Awards to recognise proud contributions of Indigenous talent to Queensland

Click here for photo of QRC Chief Executive Officer Janette Hewson

Click here to meet QRC Indigenous Awards finalists

15 Indigenous people and three Indigenous companies have been named finalists by the Queensland’s resources sector in awards that celebrate the achievements of Aboriginal and Tores Strait Islander people.

The Queensland Resources Council’s (QRC) 2025 Indigenous Awards being held on 25 June will recognise the outstanding talent and contribution of Indigenous people and companies to the state of Queensland.

QRC Chief Executive Officer Janette Hewson said awards show the commitment the sector has made to ensuring Indigenous Queenslanders are proudly part of the state’s largest sector.

“The awards recognise the outstanding Indigenous talent in the resources sector and in 2025 our finalists come from across the state and from diverse management, operational and specialist roles that the sector offers,” Ms Hewson said.

“All our finalists are exceptional and deserve recognition for what they contribute to the sector, to the state of Queensland and for the role they play in encouraging more Indigenous people to work in the resources sector.”

“Three of the finalists are school students involved with the QRC’s educational arm, the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA), and show the genuine pathways our sector offers for young Indigenous people.”

Ms Hewson said the resources industry is proudly the biggest private sector employer of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and the awards are part of a strategy to increase participation in the industry.

“Last year Indigenous participation hit a record high of of 6.4 per cent which was a great result but our sector always strives to improve,” Ms Hewson said.

“The amount of money resources companies spent with Indigenous suppliers, contactors and businesses also reached a new high of $142.5 million.

“Nearly a third of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working in Queensland’s resources sector are women which is well above the industry wide average of 23 per cent.

“Resources companies operate in many regional and remote parts of the state and continue to proudly promote employment opportunities to local communities wherever they are based,” Ms Hewson said.

QRC will release the latest data on the representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our industry at the awards event later this month.

Media Contact:

Jana Dore – [email protected]
Matt Dunstan – [email protected]