IN just five years, Alcoa employee Sharron Freitas has climbed the ladder from a resources industry rookie to becoming a finalist in the 2017 Chamber of Minerals and Energy Women in Resources Awards.
A North Yunderup resident, Ms Freitas is a finalist in the Outstanding Operator/Technician/Trade Woman in Resources category.
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The prestigious Women in Resources Awards, run by the Western Australian Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME), recognise individual excellence and outstanding contributions to the State’s resources sector and serve to promote positive role models to young women considering a career in the industry.
After entering the sector in 2011 through a traineeship at Pinjarra alumina refinery, Ms Freitas has quickly shown the key to success is having the determination to learn new things and the drive to overcome obstacles.
Ms Freitas obtained her Certificate III in Process Plant Operations in 2012, four months ahead of schedule, and then secured a full-time operator role at the refinery’s bauxite mills where she worked with industrial grinders, crushers and conveyors used to grind and transport the ore.
Motivated to succeed, within six months of becoming a full-time operator, Ms Freitas was appointed the refinery’s first female mills control attendant. Over the next few years and with the aim of developing her leadership skills, she pursued a range of secondment opportunities with the most recent as Operations Centre Group Leader, where she manages 21 people across five work crews.
“Key to my success has been a strong work ethic, flexibility, giving and earning respect and contributing to a happy and safe workplace,” Ms Freitas said.
Ms Freitas is also eligible to win the CME’s People’s Choice Award. Vote at www.cmewa.com/news-and-events/upcoming-events/women-in-resources-awards/2017-finalists. The awards ceremony will be held on March 3 at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.