Koori woman and mining boss Amanda Healy and pharmacist and entrepreneur Emma Hanh Ma have been inducted into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame under the business category.
The 2022 inductees were announced at an award ceremony last night at the Government House Ballroom.
After owning and operating two pharmacies, Ms Hanh Ma opened Health World Pharmaceuticals in 2017, a wholesale business which exports products between Australia and countries in South East Asia.
Ms Hanh Ma has been recognised for her work, winning the 2017 WA Women in International Business Award shortly after she opened her business.
She now dedicates a lot of her time and energy into community work.
Ms Hanh Ma said she was excited to be recognised because it would give her exposure and allow her to lead by example.
“The way I did things was different and outside the norm and I want people to embrace in their uniqueness and the way that they do things as well,” Ms Hanh Ma said.
Ms Healy is the chief executive of Warrikal. Photo: Karen Wheatland
Alongside Ms Hanh Ma, Ms Healy joined the WA Women’s Hall of Fame.
Ms Healy has more than 35 years’ experience in the mining industry working for companies including BHP and Western Mining and starting two of her own businesses.
In 2004, she founded engineering business Maxx Engineering which she later sold to ThyssenKrupp Australia in 2015.
After completing her MBA, Ms Healy started engineering business Warrikal and currently works as its chief executive.
Warrikal made history in 2021 by winning a five-year $350 million shutdown and maintenance contract, the largest ever awarded to an Aboriginal business.
She also runs social enterprise Kirrikin that sells luxury resort wear featuring art from Aboriginal artists.
Reflecting on her career, Ms Healy said the WA had come a long way in removing gender biases, but businesses still had improvements to make.
“I think that the board room is the next big challenge for women and I am ready for it,” Ms Healy said.
The WA Women’s Hall of Fame was established on International Women’s Day in 2011.
You can read more about Ms Healy and Ms Hanh Ma in the next edition of Business News, out March 14.
