Institute of Quarrying Australia (IQA) chief executive officer Jane Schmitt discusses how the IQA is supporting safety, diversity and workforce development.
What an incredible month for our sector. The NSW Safety and Health Conference on 31 July brought together 185 quarry professionals in the Hunter Valley for important conversations about protecting our people.
The engagement and energy throughout the event reinforced why these gatherings are so important. When people take just one safety initiative back to their sites, it can prevent incidents and save lives.
Our digital evolution continues to gain momentum. The new IQA website, launched in July, offers a mobile-optimised experience designed for busy quarrying professionals. Our upcoming member app will further enhance this experience, putting essential networking opportunities and resources directly at your fingertips. We’re committed to ensuring technology serves your professional needs.
This October, we’re hosting our Building Inclusive Futures day, a national initiative focused on practical actions for next-generation workforce development. The day will feature a midday national virtual panel with inspirational diversity and inclusion leaders.
We’re aiming to create meaningful opportunities to strengthen both our workforce diversity and safety culture. Because diverse teams see around more corners, challenge assumptions, and create stronger workplace cultures where people feel valued.
Our School to Workforce Project continues gaining traction as we address a fundamental challenge: public awareness of what we do and who we are. One of the things that struck me when I started at the IQA was how little the broader community understands about quarrying’s essential role. The reality is, no one’s telling our story consistently.
Thank you to all members who completed our School to Workforce survey. Our expert consultant Evan Boone’s interviews with executives from ten quarrying companies revealed the urgent need to attract young talent. Still, most lack formal frameworks for school engagement.
The research highlighted strong appetite for professional digital content, school engagement toolkits, and career lifecycle maps.
Together, we’re building momentum, nurturing a sector that is more visible, inclusive, and future-ready. I’m excited for what’s ahead, and deeply proud of what we’ve achieved so far.
Jane Schmitt
Chief Executive Officer
Institute of Quarrying Australia
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