Komatsu duo recognised for industry leadership and excellence

Two Komatsu employees have been recognised as finalists in the 2026 Women in Industry Awards, highlighting their contributions to leadership, mentoring and industry excellence.

Laura Canning, Director Supply Chain – Australia has been nominated for Mentor of the Year and the Women in Leadership award, while mobile plant mechanic Caitlyn Hayes has been nominated for both the Excellence in Construction and Excellence in Mining awards.

The Women in Industry Awards recognise outstanding women across a range of traditionally male-dominated industries, including mining, transport, manufacturing, engineering, logistics, rail, construction and infrastructure.

For Laura, the nomination came as a complete surprise. She joined Komatsu 15 years ago in a temporary administration role while balancing her work as a personal trainer, never expecting it would lead to the career she has today.

“My time at Komatsu has seen me in a few different roles, including a secondment in the US which then led to me overseeing global logistics throughout Covid. It was definitely a challenging period, but it taught me a lot and when I look back at where I started, I’m incredibly proud of how far I’ve come and the opportunities I’ve tackled along the way,” Laura says.

“I think this recognition reflects that journey. A lot of people have invested time and trust in me over the years and I’ve also worked hard to continue developing and upskilling myself to be the leader I am today. I’m really passionate about fostering an inclusive culture at Komatsu and being in a leadership role now gives me the opportunity to mentor and support the next generation, just as others supported me throughout my career.”

That next generation includes Komatsu technician Caitlyn Hayes, who is already making her mark in the industry, with a number of accolades under her belt. Caitlyn is a dual trade-qualified technician in both diesel fitting and automotive electrical, working FIFO in the Pilbara on a customer’s site in both a field service and workshop capacity.  Her work includes mentoring and training of apprentices and she has contributed to Komatsu’s apprentice recruitment campaigns, helping increase the proportion of new female apprentices to nearly 50% across Queensland and nationally.

“I think a lot of work can be done in the space to get women in the door and to retain and support them once their apprenticeships are complete. I love supporting and mentoring the next generation of tradies entering the industry and sharing my experience with others coming through to help encourage them to build careers in these sectors.

“Being recognised for my work at these awards alongside so many other great women in both the construction and mining sectors is a great opportunity and I’m really proud to be nominated,” Caitlyn says.

The awards ceremony will be held on June 18^th in Sydney.