Professor Bronwyn Fredericks, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) and BMA Chair in Indigenous Engagement was a guest speaker at BMA's Diversity Breakfast and also a facilitator at the company's Future Female Leaders Workshop in Moranbah recently.

The Breakfast also provided an opportunity for presentations on 'diversity in the workplace' from Vincent Cosgrove, BMA's Head of External Affairs, Suzan McDaniel, Vice President Talent, and Juliette Bourke, Deloitte.

Vincent Cosgrove, Juliette Bourke, Prof Bronwyn Fredericks, Melita Lee and Suzan McDaniel

Prof Fredericks spoke about the BMA/CQUniversity partnership, some of the achievements to date and the plans for increased Indigenous participation in education and transition from school to higher education within the Central Queensland region.

"The BMA/CQUniversity partnership will ensure we build strong relationships with Indigenous people where we can collectively work towards quality and sustainable outcomes for the future. We are demonstrating and building leadership together," she said. 

The Future Female Leaders Workshop which followed the breakfast gave women the opportunity to network, to consolidate and share learning, and even to identify a possible peer mentor.

Some of the group in workshop modeProf Fredericks helped facilitate group discussions and assisted women with their personal career goals. She was asked by BMA to ‘get women to focus on raising their visibility and the power of networking'.

Prof Fredericks was inspired by the women and their willingness to challenge themselves, and each other, and to work on strategies to build their careers. She congratulated BMA for offering such a developmental program to women and for holding the event in Moranbah.

* BMA stands for BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance.