagi Gold Project in Tanzania from feasibility study to operating mine.
Raised in Pemberton in WA, Ms Shuttleworth confronted the difficulties mineworkers face in changing tyres on underground mobile equipment in confined spaces. Traditional methods have caused serious injuries and fatalities. She sponsored a project to develop a low profile tyre handler that removes the need for people to be around the tyre while it is positioned for changing.
Ms Shuttleworth says of her leadership style: “My philosophy is to encourage a positive and collaborative team environment, be authentic, and always lead by example. I go into the field every day and talk to people about safety and their contribution to the business.”
She follows other mining industry leaders including Denise Goldsworthy in 2010 and Gina Rinehart in 2009 to win the accolade of Telstra WA Business Woman of the Year.
Other winners at the Telstra WA Business Women’s Awards were Olivia Humphrey, owner of Subiaco-based Kanopy which works with universities to promote academic online videos; Johanna Cowdrey, CEO of Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council in Broome; and Canadian-born Allison Brown, Environmental Systems and Development Manager in Barrick’s Australia Pacific head office in Perth.
Kate McKenzie, Group Managing Director Telstra Innovation, Products & Marketing and Telstra Business Women’s Awards Ambassador, said the WA winners were inspirational business women and leaders in their sectors. “They have displayed innovation in their business or community that influences and motivates others and their achievements are cause for celebration,” she said.
Ms McKenzie said: “Julie Shuttleworth was acknowledged by the Telstra Awards judges for the breadth and depth of her understanding of all operational and financial facets of her business and her commitment to the growth and development of all her employees. She is an inspiration to women to pursue career aspirations with life balance. She does not accept the status quo in a very male-dominated industry and her life-saving innovation has global potential.”
Mark Steyn, CEO of Hudson Australia/New Zealand said: “As sponsor of the Private & Corporate Sector Award, Hudson is passionate about profiling successful women in business such as Julie Shuttleworth and recognising the hugely valuable contribution they continue to make to corporate and community life. It is a privilege to be associated with an event that showcases the excellent calibre and quality of talented women working in Western Australia and across Australia.”
Steve Lewis, Head of Sales, Nokia Australia and New Zealand, said: The Innovation category in the Telstra Business Women's Awards has shown us again that there are many talented and impressive women making a huge difference to the Australian economy and to people in their local community. The achievements and journey of Julie Shuttleworth are an inspiration to us all."
Winners of the 2012 Telstra Western Australian Business Women’s Awards are:
Commonwealth Bank Business Owner Award
Olivia Humphrey, Kanopy, Subiaco
After a decade in international and local media rights management, Olivia Humphrey established Kanopy, a business behind the distribution of online academic videos to the tertiary sector. She created a fullycustomised streaming platform and suite of teaching and learning applications that led her to work with every major Australian university. Telstra judges said she identified a market niche and took the lead globally with her business, developing a commercial venture with strong innovation. They said her clear, goal-oriented vision was ambitious but realistic, praising her communication skills and capacity to take her team with her.
Hudson Private and Corporate Sector Award
Julie Shuttleworth, Barrick Gold Corporation, Perth
White Pages® Community & Government Award
Johanna Cowdrey, Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council, Broome
Johanna Cowdrey moved from gold prospecting to a rewarding career in Aboriginal Health, rising to become CEO of the Yura Yungi Aboriginal Medical Services in Halls Creek. Back in Broome, she was appointed to management roles within Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council (KAMSC) and ultimately CEO. Telstra judges described her as a pragmatic person and successful negotiator who demonstrated sound business acumen in her own small business and across KAMSC where she leads 200 staff with a $40 million budget across a massive remote geographical area with significant cultural and political challenges.
Nokia Business Innovation Award
Julie Shuttleworth, Barrick Gold Corporation, Perth
marie claire Young Business Woman's Award
Allison Brown, Barrick Australia Ltd, Perth
In 2007 Allison Brown moved from Canada to Australia with gold miner Barrick Gold as environmental officer for the Cowal mine in NSW. Today she is an Environmental Systems and Development Manager with responsibility for implementing environmental standards at nine sites in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Zambia and Saudi Arabia. Telstra Awards judges described her as durable, respected at all levels, authentic and a strong and humble leader, adding that she had brought gravitas to environmental management in culturally diverse, male-dominated mine sites.
2012 Telstra Western Australian Business Woman of the Year
Julie Shuttleworth, Barrick Gold Corporation, Perth
The Western Australian winners proceed to the national finals of the Telstra Business Women’s Awards that will be announced in Sydney on 21 November. The winners share in $200,000 in cash and prizes split among the state, territory and national winners and become part of an exclusive national business alumni with wide networking opportunities.
More information on the Telstra Business Women’s Awards can be found at
www.telstrabusinesswomensawards.com
Media contacts:
Trevor Robb | 0408 905 113 | Telstra
Reference: 299/2012
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Telstra Business Women's Awards Network