As the only international platform for women in mining globally, International Women in Mining (IWiM) operates as a virtual organisation.
IWiM is managed by a Board of Directors and relies for its work on a team of volunteers and supporters without whom it could not achieve any of its objectives; like IWiM’s Directors, they are based all over the world and bring different perspectives to the organisation.
Barbara Dischinger is passionate about the advancement & promotion of women. She set up Women in Mining UK in April 2006 and International Women in Mining in November 2007.
Barbara worked in executive search for 15 years of which 9 years in mining prior to joining the WISE Campaign (Women in Science and Engineering) in 2015 to advance her knowledge of Diversity & Inclusion, role she held for 4 years. She sat on the steering committee of Women in Rail in the UK from 2015 to 2020.
Since January 2019 she divides her time between the international mentoring programme she helped develop and delivering IWiM’s growth strategy.
Chief Financial Officer, Kumba Iron Ore, Anglo American
Bothwell Mazarura is the Chief Financial Officer at Kumba Iron Ore, a position he held since September 2017. Prior to that he served as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director at Wescoal Holdings Limited, since July 2016. He previously held various senior financial roles at Lonmin Plc since 2010 including Group Head of Finance, Head of Treasury and Acting Chief Financial Officer. Prior to Lonmin Plc, he was a Partner at Deloitte & Touche since 2002, where he also spent some time working in the United Kingdom. Bothwell holds a Bachelor of Accounting Science Degree from the University of South Africa and is an accredited Chartered Accountant in three jurisdictions – England and Wales, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
Vice President Business Development, Sibanye-Stillwater
An established mining transactions lawyer, Nicola joined the Sibanye-Stillwater deal team in 2017 after almost two decades working as an attorney and partner in an international law firm on mergers and acquisitions within the mining space. In both roles, Nicola has played an integral part in a number of key industry transactions. Nicola also holds the position of global chairperson of the Women of Sibanye Stillwater initiative and has led game-changing initiatives within the company and industry. Nicola sits on a number of senior leadership and strategic committees within the company and plays a key role in shaping the company’s global strategy to enable an inclusive, bionic and diverse working environment. Nicola is also a sought-after speaker having presented on industry-related issues and Women in Mining related issues at local and international forums. Nicola also dedicates her time to NGOs and sits on the board of trustees for the Duke of Edinburgh Award in South Africa.
General Counsel Corporate, Rio Tinto
Scheherazade Walter is General Counsel Corporate at Rio Tinto where she has worked in a variety of technical, commercial and legal roles over the years, relating mainly to investment decision making and projects. In her current role, she and her team provide advice and support on a wide range of corporate and strategic matters, including ESG, Climate, Finance, M&A, Joint Ventures, Employment and mine closures. She also sits on various internal governance and investment committees. Previously, Scheherazade was a solicitor for Hogan Lovells working on infrastructure project developments and disputes. Scheherazade has recently relocated back to London after 16 years of sunshine in Australia.
Head of Secretariat, Endeavour Mining
Susanna Freeman is a UK corporate and commercial solicitor, qualified for over 25 years. She is highly experienced in governance and compliance with over nine years’ experience within the mining industry in Asia and Africa and nearly 20 years in senior roles in listed company governance and compliance. She is currently Head of Secretariat at FTSE 100 listed gold miner Endeavour Mining plc and was previously Company Secretary at copper miner KAZ Minerals. She has an Honours Degree in French from Bristol University.
Allison has worked with local, national, and global leaders to transform the mining and extractive resource sector, with particular emphasis on transparency (Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative) management, systems, laws, regulation, taxation, and effective dialogue. The focus of which has always been People, Planet and Practices.
She has served in organisations at a national and international level, including the World Bank, Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), and the Tony Blair Institute (TBI). She has worked as the lead mining advisor to support many governments, Presidents, and Prime Ministers across various jurisdictions. Most recently, she served as the lead mining advisor in Rwanda over a five-year period and oversaw a series of strategic reforms.
Allison George is currently the Head of Programs and Initiatives, Development Partner Institute.
Ally is an exploration geologist specializing in mineral sands with a passion for promoting women’s involvement in the mining industry. With 2 years of experience in geological exploration, she is dedicated to advancing sustainable and responsible resource development while advocating for gender diversity and inclusion in the field. In her free time, She enjoys going on hikes, listening to podcasts, practicing pilates, and indulging in coffee. Additionally, She is a proud fur-parent of three adorable cats who keep her on her toes!
Angeles (Angie) Destefano has vast experience with global companies, specialising in Diversity, Inclusion and employee experience. Positions such as Inclusion, Diversity and Engagement Manager at Kinross and HR Consulting Manager at IAE Business School for the LATAM region helped her develop a strong HR background. During the past 15 years, Angeles has led projects for global organisations, delivering DEI, culture change management and leadership program implementations. Also, she has more than eight years in Higher Education positions as a Professor in master programs—author of books and articles on HR diversity and women leadership.
On a personal note, Angeles deeply believes in empathy and compassion. She’s passionate about humanising the workplace and creating work environments where members can bring all themselves and feel empowered.
Angeles Destefano is deeply committed to advancing gender diversity and inclusion in the mining industry. She believes that diversity and inclusion is not only an ethical imperative but also a strategic one that leads to better decision-making, more innovation and ultimately, more sustainable and profitable organisations. She has a wealth of experience in the mining industry, including leadership roles, and her skills and knowledge would be an asset to the team. Furthermore, she is passionate about supporting and empowering women in the industry, and she believes that being on the Advisory Council would allow her to make a meaningful and impactful contribution to this cause. Angeles Destefano’s motivation and passion for DEI will make a valuable contribution to IWIM and the community it serves.
Anjulli is a hardworker and proactive women.
Ashley is the Environmental Affairs Manager for Sibanye-Stillwater’s East Boulder Mine and the President of Women in Mining USA. Ashley is an experienced environmental and process engineering professional with 15 years of demonstrated history of working in the mining & mineral extraction industry. Ashley has been an active member of Women in Mining (WIM) USA since 2015 and is the co-founder of WIM Montana. In 2022, she was elected President of WIM USA after serving as both WIM USA Treasurer and National Representative. She has a passion for promoting STEM Education, the importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and communicating issues that are of strategic importance to women and the mining industry.
Ayelen Romero is 24 years old, she currently resides in the province of Santa Cruz, Argentina. She is very happy to be part of the project and also to be able to contribute to society from her place.
Head of Research
Dr Chilenye Nwapi has over 15 years’ research, teaching and donor-funded technical assistance project implementation experience on law and policy issues relating to mineral resource development. As a Legal Adviser in the Oceans and Natural Resources Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat, London, he helps to implement the Secretariat’s technical assistance programmes on deep sea mining, land-based mining and oil and gas development in Commonwealth member countries. He assists the countries to review and/or draft relevant policies, laws and regulations to maximise the benefits of resource development in an equitable, socially and environmentally responsible and business friendly manner. His sphere of activity criss-crosses multiple jurisdictions, including Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific Island. He is also an Advisory Director of the Global Mining Sustainability, Canada as well as a Fellow in the Southern African Institute for Policy and Research, Lusaka, Zambia.
Research excellence is closely tied to the improvement of society and this has been a profound driver of Dr Nwapi’s on-the-ground advisory work in the mineral resources sector. He has an impressive track record of research in mineral resource policy, governance and regulation and spent several years conducting postdoctoral research in the Canadian Institute of Resources Law, University of Calgary, Canada where he held the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship. With a demonstrated interest in gender perspectives to mineral resource development, his research seeks to understand how mineral development can contribute to public welfare improvements in developing countries where regulatory and accountability mechanisms are weak. His research has been published widely in internationally recognised peer-reviewed journals around the world.
Dr Nwapi holds a PhD in resource extraction, business and human rights from the University of British Columbia, Canada, a Master of Laws in natural resources and environmental law and policy from the University of Calgary, Canada, and a Bachelor of Laws from Imo State University, Nigeria. He is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Deirdré de Jager is a seasoned professional with a diverse background in financial services and mining. Originally from South Africa, Deirdré immigrated to Australia with her family in 2017. With over 10 years of leadership experience in the financial services industry, Deirdré has honed her skills in connecting with people and leading with humility. Her ability to build strong relationships, coupled with her commercial acumen have been instrumental in driving successful outcomes.
In 2020, Deirdré transitioned to the mining sector and joined Rio Tinto, a leading global mining company. Currently serving as a Procurement Specialist, she brings valuable expertise in change management, project management, and leadership to her role.
Beyond her professional endeavours, Deirdré is a survivor of breast cancer and serves as a Community Ambassador for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. As an advocate for early diagnosis and fundraising for life-saving research, she passionately supports initiatives that promote awareness and provide support to those affected.
Deirdré holds a BCom Degree and a Post Graduate qualification in Business Administration. She is committed to continuous learning and staying abreast of industry trends and best practices.
Deirdré drives diversity and champions equity and equality in the workplace. She believes in fostering an inclusive environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. With her strong values and extensive experience, Deirdré is excited about the future of the mining industry and looks forward to making a lasting impact through her work.
I am a Mining Engineering Lecturer and researcher at the Copperbelt University in Zambia. First female Zambian Mining Engineer to have graduated from the University of Zambia. Currently pursuing a PhD at China University of Mining and Technology in China. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering from the University of Zambia and a Master’s of Science degree in Mining Engineering from University of Exeter, Camborne School of Mines, United Kingdom. I have 8 years of work experience in both underground and open pit copper mines. I have worked for Konkola Copper Mine (KCM) and for Barrick Gold Mine in Lumwana, Zambia. My research interests are, Mine technology, Slope Stability analysis, Mineral economics- Mineral taxation systems, Blast optimization, Mine Health and Safety, Environment assessment of mining operations, Ventilation design and optimization, Artisanal and Small Scale Mining and Gender issues in the mining industry. I am a professional member of Engineering Institute of Zambia.
Eliza is a self-aware and effective leader who is guided by the values of integrity, respect, and collaboration. She is people oriented, engaging planful, and precise. Motivated by a sense of purpose and meaning, Eliza takes deliberate action to engage all stakeholders to achieve desired results. She is skilled at connecting to people and understanding how their gifts and individuals’ personalities can be best tapped into.
Eliza regularly provides guidance, support, and resources to help women in the industry achieve their goals through various programs such as Inclusion and Diversity councils, Women’s Professional Networks and through coaching and mentoring. From her decades plus onsite experience in the resources sector, Eliza understands that greater inclusion and diversity in the workforce brings enormous benefits. As a skilled networker and connector of people, Eliza has embraced opportunities to design and implement inclusion and diversity programs that create the space for women and other minority groups to receive coaching and mentoring to find meaningful and fulfilling careers in mining.
12+ years of leadership experience in the resource sector, across multiple commodities, operations and global functional roles has provided Eliza with the opportunity to be purposeful and intentional to create space for women to connect and support each other’s success in the industry. She is excited by the opportunity to collaborate with individuals from various cultural backgrounds and navigate cross-cultural situations to promote inclusivity.
Eliza currently holds the role of Principal Projects, who is responsible to coordinate, integrate, and provide leadership to distinct projects aligned to the strategic intent of the Health and Hygiene function and enterprise.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science, and Graduate Diploma in Extractive Metallurgy.
Epp is a mining engineer from Estonia working in Northern Sweden. She wants to contribute to find ways to help the mining industry to be more sustainable and transparent.
Research Team
Esther Harris has BSc and MSc (Geoscience) degrees from Monash University and 20 years’ experience in the mineral exploration industry and in geoscience research.
She has spent the last decade supporting Australian companies operating in North and West Africa as an exploration consultant and working closely with local geological surveys and mining ministries. During this phase of her career, she acquired an interest in geoscience for development particularly in the areas of geoscience knowledge infrastructure and gender in mining.
She is currently researching a PhD at Murdoch University in collaboration with Women in Mining West Africa.
She is a mining engineer by profession who is passionate about mining sustainability , reducing environmental impacts due to mining as well as mine reclamation. Currently studying a Masters in Environmental Engineering and Business Administration in Colorado whilst interning at an Environmental Consultancy.
She is a founder and Managing Director of Prestige Leaders Consulting. She is a qualified Facilitator, Assessor and Moderator. She is a transformational speaker, Life and Business Coach.
Irene Irazábal is an experienced independent consultant with over 11 years of expertise in development policy and peace matters. She operates at the intersection of the public and private sectors, focusing on the social sustainability aspects of the infrastructure and energy industries. Irene has successfully designed and managed multi-stakeholder programs in Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. These programs aim to foster consensus among grassroots and policy-level stakeholders, supporting responsible supply chains and good governance.
With a background in law and a Master’s degree in International Peace Studies, Irene believes in the value of clear and measurable social performance strategies. She advocates for Human Rights, diversity, and inclusion, recognizing their positive impact on business outcomes.
Irene actively engages in challenging conversations to promote equity and ensure that diverse voices are heard and valued. She has a keen interest in conflict transformation and alternative justice systems, exploring innovative approaches to foster consensus.
During her free time, she enjoys practicing sports in nature.
Country Finance Manager, Thiess. Based in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Responsible for overall finance function of Thiess projects in Mongolia.
A CA qualified finance leader with over 20 years’ experience across various aspects of accounting and finance in both profit and non-profit sectors. Over 12 years of hands-on experience in the mining industry within a global organisation. Before joining the mining industry Itgel worked in the non-profit sector for over 7 years, making a contribution to put an end to childhood cancer.
Itgel is a Member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, holds a Master’s degree from University of New England and Bachelor’s degree from University of Sydney.
Advocates for Cultural Awareness – Strives to educate herself and those around her about the importance of cultural awareness.
Jane Yelland has over 25 years of Australian mining experience focussing on health, safety, environment and community disciplines and she holds a Bachelor of Science (Resource and Environmental Management) from Australian National University.
After starting her career as an environmental science graduate at North Parkes Mine, Jane has gone onto hold a number of technical and leadership roles with Newcrest, North Mining Limited, MIM, Xstrata and Peel Mining. Providing opportunities for others and giving back to the community are pillars that Jane has held firm throughout her career – this has enabled Jane to blend her passion for mining with a commitment to supporting the development of competent and enthusiastic mining professionals to help meet the future needs of local communities and mines alike.
Katie is the SVP, Sustainable Impact at De Beers responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of the Group’s Building Forever sustainability framework, including working with operational, functional and marketing and retail teams across the business to integrate Social Impact, Biodiversity and Equity, Inclusion & Diversity policies, programmes and partnerships. She is passionate about increasing diverse representation within the mining sector and has led the development of multiple partnerships in this space including with UN Women’s HeForShe Alliance and with WomEng focused on building the STEM pipeline for women and girls from schools through to early career.
Prior to De Beers, Katie worked for Anglo American based in South America across multiple countries on capital project development, socio-political risk, social performance and community development as well as in KPMG’s Global Risk & Sustainability team based in London supporting clients from multiple sectors on sustainability strategy, management systems and assurance.
Responsible for our Interview Series
Kathy obtained her PhD in metallurgical engineering from the University of Arizona, USA. She has more than 30 years’ hydrometallurgy experience, with specialist expertise in solvent extraction, ion exchange, and electrowinning. Her commodity exposure includes copper, cobalt, uranium, nickel, zinc, titanium, vanadium, PGMs, and gold. After working for many years for Mintek and Anglo American in South Africa, she now consults independently. Her clients span six continents, and she has worked on mine sites and operations in Zambia, DR Congo, Kazakhstan, Namibia, USA, Chile, Australia, and South Africa. She is the co-author of Extractive Metallurgy of Copper, the benchmark industry textbook, and chairs the Copper Cobalt Africa conference. Kathy has been awarded the Silver Medal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) and the Bronze Medal of the South African Association for the Advancement of Science (S2A3).
Kevin D’Souza is a distinguished professional and visionary thought leader with nearly three decades of direct experience in Environment Social & Governance (ESG) and more recently Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I) related issues in mining. His career has focused on creating sustainable business value, combined with social purpose, through informed ESG strategic planning, and real tactical operational implementation for value protection and creation. He has conscientiously overseen the recruitment, development, and retention of multi-cultural and diverse talent in company-wide HSEC and security functions. He has led teams in multiple company processes, including acquisitions, restructurings, turnarounds, consolidations, and divestments whilst navigating unique ESG-related due diligence, and host country permitting and regulatory requirements.
Kevin has gained wide-ranging knowledge, and both strategic and operational experience, in a variety of consultancy, managerial, and senior/executive leadership roles from remote exploration camps, construction sites, and operational mines, to Corporate and even Ministerial offices. He has expertly led, guided, and collaborated with multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams to address and resolve conflict; reach consensus to secure and maintain local and Indigenous community acceptance (social license to operate); and the creation of sustainable socio-economic value and robust environmental performance.
Kevin has amassed direct operational experience in over fifty countries worldwide, especially in developing countries and fragile post-conflict areas. He is known for his strong cross-cultural competency and deliberate relationship-based approach, He has also worked extensively as a strategic advisor on extractive industry-related developmental programs for major NGOs and with International Funding Institutions (IFIs), including the World Bank, DFID, ILO, and several UN agencies supporting emerging market Governments on policy reform and investment programs.
Kevin has overseen multi-level government relations and regulatory permitting in numerous jurisdictions coupled with meeting stringent international level financing conditionality for both strategic and tactical ESG-related performance requirements. He has proactively met Board, investor, lender, and key stakeholder expectations and the requirements of numerous ESG related performance and disclosure standards including (ICMM, RGMPs, IFC, EBRD, GRI, TCFD, SASB, etc) through the development of strong internal oversight controls and robust reporting procedures.
Currently Kevin is Chief Sustainability Officer at Resource Capital Funds, based out of their Toronto office.
Laju works as a mine manager at Metalex Commodities, where she is in charge of maintaining sustainable practices and managing day-to-day operations. She also designs ESG policies in compliance with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Laju’s dedication to sustainability extends beyond her professional life, as she was awarded an FSR scholarship to study SDG 7 regulations.
Ms. Sims is a visionary leader with 25+ years’ progressive experience managing health and safety strategies for large-scale mining operations across the US. She is devoted to preparing leaders, training teams, mitigating risk, solving problems, and preventing injury and loss, all with a Zero Harm philosophy. Ms. Sims started her career in mining as a summer student and, over the past 28 years, has been focused on growing into well-respected health and safety professional. As a full-time equipment operator, Ms. Sims was selected and made high-impact contributions that led to successfully obtaining ISO14001 & OHSAS18001 certifications. She created a comprehensive resource to systemize and organize training specialties and implemented a system to ensure that staff certifications were kept up to date. She has led multiple mine rescue teams, health and safety teams, and summer intern programs throughout her career. Ms. Sims has recently successfully owned and operated Sims 360 Health and Safety Solutions.
With over 20 years of experience, Marie-Claude Halle is a subject matter expert in mining value chain optimisation and extraction optimisation. Her operational experience spans across the mining value chain and includes front line and senior operational roles in commodity such as diamonds, aluminum, base metals, lithium, and potash. In the recent years, Marie-Claude’s focus has shifted to advisory and consulting. As CEO and Principal Consultant of her own consulting company, she specializes in the areas of organizational and digital transformation, new technology and product development, commercialization, and de-risking.
As innovation and diversity champion, Marie-Claude is involved as Board Advisor to cleantech start-ups, and as Mentor for various women in mining and STEM mentorship programs. Involved in grassroot entrepreneurship, she has worked with organisations supporting tech start-up companies such as the Canadian Manufacturing and Digital superclusters as project assessors. Well regarded in the industry, Marie-Claude has contributed to several webinar and podcasts, especially on the topic of technology for pre-concentration in mineral processing using sensor-based technologies.
Maureen is a perpetual learner and loves words in all forms. She is a talented communications specialist, passionate about social change and positive impact development, with a unique ability to weave together the threads of communication to create compelling stories that engage and inspire audiences.
With over 7 years of experience, Maureen is highly skilled in research, material development and generating brand awareness, and is a communicative collaborator, able to distill complex ideas into clear, concise language that is both accessible and engaging. She believes in the power of working together to achieve a better world for women from all spheres of life, and hopes to create lasting impact with her work. When not at work, Maureen is usually baking and trying out new recipes or tweaking old ones.
Marina is an early career Mining Engineer with Imperial Oil, based in Alberta Canada. She has over 5 years of on-site short range mine and tailings planning experience at a large oil sands mining operation. She has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) specializing in Mineral Engineering from the University of Toronto.
Marina is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion on and off site. In addition to her iWIM volunteer work, she is a contributing member to the Women Interest Network (WIN) at her company. She is passionate about ESG and believes diversity in the resource and mining industry is imperative to having a safe and sustainable industry across the globe.
On her off time, Marina resides on Vancouver Island where she loves to free dive, surf, and hike.
Marta Mussacaleca is a Partner in our Toronto office. She serves mining clients focusing in operations.
Leads McKinsey’s approach to diversity and inclusion in mining and leads since 2020 McKinsey’s research into the experiences of women and diverse talent in mining.
Prior to McKinsey, Marta worked at The Boston Consulting Group. Before that, she worked in exploration and production in oil and gas for Encana and Cenovus.
She has a Masters in geological engineering and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Michelle van der Merwe, Editor, South Africa.
Michelle van der Merwe is passionate about accessibility in the earth sciences and mining industry. She is currently completing an MSc in Applied Geology at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Michelle is also an academic editing professional and does freelance editing and copy-editing for an international company. Her technical skills contribute to the excellent content produced by IWiM.
Miia Mikkonen (MSc in Geography, Regional development and politics; MBA in International Business Management)
I started my career in the mining industry working on ESG in a mineral exploration project, long before social license to operate and good corporate citizenship were called by that name. I have spent the most of my career on the service and technology provider side of the table by commercializing and internationalizing geophysical and geochemical products. Furthermore, I have been the CEO of the Mining Finland association that promotes Finnish mining services, technologies and education to the global mining market before joining my current company.
I am dedicated to having an impact on a more sustainable, diverse, and socially acceptable mining industry. As part of that I have been participating in the Women in Mining association as a board member and active member in Finland, and now I’m excited to continue this work with the International Women in Mining.
Senior Projects Advisor
Dr Muza Gondwe is a partnership facilitator specialising in mining and sustainability. She holds a PhD in Science Communication from the University of Western Australia and is employed at Curtin University, Australia as the Curtin-BHP Alliance Manager.
Muza has been involved in the design, delivery and evaluation of resource governance capacity building programs for emerging resource economies. She derives fulfilment from supporting communities of learners take the knowledge, skills and networks to deliver meaningful impact.
She is passionate about diversity and inclusion and volunteers for International Women in Mining as Senior Project Advisor and Association of Women in Mining Africa as the AWIMA Jewellery Project Manager. She maintains close connections with Malawi, where she is from, organising annual fundraising events to support education and health programs.
Director, Non-operated Joint Ventures, Brazil – BHP
Nelly Pazó León is a resources industry professional with 16+ years of experience in law and mining, who is interested in inclusive leadership and innovation. Currently, Nelly represents BHP (BHP.AX) in Brazil, acting as board member of Samarco SA. and the Renova Foundation. Ms. Pazó is actively involved in Diversity & Inclusion initiatives. Nelly has prior experience as an accomplished international in-house counsel, with proven track record in M&A, environmental and social reparation and ESG projects, in the U.S. and Latin America. I
Nelly Pazó joined BHP in 2011 in Santiago, Chile. She served as in-house counsel for the Base Metals division, working with Portfolio Strategy & Development and Exploration business clients. In such capacity, Nelly advised BHP on a variety of corporate law matters (incl. joint venture management), exploration arrangements in Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Arizona U.S., community engagement and government affairs, regulated markets (Chilean power market), commodity transactions and related legal affairs, HSE management (including safety incident investigations), and capital investments for the company’s Latin American portfolio. From 2017 to 2019 Nelly acted as in-house counsel for the global Acquisitions & Divestments team, based in London and Houston, Texas. She has been based in Brazil since 2019, working on BHP´s environmental and social remediation activities in Minas Gerais.
Prior to joining BHP, she practiced law for five years as a corporate attorney for international clients at Carey y Cia, based in Santiago.
Nelly was admitted as Chilean attorney in 2006, and as foreign legal consultant in Texas between 2017-2019. Nelly holds an LL.M in International Law by the University of Heidelberg, Germany, and Universidad de Chile. She graduated suma cum laude in 2004 from Universidad Adolfo Ibanez in Viña del Mar, Chile. Nelly is fluent in Spanish, English, German and Portuguese.
She is a geologist working as a Senior Mine Geologist at the Porgera gold mine in my home country, Papua New Guinea. Having at least worked around a mine for over 10year, She is keen on helping younger professionals find their footing in the mining industry and enjoy advocating for female inclusion at the workplace. A recent highlight for her was completing and being certified with the Economic Leadership for Mining and Exploration Economics from the online BRIMM Mining Education through the WiM scholarship in 2021-2022.
She loves to read, learn, travel and connect with people.
Olusola Olaniyi is a diligent Researcher, Regional/Exploration Geologist. She is the CEO of Berillos Proconsultants. A person of high integrity having excelled in the mining industry for over 3 decades, working in senior/upper management and directorate positions. She is a former Deputy Director Regional Geology and Liaison Officer, Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), a Research Agency of Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development where she was actively involved in the general office management, geological data collections, production of maps and geological reports for the Agency’s Publications. She has also worked in Niger River Basin Development Authority and UNICEF Rural Water and Sanitation Project.
She holds two Masters degrees in Geographic Information System (MGIS) and Business Administration (MBA) with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Geology, Certificates in Gender and Mining Governance, and IGF Guidance for Governments: Local content policies.
Olusola is an ambassador, Delve Exchange Anglophone Africa Forum (Online knowledge exchange and support network of Artisanal and Small-scale Mining associations/communities and quarry workers), member of Women In Mining Nigeria (WIMIN) and Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS), and Certified member Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG).
She is the Co-Author of Delve Country Profile – Nigeria (Artisanal and Small-scale Mining Data). She has a keen interest in equity, improved welfare and empowerment for all, most especially for women, young adults and children.
Business Improvement Specialist with over 10 years’ experience in Continuous Improvement. Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma, a BSc in Business Administration, an MA (Distinction) in International Business Management. As a passionate global change agent she is a certified Green Impact Ambassador and champions green projects at several mine sites and countries to reduce community / environmental impacts of Mining into the future. She is committed to contributing to a Safe workplace and passionate about developing women at the workplace. Rosebella’s career aspiration is to become an emphatic Operational Executive and a voice for change for females within the communities/ workplace to support the diversity and inclusion drive in the industry. She is passionate about continuous learning and aims to support other women with the experience gained from the IWRMP mentoring programme in 2021.
Ruvimbo “Ruvi” Goredema is a highly-educated and accomplished woman with a wealth of knowledge in a variety of fields. She earned her degrees in Political Communication, Media, and Sociology, with a specialisation in Rhetoric and persuasive techniques from the University of Cape Town. Currently, she is pursuing her PhD at the University of Curtin in Western Australia.
Her studies in Gender and International Development Studies and Political Action and Lobbying Techniques have proven invaluable in her work across different industries where understanding power dynamics and effective
communication strategies is essential. Furthermore, she has completed the Steering Complex Project Management online course with Cambridge University, which sparked her interest in project management and has motivated her to further develop her skills in this area. With her extensive background, Ruvi has experience in various fields, including as a Public Relations Manager, Content Writer, Stakeholder Engagement Consultant, Project and Operations Manager and Skills Assessment Adviser.
Her work with International Women in Mining (IWiM) on the “Strengthening WiM Organisations” project (2022)provided a report that identified and articulated some of the solutions women in the mining industry proposed for the challenges they face day-to-day. As the lead consultant on developing the methodology for consultation and engagement of WIM organisations, she provided an external review of similar international networks and designed a methodology to capture solutions via virtual roundtables, one-on-one consultations, and online platforms.
Sally Strohmayr was born and raised in the mining town of Mount Isa in the Australian outback. She graduated with an honours degree in Applied Science (Environmental Studies) from James Cook University and her first job in the mining industry was as a botanist, mapping vegetation and overseeing rehabilitation. She has over 20 years’ experience in environmental support, including monitoring, impact assessments and policy and regulatory compliance for government and the mining industry. In her most recent role, as Director of Petroleum Operations, she led a team responsible for establishing a new environmental regulatory regime for unconventional shale gas, winning an award for sustainability in the utilities sector. In her management roles, Sally enjoys promoting professional development and making a difference to people’s careers and well-being.
Sally has worked in politically controversial areas such as uranium and fracking and has communicated and engaged with a wide range of stakeholders. As part of her regulatory career, she actively promoted the application of critical controls management and process safety to manage high-risk environmental hazards in the on shore mining and petroleum sectors.
As a mother of three daughters, she is passionate about maximising the social benefits of mining and increasing gender diversity to close the gender gap. She is currently on leave to help her husband and family relocate to Peru for work.
Highly experienced professional with over 20 years of expertise in the fields of anti-corruption, energy, and environmental sectors. She has worked with esteemed organisations such as the World Bank, UNDP, UNICEF, OSCE, and the U.S. Department of State. As a co-founder of Kosovo Women in Energy and Mining, she has played a key role in promoting gender equality and empowering women in these industries. Currently, Shqipe imparts her knowledge and expertise as a faculty member, teaching energy policy at the American University in Kosovo/RIT Kosovo. She actively contributes her insights and perspectives for various platforms and magazines.
Shqipe holds a double MA degree in Public Administration & Public Policy, with a strong focus on the energy sector, from the Central European University in Hungary and the University of York in the UK. She completed her BA degree in Management & Entrepreneurship from the American University in Kosovo/RIT Kosovo. In addition to her professional engagements, Shqipe mentors students and mid-career professionals from various countries through Erasmus Mundus, Global Women’s Network in Energy Transition (GWNET), and Global Engineer Girls Kosovo mentoring programs. She also serves as a country representative for the Erasmus Mundus Alumni Association.
Zaiboonisha is an entrepreneur in mining and is the founder and CEO of a dynamic mining company focused on turnkey solutions over mining projects in precious metals and ore commodities.
Zaiboonisha holds a BA Degree from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. Her cause for mining and knowledge of valuable resources in South Africa has fueled her passion as a Woman in Mining to create opportunities in local employment and ensure skills are sufficiently transferred to disadvantaged individuals for continuity and independency.
Zaiboonisha is a Board Member of WIMBIZ – Women in Mining Business South Africa, an organisation aimed at the empowerment of Women Entrepreneurs within the mining industry.
Zenoushka is an early career Mine Geologist at BHP, progressing from the internal graduate program in 2018 through a variety of roles. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Geology and Finance from the University of Western Australia.
Zenoushka is a passionate advocate for Women in Mining, professional development, and promoter of early STEM education. She is involved with internal graduate mentoring programs and the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) where she is a member of the Geoscience Society Committee.
Zenoushka aims to promote inclusion and diversity to help pave the way for young and inspiring women within the resource sector.