Liontown brought together voices from across the business for a wide-ranging International Women’s Day panel discussion and keynote speech, tackling everything from career journeys and high-performing teams to invisible barriers and practical initiatives supporting women in the mining industry.

The event was opened by Chief Operating Officer Ryan Hair. A panel, hosted by Underground Manager Holly Keenan, featured five team members from across the breadth of our site operations:

• Chrissy Gagliardi, Senior Concentrate Logistics Officer
• Dean Lilly, Maintenance Manager
• Madeline Monkman, Senior Mine Backfill Engineer
• Jeremy Neesham, Community & Aboriginal Employment Lead; and
• Sophie Stimson, Byrnecut SEQ&T Trainer

Each offered perspectives shaped by different roles and experiences throughout their career and at Kathleen Valley.

Panellists shared open accounts of their paths into mining, a sector which is still heavily male-dominated. Common threads emerged around the importance of mentors, resilience, and having allies willing to advocate for women in the workplace. The conversation didn’t shy away from harder topics either, with Holly jumping straight into questioning the tension between International Women’s Day and International Men’s Day and how we can drive positive change without division. Madeline also recounted a stalking incident from a previous workplace that she initially hesitated to report, and Chrissy described a meeting from her previous job where frightening behaviour went unchallenged by others present.

A standout discussion centred on the “For My Sisters” initiative. Dean explained the initiative grew out of a real situation where the absence of feminine products created a genuine barrier for women at work. Sophie noted that this kind of practical measure remains uncommon across the industry, positioning Liontown and Kathleen Valley a step ahead.

Jeremy broadened the conversation, drawing attention to the additional barriers faced by Aboriginal women and the importance of understanding diverse backgrounds. He explained that while opportunities are open to everyone, the path to them and the experience once in them are very different and more challenging for many.

Panellists closed with practical advice for attendees: stand up for others, don’t underestimate small actions, and keep communication open. All panel members encouraged any employee seeking support or guidance to approach them for a chat.

The event concluded with a keynote from Liontown Non-Executive Director Jenn Morris, who drew on her experience in elite sport and business to outline what equity looks like in high-performance environments. Her message was built around three pillars: honesty in feedback, measuring progress through continuous improvement rather than comparison, and practising humility as a way to identify missing voices and dismantle systemic barriers. She encouraged a culture of generous credit-giving, linking it directly to trust, performance, and Liontown’s growth.