Renee Moran takes top honour at Mount Isa Trade Excellence Awards

Renee, from Glencore’s Mount Isa Mines, was named Outstanding Apprentice of the Year, while also winning Female Trade Student of the Year and Engineering – Fabrication Apprentice of the Year.

The 21-year-old has completed her Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade (Boilermaking/Welding) (MEM31922) at TAFE Queensland Mount Isa campus through an apprenticeship with Mount Isa Mines, supported by the Queensland Government’s Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s program.

She was also named a finalist for the Harry Hauenschild Apprentice of the Year at the 2026 Queensland Training Awards – North Region, further recognising her as one of North Queensland’s top apprentices.

TAFE Queensland Director of Client and Commercial Operations, Nikki Giumelli said Renee’s success reflected the skill, resilience and leadership recognised through the Trade Excellence Awards.

“Renee’s achievements are exceptional, but what makes her story so powerful is the way she has used her own pathway to support others,” Ms Giumelli said. “She has shown outstanding commitment to her trade, taken pride in developing her skills, and become a role model for other young women considering careers in mining and engineering.

“To win three awards in one night, including Outstanding Apprentice of the Year, is a remarkable achievement and a credit to Renee, her employer and the teachers who have supported her training.”

Born and raised in Mount Isa, Renee first developed her interest in metalwork through hands-on subjects at school before completing a Certificate II in Engineering Pathways (MEM20422) through TAFE at School in Year 12.

After starting her apprenticeship with Mount Isa Mines, Renee built experience across underground and surface workshops, fixed plant operations and mobile maintenance. She has also become a strong advocate for women in trades through her involvement in the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy and Girls for Mining mentoring program.

After first being supported through the program herself, Renee later became a mentor, helping other young women explore trade and mining careers. Her support contributed to one mentee successfully securing a boilermaking apprenticeship.

The TAFE Queensland 2026 Mount Isa Trade Excellence Awards celebrated the achievements of apprentices, trade students, employers and industry partners across the region.

More than 430 apprentices and trade students train at TAFE Queensland’s Mount Isa campus each year.

This year’s awards recognised 77 nominees, 29 finalists and 11 category winners, culminating in one Outstanding Apprentice of the Year.

“These awards celebrate the people developing the skills our industries and communities rely on,” Ms Giumelli said. “Every finalist represents hard work, practical training, employer commitment and the confidence that comes from learning in real industry environments.”

Among the other winners was Robert Taylor from Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council, who was named Carpentry Apprentice of the Year. Robert is completing a Certificate III in Carpentry (CPC30220) and was recognised for his reliability, work ethic and dedication to training, including travelling more than four hours to attend TAFE Queensland.

He has earned respect in his workplace and community for his professionalism, attention to detail and willingness to support others.

“Robert’s story is one of determination and pride in his trade,” Ms Giumelli said. “He has shown what it means to keep turning up, overcome distance and commit fully to training and work.”

The awards also celebrated Jazlin Muiznieks from Salon Bronze named Hairdressing Apprentice of the Year at the awards.

Jazlin is completing a Certificate III in Hairdressing (SHB30416) and was recognised for her resilience, professionalism and commitment to building her skills after returning to her apprenticeship while balancing work, study and family.

“Jazlin’s achievement is a wonderful milestone, not only for her, but for the awards,” Ms Giumelli said. “She has shown maturity, dedication and genuine passion for her trade, and it is exciting to see hairdressing recognised as part of Mount Isa’s trade excellence story.”

Ms Giumelli said Renee, Robert and Jazlin reflected the breadth of talent being developed through vocational training in the region.

“Each of these winners has taken a different pathway, but they share the same commitment to learning, improving and contributing to their workplace,” Ms Giumelli said. “That is what trade excellence is all about – skill, attitude, resilience and pride in the work.”

2026 TAFE Queensland Mount Isa Trade Excellence Award winners:

Trade Student of the Year:

• TAFE at School Trade Student of the Year: Weixi Peng, Plumbing, Good Shepherd Catholic College
• Female Trade Student of the Year: Renee Moran, Engineering – Fabrication, Glencore
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Trade Student of the Year: Scott Webber, Engineering - Fitting & Machining, Cava Hydraulics

Apprentice of the Year:

• Automotive - Light and Heavy Apprentice of the Year: Matthew Bowler – RCT
• Carpentry Apprentice of the Year: Robert Taylor – Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council
• Cookery Apprentice of the Year: Hayleigh Moran – Terrace Gardens Function Centre
• Diesel Fitting Apprentice of the Year: Jett Guningham – Sandvik Mining
• Electrical Apprentice of the Year: Matthew Murphy – Chelwood
• Engineering (Fabrication) Apprentice of the Year: Renee Moran – Glencore
• Engineering (Fitting & Machining) Apprentice of the Year: Scott Webber – Cava Hydraulics
• Hairdressing Apprentice of the Year: Jazlin Muiznieks – Salon Bronze

Outstanding Apprentice of the Year:

• Renee Moran – Glencore