Since becoming the Executive Chairman of Hancock Prospecting in 1992, Mrs Rinehart has transformed the company from one that was in difficulties and financially troubled to the very successful industry-leading innovator it is today, providing employment to many across the outback of Australia. Under Mrs Rinehart’s leadership, Hancock Prospecting has diversified from prospecting to become a miner, further investing in iron ore, copper, potash, gold, coal, cattle, dairy, and property. Hancock Prospecting has grown under her leadership to become one of the most successful private mining companies in the world, and the most successful private company in Australia’s history.

Mrs Rinehart has been honoured with numerous awards recognising her significant endeavours, risk-taking, hard work, and contribution to Australia. In addition to those awards referred to below, she has received more for Roy Hill, Atlas Iron, and Bannister Downs Dairy, a joint venture company which has won hundreds of awards for its fine dairy produce.

At Hope Downs, Mrs Rinehart took the company’s tenements from a status of temporary titles – with the area having little more than a few drill holes – to State Agreement, bankable feasibility study, and to partner with Rio Tinto to construct four major mines (with more in the pipeline). This involved an enormous approval process and extensive high-risk expenditure both for exploration and studies, before raising money to develop these major mines and related infrastructure. It being noted that, unlike most major mines which use shareholders’ money and hence directors don’t bear the risk personally, this was done by Mrs Rinehart via her private family company of which she owns directly more than 76 percent.

Mrs Rinehart’s flagship achievement is the exploration, financing, construction, and operation of the US$10 billion Roy Hill project. The debt raised to fund the project was the largest ever for a mainly greenfield land-based mining and infrastructure project anywhere in the world. This debt package was secured from 19 of the largest banks in the world and five export credit agencies. Roy Hill uses some of the largest mining equipment in the world. Mrs Rinehart’s instigation of pink trucks, pink trains, the largest WHIMS plant in Australia (also pink) and more pink across Roy Hill sites, in support of those suffering breast cancer and women in the mines, is also a world first. This encouraged several ship owners to pain their ships pink, another world first.

Mrs Rinehart’s vision to grow and value-add Australian food has been the basis for significant investments, including the acquisition of the iconic S. Kidman & Co pastoral company. Hancock’s pastoral properties stretch across most states in Australia.

Mrs Rinehart is also the founder of Australians for Northern Development and Economic Vision (ANDEV), has authored two books, and arranged and funded a third one (for agriculture), founded Australia’s annual National Mining & Related Industries Day and National Agriculture & Related Industries Day, and is Patron of several organisations, including being named Honorary Guardian of Veterans by Soldier On.

Mrs Rinehart is a champion of worthwhile philanthropic causes, and Mrs Rinehart’s and Hancock Prospecting’s charitable objectives support a number of medical, sporting, educational, health, and community organisations. She serves as Patron of Australia’s international renowned Olympic swimmers, rowers, volleyballers, and artistic swimmers.

Mrs Rinehart’s business success, industry leadership, and contribution to Australia have been recognised in her own country and internationally. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Bond University, prestigious business awards, and coveted mining industry awards, in addition to numerous lifetime achievement and other awards. As an industry leader and huge contributor to Australia, she is a role model for other women and, as many have noted, is an Australian patriot who provides inspiration to many.