Women in industry awards

MEET THE WOMEN IN INDUSTRY 2020 WINNERS

FOLLOWING A RECORD NUMBER OF NOMINATIONS, ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE ANNOUNCES THE 2020 WOMEN IN INDUSTRY AWARD WINNERS.

This year saw the Women in Industry Awards take place online and across partner titles such as Roads & Infrastructure magazine.

As always, the awards seek to celebrate the outstanding success and industry work that women in traditionally male dominated industrial markets have achieved.

With a record number of nominations in 2020, the Women in Industry judges had a significant challenge picking winners across each of the categories.

This year categories included social leader of the year, rising star of the year, business development success of the year, industry advocacy, safety advocacy, mentor of the year, excellence in manufacturing, excellence in mining, excellence in engineering and excellence in transport.

Roads & Infrastructure wishes to congratulate each of the winners and

Social Leader of the Year: Jackie Lewis-Gray - BAE Systems Australia Rising Star of the Year: Alicia Heskett - Shell Australia (QGC) Business Development Success of the Year: Rachael Ashfield - ifm efector Industry Advocacy Award: Rose Read - National Waste & Recycling Industry Council Safety Advocacy Award: Nadine Youssef - Sydney Trains Mentor of the Year: Dayle Stevens - AGL Energy Excellence in Manufacturing: Rochelle Avinu - Leica Biosystems Excellence in Mining: Sarah Withell - Whitehaven Coal Limited Excellence in Engineering: Elizabeth Taylor - RedR International Excellence in Transport: Melissa Strong - Lindsay Australia Limited nominees for their outstanding work in each respective industry. Please see the list of winners in the breakout box.

Melissa Donald, National Association of Women in Operations board member, was one of six judges for the 2020 awards. She says the calibre of nominees was so impressive, with a range of experience and backgrounds, which made judging challenging.

“As a passionate inclusion and diversity advocate, and as a Board Member of NAWO, it has been a pleasure judging the Women in Industry Awards, which so importantly recognises the achievements of women across different sectors who are driving positive change for future generations,” she says.

“Congratulations to the winners, whose achievements can inspire more women and men to pursue careers in operations and continue to drive better gender balance across all industries.”

The winner of the Excellence in Engineering award, Elizabeth Taylor is Chair of the Board at RedR International, a humanitarian response agency that selects, trains and deploys technical specialists.

Among her many achievements Taylor has worked to improve disaster response

Elizabeth Taylor (middle) , winner of the Excellence in Engineering award.

overseas, enhance the purchasing potential of the Australian Defence Force and facilitate pathways for Australian-trained engineers to work overseas.

Taylor is an Officer of the Order of Australia for her contributions to engineering education and gender diversity and is one of the most influential leaders and women in the engineering profession in the country.

She is most proud of her work to increase diversity in universities and the participation of women in engineering after experiencing exclusion as a woman in the early stages of her career.