The wide range of news analysis produced by Mining Magazine, Mining Journal and Australia's Mining Monthly this week to mark International Women's Day 2024 has a common thread - that the mining industry continues to fall short in terms of gender representation, with women vastly underrepresented and still facing significant barriers like discrimination, harassment, and a lack of work-life balance support.

Major mining companies, mid-caps and juniors are still failing to actively dismantle discriminatory practices and structures that hinder the recruitment and advancement of young women - bold moves that hold the potential to benefit not just the industry, but the global ecosystem itself. Structural and management changes are needed, not shallow PR offensives.

Beyond the economic and environmental benefits, promoting gender diversity in mining will contribute to a safer and more responsible industry. Diverse teams are typically better at identifying and mitigating risks, leading to improved safety records and environmental practices.

Women often bring unique perspectives and problem-solving approaches, fostering innovation in areas like mine design, resource extraction, and environmental remediation. Only by creating a more inclusive environment for everyone, can the mining industry grow closer to achieving its economic and climate goals.

To mark International Women's Day, Mining Magazine took a snapshot of the situation by asking for comments from some leading mining and mining services companies. These are presented in Alphabetical order:  (If you would like your comment added to this page, contact me here) 

Anglo American:

At Anglo American, IWD is an important opportunity for us to reflect on how we are advancing female inclusion - specifically our representation levels - across our business.  The work continues throughout the year, but IWD allows us to signpost global initiatives on enabling the progression of women in our workforce such as our approach to flexible working, family carer and menopause support, alongside our other global policies including bullying, harassment and victimisation and recognising and responding to domestic violence and abuse.  We know that the more women thrive in our workplaces, the stronger we are as a business.

Dassault Systèmes GEOVIA

We at GEOVIA, a Dassault Systèmes brand, proudly join hands with the world in celebrating the incredible achievements of women past and present. This year's theme, #InspireInclusion, resonates deeply with us as we honor the remarkable contributions of women in the mining and technology industries. Cheers to the phenomenal women making waves in every corner of the world! 

As a brand led by exceptional women leaders, we stand firm in our commitment to fostering diversity and inclusivity. We challenge gender stereotypes, confront biases, and champion equitable opportunities for all. We firmly believe that true inclusion and belonging require proactive steps towards fairness and equity. Together, let's inspire inclusion, empower each other, and continue to drive positive change. Happy International Women's Day. 

Epiroc

For us at Epiroc, IWD is a good opportunity to highlight the importance of gender diversity in the mining industry.  We are convinced that a more diverse workforce is not just ethically right, it also promotes creativity and innovation, and is therefore good for business.  Hence, we have set the ambitious goal to double the number of women in operational roles by 2030.  We still have some ways to go with that goal but we are on the right track.   

FLSmidth

 

Each year, on International Women's Day, we at FLS celebrate the social, economic, cultural, business and personal achievements of our women employees, customers, suppliers and loved ones. We believe that having a diverse workforce with a wider range of perspectives and ideas is not only essential to our continued success, but it makes us a great company to work for. By encouraging everyone to join us in championing diversity, equity and inclusion, we are confident that we can accelerate progress towards inclusive hiring, equitable pay, fair living wages, and equal opportunities for advancement and development for all.

Danielle Martin, ICMM Co-COO

International Women's Day is an opportunity to celebrate the momentum that is building on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the industry. It also gives us a chance to pause and reflect on what still needs to be done. Last year ICMM members announced a collective commitment to improve DEI by working collaboratively to enhance the experiences of workers, and to eradicate discrimination, harassment, and assault from workplaces. We undoubtedly still have a way to go, but every step we're seeing is in the right direction. I encourage the wider industry to join us in adopting this commitment and continue to raise the bar on performance. 

Kal Tire

"At Kal Tire, we recognize the contributions and outstanding service provided by women in all areas of our organization," says Dan Allan, senior vice president, Kal Tire's Mining Tire Group. "This year's theme is to #InspireInclusion to forge a more inclusive world for women, including at work. We are proud to share what some of our team members, across five continents, had to say when we asked them, ‘What does inclusion mean to you?'."

• It's about identifying and removing barriers.
• I can work with confidence and ease in a field that's male-dominated.
• A lack of division from the beginning.
• Being presented with the same opportunities as the most privileged person around me.
• Feeling valued and knowing my contribution matters regardless of my race, gender and culture.
• Ensuring every person who walks in feels a sense of belonging.
• It's about inspiring other women to pursue their aspirations, regardless of the obstacles they encounter.
• Treating everyone with dignity and appreciation.
• To me, inclusion means an environment where diversity is not just acknowledged but also celebrated

Ella Cullen, Co-founder and CMO, Minespider

On International Women's Day, Minespider takes a moment to reflect on the significant but often unseen contribution of women in the mining sector. Of the estimated 40-50 million people in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) worldwide, 12-15 million are women, yet their roles are frequently overshadowed in a male-dominated field. Our mission at Minespider is to bring transparency to mineral supply chains and highlight the origin of minerals, which in turn can illuminate the crucial role these women play. We strive for a future where this transparency leads to better working conditions, health, safety, greater participation in key stages of mining and better wages for women in ASM.

Minviro

At Minviro, International Women's Day is a time to reflect and celebrate. It's an opportunity to honour the pioneering women who have laid the groundwork for future generations in our industry. We take pride in recognising these influential figures and the invaluable contributions of the women within our team. Their dedication and insight play an equal and crucial role in advancing our mission toward sustainable development. We work to make their achievements known and support their journey.

Sandvik

The theme for this year's International Women's Day is "Inspire Inclusion." That's something that is always very much in focus at Sandvik, as part of DE&I (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion). We recognize its importance in driving a sense of belonging, relevance and empowerment. 

Sandvik is committed to the principles of International Women's Day - for example, the recruitment, retention and development of female talent, and supporting women into leadership roles. We continue to work in partnership with the International Women in Mining (IWiM) movement, participating in its mentoring program. We also host our own reverse mentoring program, designed to encourage creative thinking, diversity and cross-cultural awareness.

Weir

Rosemary McGinness, Chief People Officer said:

It's great that this year's IWD focus is on inclusion. If we can build on a more inclusive culture for women, we create a more inclusive culture for everyone. Our ambition at Weir is that everyone feels like their voice can be heard, their contribution is valued and that they have equal opportunities.

It's also about us enabling people to do their best work, ensuring they have a sense of belonging and feel like they can be true to themselves when they are at work - an inclusive culture enables that, helping people to thrive and be successful in whatever they do.