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Australia’s top businesswoman Gina Rinehart has been named Western Australian of the Year in recognition of her generous philanthropy and unrivalled corporate success.

Mrs Rinehart, a leading figure in the mining and agricultural industries, received the prestigious honour at a gala dinner at Crown Ballroom where the finalists and winners of The Western Australian of the Year Awards were celebrated on Friday night.

Mrs Rinehart is widely respected in business circles for overseeing the transformation of Hancock Prospecting Group since she took the helm in 1992.

When she took charge of the company it was facing financial difficulties, but her astute business decisions and high-level deal-making have allowed it to grow to become the most successful private company in Australia’s history.

Australia’s richest person has long been applauded, and won a list of awards, for spearheading the exploration, financing, construction and operation of the award-winning $US10 billion Roy Hill iron ore project.

Mrs Rinehart not only developed a successful mine, she also, in a world first, had massive mining trucks and trains painted pink in support of those suffering breast cancer, and in support of women in the mines.

Mrs Rinehart prefers to keep a low profile but is a champion of philanthropy and giving back to the community. Her ongoing support has financially aided several medical, sporting, educational, health and community organisations.

She also serves as patron of Australia’s Olympic swimming, rowing, and volleyball and synchronised swimming teams, and is a generous donor to Telethon.

“Gina is a truly deserving winner of this award. Her commitment, selflessness and compassion are values we should all strive towards, and her impact on not only our State but country cannot be overstated,” Celebrate WA chair Mike Anghie said.

“I also congratulate all of the category winners, whose outstanding achievements in their respective fields really do represent the diversity of talent present in Western Australia.”

The annual awards celebrated 21 finalists across seven categories, with the list of winners including the best and brightest in the State.

Political trailblazer Ken Wyatt was awarded the Westfarmers Aboriginal Award.

The first Indigenous Australian elected to the House of Representatives, Mr Wyatt is a strong advocate for an Aboriginal Voice to Parliament and an inspiring leader with an unmatched understanding of the issues facing Indigenous Australians.

Artistic director for Perth Music Festival Iain Grandage took home the Woodside Energy Arts & Culture Award for his creative vision and a strong commitment to WA’s vibrant art community.

Professor Marcus Atlas AM won the Alcoa Community Award in recognition of his global contribution to the field of ear and hearing health.

The director of Ear Science Institute Australia has helped turn the not-for-profit into a world-leading ear and hearing medical research institute.

He has been instrumental in providing high-quality surgery and hearing rehabilitation for the community, with ESIA serving more than 44,000 people annually.
Professions Award.

Renowned autism researcher Professor Andrew Whitehouse was awarded the HBF Professions Award.

His work and passion for transforming clinical care for children have been commended across the country.

Professor Whitehouse’s discovery in 2021, showing the benefits of intervention for autism as early as six to 12 months, has transformed international practice.

The Channel 7 Sport Award went to Brad Ness OAM.

The Paralympic champion, who lost his leg in a workplace accident when he was 18, is admired for his advocacy of para-sport.

He has represented Australia in five Paralympic Games, winning a gold and two silver medals in wheelchair basketball. Under his guidance as the head coach of the WA Institute of Sport, a record number of WA wheelchair basketball players made the national team in 2022.

And para-athlete and disability advocate Madison Heady took out the BHP Youth Award.

The 21-year-old has not let her ataxic cerebral pa

lsy stop her from succeeding over the years.

After being involved in a serious car accident in 2020, doctors advised her that she may never walk again and that her dreams of becoming a Paralympic runner could be over.

Yet she went on to win a National Athletics silver medal. She is also a public speaker who educates young people about equality and inclusion.

Mrs Rinehart joins previous Western Australian of the Year Awards recipients including Richard Goyder AO (2021), Emeritus Professor Mike Daube AO (2018), James McMahon DSC AM DSM (2019) Dr Robert Isaacs AM JP (2015) and Professor Fiona Stanley AC, who won the Community Service Award and Professions Award in 1999.

The Western Australian of the Year Awards ceremony marked the start of the WA Day long weekend across the State.

Australia’s top businesswoman Gina Rinehart named Western Australian of the Year

03.06.2023

Australia’s top businesswoman Gina Rinehart has been named Western Australian of the Year in recognition of her generous philanthropy and unrivalled corporate success. Mrs Rinehart, a leading figure in the mining and agricultural industries, received the prestigious honour at a gala dinner at Crown Ballroom where the finalists and winners of The Western Australian of the Year Awards were celebrated on Friday night.

Mrs Rinehart Crowned 2023 Western Australian of the Year

02.06.2023

2 June 2023.

‘From Red Tape to Red Carpet’: Australian Business Leaders Laud PM Modi’s Economic Reforms

01.06.2023

"Fostering India-Australia collaboration in the mining and minerals sector. PM Narendra Modi held a meeting with Georgina Hope Rinehart, Executive Chairman of Hancock Prospecting, Roy Hill and S. Kidman & Co, in Sydney,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted shortly after their meeting. “The potential for our two countries is huge. In the last less than 5 years under Modi, your economy has grown to $3.5 trillion and the plan for the next 25 years is to grow to $32 trillion. The growth recently is huge. The growth in the future is going to be huge. Australia really needs to work harder to develop its relations with India,” Rinehart said.

Laud & Saviour

30.05.2023

Western Australia’s top mining bosses have praised the leadership of outgoing Premier Mark McGowan — particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic — describing him as a “strong advocate” for the resources-reliant State. Hancock Prospecting executive chairman Gina Rinehart highlighted Mr McGowan’s management of the virus, which allowed WA’s resources sector to continue operating virtually uninterrupted as a result of the hard border. “Premier McGowan well understood that investment and development is the key to the success of West Australia, and to maintaining living standards,” Mrs Rinehart said in a statement.

NMDC, the largest iron ore miner in the country, is pursuing partnerships in Western Australia’s lithium sector

28.05.2023

India’s largest iron ore miner is believed to be nearing an agreement with Gina Rinehart in WA lithium as the country seeks to rapidly scale up in battery minerals to support its ambitious electric vehicle plans.

Staff win $100,000 from boss

27.05.2023

WHAT a great boss is Gina Rinehart. The wealthy mining and cattle queen generously gave 41 of her staff $100,000 each to celebrate her 41 years at Hancock. She declined to comment, but an executive assistant confirmed the details. Winners were drawn at random. The winners were junior members of the Hancock Resources and S Kidman & Co. companies and included mine workers in the Pilbara and roustabouts on remote Gulf cattle stations. A secretary also won $100,000.

WA Day 2023 Festival | June 4 & 5

26.05.2023

Drone Show and Fireworks sponsored by Roy Hill. Free Entry, free public transport!

Gina Rinehart gets audience with Indian PM as she eyes lithium deal

23.05.2023

WA mining billionaire Gina Rinehart has held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi during his Australian visit, days after it was revealed her company is looking at a lithium partnership with India’s biggest iron ore miner. Mrs Rinehart, speaking to media on Tuesday after her meeting with Mr Modi, said the discussions were “exciting” and the trade potential between the two countries was “huge”. ‘“It was a very interesting and exciting meeting with PM Modi, who I have met with several times in the past, in both Australia and New Delhi,” she said.

New campaign launched to attract ex-defence members

23.05.2023

Help us spread the word about our new pathways and employment opportunities.

Iron ore drives resources growth

22.05.2023

WA produces a diverse array of minerals, yet one commodity dominates the sector. The iron ore expansions that kicked off the mid 2000s were the start of a decade-long boom that is reflected in iron ore’s status as by far the biggest export earner in WA. Roy Hill Holdings – majority owned by Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting – has added substantially to the industry’s capacity, with annual production of over 60mt.