Queensland women win top honours in national resources awards

  • Posted 22 September, 2026
  • Media Releases

Click here for more background on the Queensland winners

We celebrate three Queensland women who have received national recognition for their outstanding achievements in resources at the 2026 Women in Resources National Awards (WIRNA) held in Melbourne last night.

Queensland took home wins in three of the six award categories. The Queensland finalists for the national awards were drawn from the winners of the 2026 QRC and WIMARQ Resources Awards for Women

Queensland’s national winners are;

  • Rae O’Brien (Thiess) – Dyno Nobel Exceptional Woman in Australian Resources Award
  • Dr Humaira Ehsan (Hastings Deering) – Mitsubishi Development Woman in Resources Technological Innovation Award
  • Kymberly Bouchardt, (BMA)– South32 Outstanding Tradeswoman/Operator/Technician in Australian Resources Awards

QRC Chief Executive Officer Janette Hewson said the three women were all leaders in their fields, working to build an innovative and strong resources industry in Queensland.

“We have outstanding women working in our industry in Queensland and Rae, Humaira and Kymberly are all out there leading the way,” Ms Hewson said.

“Through their expertise, innovation and commitment to excellence, they are driving real change in their workplaces, supporting their colleagues and creating opportunities for the next generation of women in the resources sector.

“These national awards reflect not only their individual achievements, but the significant contribution they are making to the future of Queensland’s resources sector.

“As our sector continues to grow and evolve, role models like Rae, Humaira and Kymberly are helping inspire more women to pursue rewarding and diverse careers in resources.

“They show what is possible through strong leadership, determination and a commitment to making a difference.

“This is the second year in a row that Queensland has taken home awards in three categories at WIRNA, further evidence of the depth of talent in our industry.”

Applications are now open for the 2027 QRC and WIMARQ Resources Awards for Women.

The awards across six categories celebrate outstanding leadership, achievement and advocacy across Queensland’s resources sector.

Nominations and applications are open now at: www.qrc.org.au/raw_applications/  until Friday 6 November 2026, with winners announced in March 2027.

Video of the national winners’ earlier Queensland Resources Awards for Women award wins from March 2026: Rae O’Brien, Dr Humaira Ehsan, Kymberly Bouchardt

 

Media Contact:

Miguel Holland – [email protected] or 0437 758 347

Related updates