Julie Bishop headlines IQA Diversity and Inclusion Conference

The Institute of Quarrying Australia (IQA) will host its next Diversity and Inclusion Conference on 27 October in West Perth, featuring  a former Australian Foreign Affairs Minister as the keynote speaker.
The Hon Julie Bishop, the former Foreign Affairs Minister and the current chancellor of the Australian National University, headlines a stellar line-up of speakers representing entities such as the Western Australian Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, WA/NT Concrete, WesTrac and even the Australian hockey team.
“It’s a great honour that a person of Julie Bishop’s stature has agreed to talk to our people at the forthcoming Diversity and Inclusion Conference,” IQA President Shane Braddy told Quarry. “She has been a champion of diversity and inclusion in one of the toughest and traditionally the most male-dominated arenas of Australian and international politics. What better advocate and role model can there be for people in our industry to look up to? It’s important that we encourage people of all backgrounds – regardless of gender, ethnicity, culture and religion – to pursue both professional and educational opportunities, and Ms Bishop has a very impressive list of achievements behind her.”
In addition to serving as Foreign Affairs Minister for nearly five years (from 2013 to 2018), Julie Bishop held ministerial portfolios for ageing and science, education and training from 2003 to 2007, and was also the Minister assisting the Prime Minister on Women’s Issues (to the Hon John Howard). She was also the deputy leader of the Federal Liberal parliamentary party for 11 years (from 2007 to 2018). Before entering politics, Ms Bishop had a very successful career as a solicitor and barrister (from 1979 to 1998) and was a managing partner at Clayton Utz in Perth. She also held a number of chairmanships, directorships and board positions, including on SBS Television, Murdoch University and the Australian Institute of Management.
The theme for the single-day conference is Drilling Deeper. It will explore the technical, geological, environmental and human capabilities of the quarrying sector. Other speakers who will present on the day include:

  • Sharon Kais, Kais Hire.
  • Rebecca Reeves, the general manager of WA/NT Concrete.
  • Marisa Taliangis, consultant at Corrs Chambers Westgarth.
  • Tammy Eales, general manager for people and culture, WesTrac.
  • Greg Barnes, of Priority Management.
  • Australian Hockeyroos player Georgia Wilson.

The single-day conference will be followed by a rare opportunity to network with people from these parties and more, all presented by Women in Quarrying. Further details about registrations, including organising a table of eight for the post-conference dinner can be found on the IQA website.
The Diversity and Inclusion Conference is supported by industry partners Hanson, Boral, Holcim and Wagners and other sponsors include Komatsu, WesTrac Caterpillar, Hitachi Construction Machinery, Metso Outotec and Groundwork Plus.

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