"Throughout my 30 year career, I would say that change happened glacially," she told Energy News on International Women's Day. 

 "However, in the last few years, change may be reaching a tipping point."

"Part of this acceleration is due to technology - examples include the internet, big data, cloud, and now the rapid acceptance of AI and machine learning to improve operations and business outcomes," Cullinane said.

Cullinane said COVID-19 was a significant driver of the change as it was accepted that people could work from anywhere productively.

"People in the workforce no longer feel guilty about coming to the office later in the morning or leaving early for school pickup or a function," she said. 

"Working from home for part of the week is the new normal and no longer the exception." 

Cullinane said she believed there would undoubtedly be many breakthroughs in the future.

There is still much more to do to improve workplace gender equality in Australia, despite the great reasons for embracing diversity and inclusion. 

"In a marketplace like today, where talent is scarce, opening the aperture to a more diverse workplace provides a larger pool of candidates to meet the in-demand," Cullinane said. 

"It has been shown in many studies that a more diverse workforce creates stronger retention, better performance, improved safety, higher standards of behaviour, and a more innovative and creative workforce." 

Cullinane described the Parliamentary Inquiry about sexual harassment in the mining and resources industry published last year as "a big wake-up call" for resources companies. 

"It catalysed urgent action to make workplaces safe for all," she said, "it compelled companies to do much more and take action to improve the culture in their operations." 

Cullinane urged resource companies to improve their workplace gender diversity in aspects including developing inclusive leadership skills, cultivating inclusive mindsets in teams and using gender-balanced imagery in communications.