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The School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering proudly congratulates Ashley Potter on winning the 2024 Sir Frank Espie/Rio Tinto Leadership Award, in addition to being named an EEF Premium Scholarship awardee.

Each year, AusIMM recognises promising future industry leaders with its Education Endowment fund (EEF) scholarship. This prestigious scholarship offers mining students professional development opportunities, significant funding, mentoring, networking and hands-on experience.

Ashley Potter is a third-year undergraduate student studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Mining) at UNSW and one of the 16 recipients of the 2024 EEF Scholarship.

“The EEF scholarship has been instrumental in my personal and professional development, beyond the financial support the scholarship provides. It has allowed me to connect with industry leaders and peers, broadening my network and understanding of the mining sector,” says Ashley Potter.

“It also provided me with the opportunity to attend a resources field trip to Tasmania, visiting various mine sites and operations on the West Cost of Tasmania.”

“This trip was particularly transformational, allowing me to gain a broader understanding of the industry and the unique technical, operational and environmental challenges faced operating in Tasmania.”

During the same field trip, Ashley was further acknowledged with the AusIMM EEF Sir Frank Espie/Rio Tinto Leadership Award, which is made to EEF scholarship holders who demonstrate exceptional potential as future industry leaders. 

“Winning the Rio Tinto/Sir Frank Espie award is an incredibly humbling experience - I am honoured to have been recognised alongside the very deserving Francis Burt. This award motivates me to continue striving for excellence and to give back to an industry that has provided me with so many opportunities,” says Ashley.

“I am excited about the doors this award will open and look forward to leveraging these opportunities to make a positive impact. I am passionate about advocating for our industry and helping to support the next generation of future leaders and hope this award will allow me to continue to do so.”

“This award is a testament to the support and guidance I have received from my peers, mentors and lecturers over the course of my degree. My time at UNSW has been a leading contributor to my winning the award, allowing me to develop my technical and leadership skills. I would like to thank the school for all the support they have provided me.”

Ashley has been involved with the AusIMM since the beginning of 2022, and in 2024 she is President of the AusIMM Sydney Student Chapter.