In recognition of her stellar career in the mining industry, Julie Shuttleworth has taken out the 2014 Women in Industry Award for Excellence in Mining.
Shuttleworth has 20 years’ experience in the mining industry in Australia, China, and Tanzania. She graduated from Murdoch University with a double major in Extractive Metallurgy and Chemistry in 1994.
Her career progressed from graduate metallurgist, plant metallurgist, senior metallurgist, process superintendent, process manager to her eventual general manager positions.
Shuttleworth’s general manager roles have seen her work at Buzwagi Mine in Tanzania, the Granny Smith Mine in WA, and in her current role as general manager at Fortescue’s Cloudbreak Mine where she is responsible for over 3000 people and an operational budget of $1.5 billion per year.
As general manager at the Granny Smith Mine Shuttleworth led the team to increase gold production by 80 per cent over three years, and extended mine life by extensive drilling programs. Production improvements were achieved by her focus on collaborative teamwork and strategic planning.
During her career Julie has been at the forefront globally on metallurgical issues such as cyanide recovery using the sulphidisation-acidification-recycle-thickening process at the Telfer Mine; operating paste tailings facilities at Bulyanhulu Mine when this was relatively new technology; and surface water collection, storage and water conservation at Buzwagi Mine. She also presented on these topics at global conferences.
Mentoring is important to Shuttleworth and she regularly visit schools, universities, career fairs, trade shows and seminars to communicate with students, young professionals, teachers and parents to encourage young people to consider careers in science and mining.
For example, she was keynote speaker at 2013 Get Into Mining day for high school students, and is keynote speaker again in 2014.
Shuttleworth is active in hiring vacation students, graduates and apprentices to the industry. She is involved with several mentoring programs, and many professionals across the global industry consider her as their mentor or role model.
Metallurgists, geologists, accountants, engineers and other professionals have developed into senior roles, with Shuttleworth as their mentor.
Shuttleworth sponsors the Julie Shuttleworth Prize in Mineral Processing at Murdoch University and keeps in touch with prize recipients.
Other awards taken out by Shuttleworth recently include the 2013 CME Women in Resource Champion, 2013 40Under40, 2012 Telstra WA Business Woman of the Year, 2011 Australian Mining’s Prospect Awards’ Mine Manager of the Year, and the 2007 Telstra WA Young Business Woman of the Year.
Shuttleworth said it was “wonderful” to be recognised at the Women in Industry Awards and said the program was important in highlighting the great things women were achieving across the multiple sectors.
“It’s great to celebrate success,” she said.
Asked what advice she had for women wanting to carve out a career in the mining industry Shuttleworth responded:
“Set your goals, strive to achieve them, never give up when things get tough, be confident, positive, and get other people to help you when you need it.”
Excellence in Mining Award proudly sponspored by MMD Australia.