Watts joined Xstrata Coal in 2007, working as a mine manager for five years before becoming the company’s first female Open Cut Operations Manager in January 2012.

She graduated with first class honours from the University of NSW in 2001 with a Bachelor of Mining Engineering.

She joined Coal & Allied as a graduate, gained experience in a number of different operational and technical roles to successfully attain her NSW Statutory Certificates of Competency (Open Cut Examiner and Open Cut Mine Manager) in 2003.

Watts is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and also the University of Newcastle, where she completed a Masters of Business.

She was awarded the inaugural NSW Minerals Council Outstanding Woman in Mining Award in 2013, the Prospect Woman of the Year in 2013 and is a member and office holder of the Mine Managers Association of Australia.

The address will be held at the UNSW Science Theatre on May 12.