Toro Energy appears have achieved a rare accomplishment with the announcement of a new female chief executive.

According to experts contacted by the Sydney Morning Herald, the appointment of Dr Vanessa Guthrie will mark the first time women have occupied both the chief executive and chairman roles of an ASX-listed company.

Dr Guthrie will be replacing outgoing chief executive, Greg Hallon, February 8. Current chairman Erica Smyth has led the board for more than three years.

''To our knowledge this is the first time there has been the double of a female chair and a female CEO,'' Steve Burrell from the Australian Institute of Company Directors told the SMH.

Additionally, the dual-female leader roles are exceptionally unusual for a mining company.

Stats from EOWA reveal that only 5.2% of female directors in the ASX500 work for 'material companies'.