Raimunda Townend

Born deep in the Amazon, Raimunda was one of six children in a subsistence farming family. After fire destroyed their home, her parents moved to Macapá, determined that their children would be educated. Their sacrifices paid off, Raimunda became the first woman from the Amazon to graduate in Geology from the University of Para Brazil. She began her career with the Brazilian Geological Survey and later Vale, before migrating to Australia in 1980 and rebuilding her career while learning English and raising three sons. 

For five years, Raimunda was paid as a technician before being formally recognised as a mineralogist. In 1997, at age 51, she founded Diamantina Laboratories in Perth, transforming it from a two-person operation into a team of 14. Today, Diamantina is Western Australia’s only private, independent laboratory specialising in mineral processing and mineralogy. It has grown from processing 40 samples to 2,000 samples per week and has worked with nearly every major mineral sands company in Australia. 

Beyond her technical achievements, Raimunda’s life has been defined by generosity and mentorship. She has supported families in Sierra Leone, helping 16 children access education from primary school through to university. She has also helped women escape domestic violence, guided employees to pursue further education, and supported immigrant geologists to regain professional recognition.