Click here for photos of student participants and the finale event

Click here for video grabs – interviews with student participants, mentor and Janette Hewson, CEO, Queensland Resources Council

A unique six-month female mentoring program for Year 12 students has finished today with a special finale event for participants from across Queensland.

Twenty Year 12 students from as far north as Cairns and west to Roma have completed the Girls in Resources Leadership Skills (GIRLS) program with each student mentored by an experienced woman working in a professional or trade role in the resources industry.

The GIRLS mentoring program is delivered by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA), the education arm of the Queensland Resources Council (QRC), in partnership with Women in Mining and Resources Queensland (WIMARQ).

QRC Chief Executive Officer, Janette Hewson, said the GIRLS mentoring program was an important initiative for attracting talented young women into the industry.

“The evidence is in the results of this program – with over 90 per cent of last year’s participants now undertaking studies to enter the industry or already working as apprentices,” Mrs Hewson said.

“You cannot underestimate the power of a great mentor – especially for Year 12 students at a critical point in deciding their study or apprenticeship pathway after school,” she said.

Mrs Hewson said the resources sector has a lot to offer young people as they start their career.

“They’ll enjoy significant personal rewards and the thrill of contributing to an industry leading the way in developing technologies and innovations that will shape our future.” said Mrs Hewson.

“I know the partnership the students have made with their mentors has helped them to define their study preferences after school and excite them about pursuing a career in resources either in a professional or trade role.”

WIMARQ Co-chair, Sally Rayner, said over the past seven years the program had empowered and celebrated over 140 young women as they navigated the transition from school to a career.

“The GIRLS program gives young women with an interest in science, technology, engineering, maths (STEM) and trades the support and confidence they need to thrive by connecting them with industry professionals,” Ms Rayner said.

“We want to champion a future where diversity is celebrated, and every young woman can see herself in this industry,” she said.

Lilly Brady, a Year 12 student from Bundamba State College and QMEA student ambassador said the program had been a game changer.

“My mentor, Emily, gave me a deeper understanding of the different roles an engineer can have on a mine site and helped me to grow as a person,” said Lilly.

“She has given me the confidence to pursue my dreams of going to university and studying mining/environmental engineering.

Ultimately, I would like to become a tailings engineer so I can work on environmental sustainability around a mine site,” she said.

“The GIRLS program has made me feel like the future is full of opportunity rather than the unknown.”

Platinum sponsor, BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) has been an enthusiastic supporter of the program since its inception seven years ago.

“We’ve seen firsthand the impact of this program – with over 80% of past mentees pursuing careers in STEM or resources. And we’re thrilled that many of our own employees have gone from mentees to mentors, showing the lasting value of these connections.” Said Lydia Gentle, Head of Engineering, BMA.

In addition to BMA, the 2025 GIRLS mentoring program has been made possible thanks to the support of: Jellinbah Mining, Whitehaven Coal, Glencore Technology, Thiess, Coronado Global, and Idemitsu Australia. The six-month program was delivered in partnership with Metisphere, organisational psychology.

The 2025 GIRLS mentoring program participants are