An excellent role model

Alcoa calcination and shipping area mechanical engineer Paula West.

Alcoa employee Paula West was a finalist in the Women in Resources Awards in Perth last night.

The awards, run by the WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy, recognise individual excellence and serve to promote positive role models, particularly to young women considering a career in industry.

Based at Kwinana Refinery, Ms West, who is Alcoa’s calcination and shipping area mechanical engineer, was nominated for the Women in Resources Champion category.

She is the Women in Engineering representative on the Engineers Australia Mechanical College Board organising programs to encourage women to consider engineering and regularly gives talks to high school students, sharing her industry insights.

As the Kwinana Refinery representative on the Alcoa Women’s network, she helps train future women leaders in the company, and she also mentors graduates for their chartered professional engineering qualification.