Transforming the Workforce: Odette’s Dedication to Inclusivity and Equal Opportunity in Mining
As one of the 2025 Women in Mining Ambassadors, Odette Patterson stands at the forefront of driving change in the workforce, with a focus on creating inclusive opportunities and empowering individuals to realise their full potential.
With her extensive background in workforce resourcing and recruitment across industries such as mining, manufacturing, disability services and agriculture, Odette’s career reflects her unwavering passion for diversity, equal opportunity, and inclusion.
Her story is one of resilience, hard work, and dedication, deeply rooted in her upbringing. Spending time in her family’s abattoir, Odette learned early on the values of persistence and community, which would go on to shape her leadership journey. “One of the biggest lessons I learned from my family was the importance of working hard and the understanding that persistence pays off,” she reflects. "A key lesson came from the meat industry, where I recognised a significant skill shortage. It gave me the opportunity to think differently about how we could attract and bring people into that business at that time."
Today, she is the Group Manager of Workforce Resourcing and Recruitment at Whitehaven Coal, where she leads a team of 11 across multiple locations, spread across Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney and Gunnedah. Her role involves overseeing the workforce planning and recruitment functions, ensuring that Whitehaven continues to attract, engage and retain the right talent for its operations.
Watch Odette's video below.
A Journey Rooted in Diversity and Inclusion
Reflecting on her career, Odette’s early experiences significantly shaped her understanding of the value of diverse perspectives in the workplace. Odette’s background in recruitment and her exposure to various industries made her realise the importance of providing opportunities to people from all walks of life. “The time I spent in the disability sector in particular helped me learn that there are so many people who haven't had the same opportunities as many of us,” she adds. “Just because someone has a physical or intellectual disability doesn’t negate them from having an opportunity.”
This perspective, combined with her leadership experience, has given Odette a unique lens through which she approaches her work. “At Whitehaven, we’re committed to our STRIVE values, which include respect, teamwork and integrity. These values guide our approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring that we create an environment where everyone feels valued, respected and included.”
Odette’s commitment to inclusion is not just philosophical; it's deeply embedded in her daily actions. “Let’s face it, it starts with the conversation,” she says. “That’s what this series is all about - driving positive change.” She believes in empowering individuals by ensuring they are considered for opportunities, regardless of their background or circumstances. “Our belief is to ensure that every person we interact with at Whitehaven has the opportunity to at least be considered for our workforce.”
Her efforts are tangible, as she seeks to break down barriers to employment. “We are constantly looking at how we can bring people into the organisation who may be uncertain about how to begin their careers. Whether it’s relocating someone interstate or internationally, we are committed to making it happen.”
Odette’s journey highlights the importance of providing opportunities for individuals from all walks of life and ensuring that diversity and inclusion are not just ideals but everyday practices within the workplace.
Challenges and Learnings
Odette has witnessed the challenges that stem from biases in the workplace and believes that overcoming these barriers starts with having honest and open conversations. She reflects, "Looking back, I can’t believe the biases I’ve seen in organisations. It’s all about having deep, positive conversations, considering people who may not have the specific experience or qualifications, but who bring other valuable perspectives."
One of the key aspects of Odette’s role is making sure that underrepresented groups in mining, including women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, mature aged workers and individuals with disabilities, are given a chance to contribute to the workforce. "Why aren’t we considering people with particular disabilities more? Or looking at the ageing population and considering how they can contribute to the workforce?" she questions. "Having the conversation about inclusivity is the first step. And that’s what we’re doing at Whitehaven, constantly pushing for alternatives and looking for new ways to break down the barriers that prevent people from entering the workforce. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made and that is backed up by our workforce representation data."
“In 2021 we set ourselves specific targets to increase our gender diversity, including having 20% female employees by the end of financial year 2026. I’m very pleased to say that the representation of women across our operations is already up to 22.7%, which is around double what it was 3 years ago.”
“This is a great start, but we know we still have more to do and we’ll continue to work hard.”
Driving Positive Change Together: The Power of Collaboration
For Odette, driving positive change is not something that can be done in isolation. It requires collaboration, shared insights and a collective effort to build a better future. "Being generous with your time is essential. Whether you’re part of a small or large organisation, data, analytics, and information are available to help drive change," she explains. "As an ambassador, I encourage everyone to reach out to myself and the other four ambassadors. We need to share information, insights, and strategies to drive change together."
Odette is passionate about fostering collaboration within the industry and believes that change is possible when everyone works together towards a common goal. "It’s about creating opportunities for people, regardless of their background. Everyone deserves to be considered for a chance to succeed."
Empowering Diversity and Driving Opportunity
As the 2025 International Women’s Day Ambassador, Odette is committed to building an inclusive environment where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. "The most important thing is having the conversation," she reflects. Odette’s approach focuses on creating workplaces where individuals are considered for roles based on their potential, not solely on their previous experience or background.
With a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, Odette is dedicated about offering opportunities to individuals who might otherwise be overlooked. Her leadership reflects the belief that creating equal opportunities benefits not only individuals but also the workplace and society, demonstrating the power of change through inclusive practices.
