Women recognised in manufacturer of the year awards

Viva Energy’s Vanessa Kearney and Actco Pickering’s Jill Walsh have won the inaugural Woman Manufacturer of the Year awards.

The 2018 Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards have declared Kearney an example of excellence in business innovation and productivity for her work as commercial manager at Viva’s Geelong refinery.

Jill Walsh from Actco Pickering Metal Industries won the second of two Woman Manufacturer of the Year awards with both women receiving their awards from industry and employment minister Ben Carroll.

Kearney has been in the manufacturing and energy sector for over 23 years and been a driving force behind the refinery’s ‘Women’s Network’ which provides advocacy and support for all women on-site.

Viva Energy’s Geelong Refinery general manager Thys Heyns says Kearney’s accolade is well-earned.
“We are immensely proud of Vanessa’s achievement,” he says.

“She has played a key role in driving the commercial performance of the Geelong Refinery.”

Kearney says she entered Viva following a chemical engineering qualification and after settling in, never looked back.

“Refining in Australia is quite tough, as evidenced by the fact that a number of refineries have closed down,” she says acknowledging the challenges.

“We’re making really good progress at Geelong at setting up what can be a really strong, sustainable business,” she adds.

“We’re making real progress in doing things more efficiently.”

Jill Walsh has been a quintessential lobbyist and passionate government advocate for 20 years in support of the Bombardier train manufacturing contracts and project in Dandenong, which has seen her work with multiple successive Victorian governments.

Walsh is still in high spirits at being recognised for her many years of hard work in securing local manufacturing.
“I’m very chuffed and still buzzing,” she tells AutoTalk.

“The main component of my work is the two decades of lobbying government for locally-sourced content in rail.”

Walsh says when she started there was little care for supporting Victorian manufacturing or jobs.

“There was not one dollar of acknowledgement,” she reveals.

“What governments don’t see is, like in automotive, if you destroy a base in heavy engineering, you lose the entire industry.”

Walsh worked in partnership with Bombardier, Alstom and Downer/CRRC (Changchun Railway Vehicles) to ensure supply of local content for a variety rail passenger rolling stock projects in Victoria. Her work made certain the “Vlocity” regional rail train, most recognised as the V/Line regional trains, was designed and made in Victoria.

Walsh says the Australian-made Vlocity train was benchmarked as the most reliable diesel multiple unit in the world.