Iluka Resources has taken out the prestigious Chamber of Minerals and Energy Women in Resources WA and National awards.

Big Fish Media and Events’ Monique Warnock worked with Iluka Resources Narngulu Operations Manager Stuart Forrester to write the award about his cutting edge work which fundamentally changed the way Iluka approached recruitment.

The job criteria was altered in order to attract people without previous mining experience and include questions that explored applicants’ commitment, integrity and responsibility, which are Iluka’s key values.

“As soon as I spoke to Stuart, I knew it was a winning entry because of the way he and Iluka had broken new ground in employing people in the mining industry,” Monique said.

“After winning the State and National awards, mining companies throughout the country are clamouring to meet Stuart and hear about Iluka’s success.”

As part of the new recruitment process, Stuart improved Iluka’s training systems for people who came into the business with no previous experience and who would need more training, but had the right values and behaviours.

By adopting a new approach to recruitment, the number of female employees at Iluka’s Narngulu operation increased from 16.5% in 2012 to 25.4% in 2013 and from zero to 20%  in operations crews over the past three years.

Instead of one demographic with similar backgrounds reinforcing certain dominant behaviours, Narngulu now has male, female and Indigenous employees of different ages from a range of backgrounds, expertise and experience and a more consistent and higher standard of behaviours.

Iluka’s new recruitment process adds to the company’s reputation within the local, mining and broader communities, with an increasing perception (now reality!) that they provide opportunities for all individuals.