Aurizon took home the Excellence in Diversity Programs and Performance Award at the 11th annual QRC/WIMARQ International Women’s day breakfast in Brisbane yesterday.

The awards are part of the Queensland resources sector’s bid for at least 20% women in non-traditional roles by 2020.

Aurizon has set a new benchmark with its target of 30% female employees by 2019.

QRC CEO Michael Roche said: "Attracting and retaining women in our sector will continue to take leadership from the very top and bold strategies, such as Aurizon’s new target of 30 percent female employees by the end of 2019, is to be applauded.

"This means a doubling of its female workforce while continuing to transform the company from a government-owned business.

Aurizon VP Organisational Capability Kathrina Bryen said the company had increased its female participation from 14%in June 2014, to 16.4% as at January 2016 following the setting by the CEO of the new 30%.

"Aurizon still has a lot of work to do to achieve our 30 percent target, however we have moved one-fifth of the way to our target in a period of significant reform," Bryen said.

"These results have silenced most sceptics and built an important critical mass."