Photo: Clinton Bartley
2021 BBMC CRIB ROOM PODCAST
Pulling back the curtain: the ‘true believers’ of industry
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ollowing on from the success of the first season of the BBMC Crib Room Podcast, we found 10 more industry leaders willing to share their stories in 2021. We asked the big industry questions – and discovered fascinating little-known facts about our guests and their influential journeys Nothing is off the table in The Crib Room – here’s what we discussed! Interested in catching up on past episodes? Search ‘BBMC Crib Room’ wherever you listen to your podcasts, or visit bit.ly/cribroompodcast. EPISODE 1
INCLUSION, CHANGE AND CHALLENGE WITH MARIA JOYCE, BHP
Our first episode for the season was recorded on International Women’s Day – so it was fitting that we talked to Maria Joyce of BHP about cultural change for women in today’s mining industry. Maria is currently the Chief of Staff to BHP’s CEO, but she’s a mining engineer by trade with over 20 years’ experience in leadership, operational, technical and business improvement roles across the mining
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BBMC Yearbook 2021
sector, including a 3-year stint as Chair of the QRC’s Women in Resources and Mining Queensland (WIMARQ) committee. Maria reflected on the conditions she’s built her career on, and the shifts in equality across time: “I had to fight really hard for respect, well above the trust and rapport you try and earn when you start a new role anywhere in any company or industry. I did make sure along the way that I did it collaboratively, engaging to build camaraderie. Even back then, that was a real cultural change in the industry.” “I think the industry has significantly shifted. I do still think we have a long way to go, but I think now mining companies realise that it's common sense to have a workforce that is better reflective of the society that we live in. And they've actually seen that there are huge performance gains to be made, right to the bottom line. Diverse teams bring cultural and innovation impacts that are positive to your business. For years and years there's been that discussion around how you fix women and you get them to fit in. But now I think the conversation's flipped on its head: now it's about asking ‘how do we bring them to the table? What are their ideas?’” “Every person in the industry, man or woman, has a role in fostering a culture that better reflects society. It’s about reflecting every day on how you can make a difference, and challenging yourself to ask, ‘what legacy am I going to leave my kids or those that are following my footsteps to hunt down a career in mining and resources?’”.
