Bronwyn Barnes was inducted in to the IWD Hall of Fame.
Camera IconBronwyn Barnes was inducted in to the IWD Hall of Fame. Credit: Supplied/Andrew Ritchie

Mining boss inducted in to WA Women’s Hall of Fame

Denise S. CahillWestern Suburbs Weekly

BRONWYN Barnes, of Swanbourne, was among 15 women to be inducted in to the WA Women’s Hall of Fame last night.

The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) executive council member sits on several boards, including ASX listed mining companies, Perth Racing and Curtin School of Business.

In 2015, Ms Barnes won the Outstanding Women in Resources Award from the Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA and the Exceptional Woman in Australian Resources Award – achievements she is very proud of.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

More news from around Perth

Health chief opens up on WA’s busiest emergency department

Ms Barnes credits her success in the male dominated industry to having good female role models who have paved a clear pathway for women like her.

Her two daughters have also followed careers in male dominated industries.

However, Ms Barnes said women did not need to follow a specific career path.

After graduating from St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School, Ms Barnes studied a Bachelor of Arts in French and Medieval History at UWA before completing a postgraduate Business degree.

“While I was on maternity leave a got a call from Anaconda, which was Twiggy Forrest’s nickel company, offering me a lobbying role,” she said.

“It was an opportunity to get in to an industry that I really wanted.

“It was the early 1990s, there were a couple of women around in mining but in traditional female roles like HR, finance and accounting.

“There weren’t many women on site.”

Ms Barnes said International Women’s Day was an opportunity to start conversations about equality and appreciate how lucky women in Australia were compared to other countries.

WA Women’s Hall of Fame 2019

  • Frauke Bolten-Boshammer
  • Alexandra Atkins
  • Anette Schoombee .
  • M’Liss Henry
  • Annie Nayina Milgin
  • Bronwyn Lesley Barnes
  • Irene Stainton
  • Violet Arrey
  • Marion Fulker
  • Rhonda Marriott
  • Lee Musumeci
  • Dawn Wallam
  • Rishelle Hume
  • Joyce Pamela Westrip
  • Clara (Decima) Norman (Posthumous)

MORE ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

Cop proves it’s never too late to follow your dream

Harry Perkins research associate to honour family

Perth Airport operations manager soars on IWD