Future mining leaders recognised
NINE of WA’s brightest minds were awarded mining industry scholarships by the WA Mining Club and co-sponsors at an industry luncheon last month.
The disciplines included geology, mining engineering, metallurgy and environmental science
Now in its 17th consecutive year, the WA Mining Club’s scholarship program aims to encourage students to continue their tertiary studies in mining-related disciplines to ensure the sustainability of talent within the sector and to develop the next generation of leaders.
WA Mining Club president Kirsty Danby said the 2019 edition of the scholarship program had been the biggest to date, with nearly 500 applications received.
“When the program began in 2003, there was just one scholarship offered,” she said.
“That number has grown to include scholarships in categories covering technical disciplines and to recognise promising female and Indigenous students.
“Our Club has now awarded 74 scholarships since the program started.
“Mining companies continue to lend their support through the years. This year we’d like to thank Independence Group, Mount Gibson Iron, Newmont Goldcorp Australia, Pilbara Minerals, Western Areas and Sandfire Resources for supporting individual categories.”
Each winner receives a $10,000 grant. Winners will also benefit from mentoring, career support and increased visibility within the industry.
They were selected by a panel from the scholarship co-sponsor and a representative of the WA Mining Club, which considered factors such as academic and work history, personal circumstances, financial need for a scholarship, and commitment to their chosen career.
The nine winners represent a cross-section of the WA academic landscape, including Curtin University’s WA School of Mines, Edith Cowan University, the University of WA and Murdoch University, as well as TAFE and high schools throughout WA.
Encouragingly, 62pc of finalists were female candidates, and 66pc of the winners are female.
“In recent times the WA Mining Club has called for greater diversity in the industry,” Ms Danby said.
“Judging by what we’ve seen today, we are beginning to see green shoots of change.
“Scholarships such as ours play a pivotal role in identifying talented individuals and giving them the funds, resources, connections and opportunities to lead the next generation of workers in the mining industry.”
2019 WA Mining Club Scholarships Winners:
• Geology (co-sponsored by Independence Group) – Lorgen Siziba
• Indigenous Student (co-sponsored by Independence Group) – Isabella Beck
• Female Student in a Technical Discipline (co-sponsored by Mount Gibson Iron) – Ashlyn Bland
• Resource Related Engineering (co-sponsored by Mount Gibson Iron) – Joshua Slocombe
• Female Student in a Technical Discipline (co-sponsored by Newmont Goldcorp Australia) – Georgia Kerr
• Mining Engineering (co-sponsored by Western Areas) – Edward Fox
• Metallurgy (co-sponsored by Pilbara Minerals) – Abigail Amoah
• Environmental Sciences (co-sponsored by Sandfire Resources) – Dane Vincent
• Indigenous Student (co-sponsored by Sandfire Resources) – Jarni McGuire