The 2023 Queensland Resources Council's (QRC) Indigenous Awards, held in Brisbane this week, shines a light on the remarkable achievements and contributions of First Nations employees within the resource sector of Queensland.

Rising above many strong contenders, Danielle Kyle and Matthew Body were jointly awarded the Exceptional Indigenous Person in Queensland Resources Award, setting a high standard of excellence and leadership for the sector.

Danielle Kyle, a proud Birri-Gubba, Bwgcolman woman, and an Indigenous Liaison Officer at South32's Cannington Mine, has been a relentless advocate for increasing employment opportunities for Indigenous communities. Danielle has put her words into action by establishing several programs aimed at opening career pathways for First Nations people within the company.

Among the initiatives she has spearheaded are the Indigenous Work Experience Program and Indigenous Networking Group which have been lauded for their innovative approach.

These have allowed for an increase in the number of First Nations people employed at Cannington Mine, effectively doubling the count in the past 12 months alone.

Meanwhile, Matthew Body, a respected Kalkadoon man, has been equally impactful in his role as a Plant Technical Operator with Glencore Queensland Metals.

Over the years, Matthew has successfully led and completed crucial projects that have fortified his role within Glencore's copper smelter operations. In being given his award, Matthew was recognised for his dedication to his craft and to the Mount Isa community as a testament to the value of diverse and local talent within the resource sector.

These success stories have been integral in driving the resource sector's diversity. Over the past five years alone, there has been a 73% surge in Indigenous employment within the resource sector. Furthermore, the average wage of Indigenous employees has risen a 42%.