About IWRMP
The International Women in Resources Mentoring Programme (IWRMP) is an annual cross-company programme established in 2018 to promote and empower women to progress their careers, overcome professional challenges and build confidence for achievement and industry leadership.
This unique 6-month, structured and results-orientated initiative is very successful, growing year on year and continuously improving with consistently excellent ratings from mentees and mentors. To date, IWRMP has facilitated the personal and professional growth of 416 mentees, including 68 scholars with 112 mentees based in 33 countries participating in 2024. Our goal is to have given 500 women a mentor by 2025.
We offer the opportunity for mentees to be matched in their native language, in addition to English.
IWRMP places a strong emphasis on diversity and inclusion, aiming to reduce cross-cultural barriers by creating partnerships between talented, driven mentees and senior industry leaders committed to the promotion of women in mining. Mentees benefit greatly from the guidance and insight of the inspirational men and women mentoring them, who in turn expand their understanding of younger professionals’ perspectives and challenges. These individual benefits extend to positively impact participants’ teams and organisations, improving the position and opportunities of women across the mining sector.
IWRMP 2024
Applications for IWRMP 2024 are now closed and the programme starts 15 April 2024 ending end of October. If you have any questions or comments, please contact info@iwrmp.com
Programme details
IWRMP provides a high-quality framework which facilitates the mentoring relationship and allows both mentee and mentor to benefit from the experience. The focus of mentorship is on setting career goals and plans and achieving them.
IWRMP strategically aligns mentors with mentees. The structured format provides the highest level of support and regular engagement milestones, beginning with a thought-provoking training session and comprehensive guidance documents for mentors and mentees.
The programme usually runs from March/April to September/October. Each mentee has at least six sessions with their mentor. The programme also offers webinars on additional leadership topics and opportunities for participants to connect and network.
As mentees and mentors often hail from different places, communities and disciplines, the relationships also serve to reduce cross-cultural barriers. IWRMP promoters ensure that women from all continents participate, including from emerging markets.
Mentee eligibility and time commitment
- This programme is aimed at mentees with at least five years’ experience in the mining sector post qualification (ideally 10+)
- Minimum age: 27 years
- Open to all professions
- IWRMP does not cater to students including PhDs
Time commitment: Mentees will be expected to dedicate quite a number of hours on top of their busy schedule and home life to focus on the programme.
- Compulsory: initial training session, sessions with their mentor every 3-4 weeks, session preparation and follow up work
- Optional but highly encouraged: webinars and networking opportunities, programme finale celebration
Mentor eligibility and time commitment
IWRMP mentors are senior leaders in the resources industry, inspirational men and women committed to the promotion of women in mining. Mentors play a vital role as senior role models in enhancing global retention and promotion of women in mining; they support but also push mentees beyond their expectations, sharing valuable tools and insight to help them progress on their own leadership journey.
- At least 25 years’ work experience, with seniority and experience with mining companies/mining consultancies across all professions and industry roles
- International work experience (ideally having lived and worked abroad)
- Head of department, senior manager reporting to executive level/C-suite or any level above
- A passion for giving back, and capacity for empathy, as mentees may be in challenging situations and conversations may sometimes veer into the personal and family realms
Time Commitment: Mentors commit to make themselves available to their mentee every 3 to 4 weeks for a period of 6 months, to maintain focus and momentum in the discussions
- Compulsory: initial training session (if first time as mentor on the programme), at least 6 sessions with their mentee (12 hours)
- Optional: additional sessions with their mentee, webinars and networking opportunities, programme finale celebration
Scholarships
Creating unique opportunities for women, including wholly or partially-funded access to pioneering initiatives such as IWRMP, is integral to IWiM’s purpose and impact.
Scholarships will be offered to women working in, with and around the mining sector, primarily in emerging markets or among disadvantaged groups, who do not have an industry sponsor and are unable to self-fund their participation in IWRMP. Applicants from emerging markets who work for large mining companies and consultancies or engineering firms can’t apply for scholarship and need to be sponsored by their employer.
IWiM’s Scholarship Committee apply a rigorous selection process and criteria including candidates’ leadership potential. If you have any questions, contact us at info@iwrmp.com