Internationally recognised environmental work and an ability to roll up the sleeves and do any job, while mentoring others, were defining qualities of the winners of awards given out by the extractives industry in March 2023.

Celebrating diversity and inclusion, Straterra, AQA and MinEx hosted their first Women in Extractives lunch and awards ceremony sponsored by Komatsu New Zealand.

Stephanie Hayton took out the MITO – Te Pūkenga Emerging Star award for her environmental work at OceanaGold, as well as showing exceptional skill, leadership, and adaptability in her work.

Her achievements in researching the concept of a passive water treatment system as part of a mine rehabilitation has been recognised around the world. Her current work on Archey’s frog, and the biodiversity of the Waihi North Project has the potential to be a game changer.

Allanah Toko-Mikahere was named Hanga-Aro-Rau Workforce Development Council Leader of the Year for her leadership at Winstone Aggregates in Hawke’s Bay. Allanah is the supervisor of a mainly male crew at Roy’s Hill Quarry. With the attitude that you can’t tell someone to do something unless you have done it yourself, she has become proficient at all tasks in the quarry and is responsible for mentoring and employment of local young people and whānau at the quarry.

The Kristy Christensen Memorial Award (sponsored by MinEx) was awarded to Kristy Christensen posthumously in recognition of her valued contribution to diversity and inclusion in the industry.

Amy Carter, founding chief executive of The Christchurch Foundation, was the guest speaker and spoke candidly about the diversity and inclusion journey.