Evolution Mining won the Dealer Award for the Cowal and Mungari acquisitions last year which doubled its production and market capitalisation.

Jake Klein dedicated the award to all of its employees on site.

The Digger Award went to Fortescue Metals Group for overcoming the challenges of the iron ore sector to become one of the world’s lowest-cost producers.

“The company has emerged from a history where many have questioned strategies and the corporate sustainability to being one of the respected companies in the Australian resources sector,” Diggers chairman Nick Giorgetta said.

FMG CEO Nev Power said the company’s stellar year was the result of a team effort.

“Fortescue won Dealer of the Year in 2007 so we can now complete that empty spot on the mantelpiece,” he said.

Independence Group founder Chris Bonwick was a popular choice for the GJ Stokes Memorial Award.

Kate Stokes said Bonwick was recognised for his contribution to exploration and his drive to create a leading mining house.

“Yes, we can all dream, yet this guy diligently pursued his dream and created a mining company that had a market capitalisation in excess of $1 billion. Yes, he did deliver on his big statements,” she said.

Bonwick resigned from IGO in late 2013 due to illness and came off “gardening leave” to accept the award.

He told the crowd the key thing in the mining sector was people.

“Treat everyone how you’d like to be treated and that doesn’t happen at a lot of mining companies,” Bonwick said.

Junior gold producer Pantoro was named the Best Emerging Company based on its presentation yesterday morning.

 

Paul Garvey, reporter for The Australian and a one-time editor of MiningNews.net, won the Media Award, making it four years in a row for current and former MNN reporters.