The Institute of Quarrying Australia’s Women in Quarrying initiative continues to go from strength to strength with bigger events and more members than ever before.
Institute of Quarrying Australia (IQA) member and Women in Quarrying (WIQ) national coordinator Carly Monaghan reflects on the growth of the WIQ initiative and the importance of International Women’s Day (IWD).
What were some of the major highlights for WIQ in 2025, and what things can we expect to see in 2026?
A big highlight for WIQ was the Victorian WIQ luncheon, which is always well attended. They had the most attendees ever for that event in 2025, with more than 130 people, which is great. There’s a lot of planning for this year’s luncheon underway as well.
The SA branch also very successfully launched their inaugural WIQ Coffee Conversations in Adelaide in 2025, joining other branches already running the series, with plans to continue these networking opportunities in 2026.
Another highlight was the launch of the member app in IQA Connect. We’re looking into starting a specific WIQ forum, but we have started posting good news stories about diversity and inclusion within the app.
The first one was from Mawsons, who have supplied sanitary packs at every site across their business, which is a really great initiative across more than 100 sites.
That is something we’re looking to carry on throughout the year to highlight the many good works happening in the sector.
There was also the Inclusive Futures webinar at the end of last year, which was really well attended.
It was a great hybrid event. It showed how we could get important information to our members without affecting work schedules or other things. It was a good event and an interesting way to engage members.
This year, we’ll see more WIQ Connect events (formerly WIQ coffee catch ups). They’ve been well received across the country, and we’re seeing some increased engagement with those.
We’ve also seen more female members join the IQA this year.
Why are days like IWD important?
International Women’s Day is a great moment for reflection. It is a good reminder of where we are on a larger scale.
It’s not just about work, it’s about living conditions and all these things. It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come and how far we have to go.
In the quarrying sector, it is a time when we can put issues that women and people from diverse backgrounds may be facing at the forefront of people’s minds.
How do you reflect on WIQ’s achievements?
The most notable thing to me is the growth in interaction with not just women but everyone in the sector.
It is great to see engagement from everyone in the sector. In general, we’re seeing participation from men and women at WIQ events, especially at big events like the Victorian WIQ luncheon and similar events.
I think we need to increase that in 2026 and beyond as part of a two-phase approach.
We want to create a platform for women in the industry to connect authentically with each other through forums and events.
But we also want to connect with the wider sector in an inclusive environment where we can present on women’s issues. We’re looking into ways we can achieve this over the next few years.
How can you become part of WIQ?
Definitely reach out to your IQA state coordinator, and they can connect you with your state-based WIQ coordinator. You can also reach out to me, and I can connect you to your state-based coordinator.
WIQ events are also advertised on the IQA’s website and social media pages so you can check those and the IQA Connect app for the latest events and activities. •
For more information, visit quarry.com.au
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