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Georgina Rinehart (pictured), Chairman of Hancock Prospecting, has been named the 2009 Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year at an awards ceremony in Melbourne. In addition to the National Business Woman of the Year Award, Rinehart also won the Commonwealth Bank Business Owner Award.
Commenting on her award, Rinehart said: “In being honoured with this award, I pay tribute to the many thousands of Australians working in the pastoral, mining and resources industries of which I am proud to be a part. It’s exciting to witness the increasing role of women in these businesses, particularly as we enter a new era in international relations.”
“There are exciting times ahead for Australia, especially for companies at the forefront of developments with Asia. Both China’s and India’s economies are forecast to double in the next decade, and we are well positioned as a nation to forge valuable and fruitful relationships,” she said.
Georgina Rinehart was the standout for the prestigious award because she has successfully transformed a small prospecting company to a mining house recognised on a global scale. Georgina is Chairman of Hancock Prospecting, an exploration and mining company founded in 1955 by her father, Lang Hancock. She took over the business in 1992 turning the company, then in difficulties, into a mining enterprise which is now the fourth largest exporter of iron ore in Australia, and is progressing further major iron ore projects.
A mother-of-four, Georgina is active across all aspects of the business and is responsible for the strategy and direction of the company, currently focusing on joint venture projects with Rio Tinto.
“Georgina’s accomplishments and outstanding business success locally and overseas make her a particularly outstanding role model for other Australian business women. Her continued focus and dedication to both business and the local community has a positive impact in Western Australia and is an inspiration to others,” said Holly Kramer, Group Managing Director, Telstra Product Management and Telstra Business Women’s Awards Ambassador.
Now in its 15th year, the Awards recognise the achievements of women in business of all business backgrounds, from up-and-coming young business women to corporate leaders and those working in the not-for-profit sector. The Awards program has recognised over 400 business women since its inception in 1995.
Other winners in the 2009 Telstra Business Women’s Awards are:
2009 TELSTRA BUSINESS WOMEN’S AWARD NATIONAL WINNERS
2009 Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year and Commonwealth Bank Business Owner Award – Georgina Rinehart, Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd (West Perth)
Hudson Private and Corporate Sector Award – Rhonda Brighton-Hall, Luxottica (Macquarie Park)
As Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Communication, Asia Pacific and Africa, Rhonda Brighton-Hall influences the working environment of 8,500 employees regionally. Rhonda leads the development and implementation of strategy in people, culture and communication for a company that in her region alone has a turnover of more than one billion euros.
White Pages Community and Government Award – Romilly Madew, Green Building Council of Australia (Sydney)
As CEO of the Green Building Foundation of Australia, Romilly Madew’s biggest business achievement has been growing a small industry association into an influential, internationally recognised organisation tackling the issue of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The GBCA aims to develop a sustainable building industry and promote green building practices.
Nokia Business Innovation Award – Dr Catherine Foley, CSIRO (Lindfield)
Dr Catherine Foley is a Chief Research Scientist at CSIRO, Australia’s largest government research organisation. As one of Australia’s top applied physicists, she has achieved international recognition in her field, particularly for the commercialisation of systems for mineral exploration, which has contributed to the discovery of more than six billion dollars’ worth of mines worldwide.
marie claire Young Business Women’s Award – Dr Emma Cassar, Corrections Victoria, Department of Justice (Deer Park)
Dr Emma Cassar, 32, was the first female and youngest person to ever transition from forensic psychology to an operations management role within the Victorian prison system. Innovative policy and astute decision-making has seen Emma promoted rapidly over a five year period, and she now finds herself General Manager of the Women’s Prison System in Victoria with responsibility for all functional areas of the Victorian women’s prison system, managing a budget of $22.3 million.
For more information about the winners and this year’s nominees for the Telstra Australian Business Women Awards visit the website www.telstrabusinesswomensawards.com
Source: Telstra Australian Business Women Awards