BHP

BHP’s Gender Equal Mining (GEM) Program, based at Newman Operations, is redefining what capability and inclusion look like in modern mining. Launched in 2023 to future-proof the careers of women during Newman’s transition to autonomy, GEM began as the Ancillary Upskilling Program, training women in dozer, loader and grader operations. It has since expanded to strengthen representation in leadership, Drill and Blast, and flexible work. 

What began as a targeted capability initiative has grown into a catalyst for lasting cultural change. To date, 146 women have been upskilled, surpassing the original target of 94. Female participation in Drill and Blast has more than doubled, rising from 13.6 to 28.6 per cent, while female frontline supervisors have increased from 20.6 to 33.8 per cent. Part-time participation has tripled, and female attrition has halved to a record low of 9.25 per cent. 

The program’s success lies in embedding equity into every aspect of operational planning. By aligning training, leadership development and flexible work with workforce needs, GEM has delivered record performance and retention outcomes. Its model is now informing BHP’s broader inclusion strategy and inspiring replication across other operations and companies, demonstrating that flexibility, capability and diversity can drive operational excellence.