What are Mentoring Circles?
Starting or advancing a career, especially in complex industries like mining, can feel daunting; mentoring circles foster a collaborative environment where members share experiences, challenges, and knowledge, learning and growing together through diverse perspectives. Members gain access to diverse insights and build sustainable relationships that extend beyond the formal meetings. This approach nurtures confidence, self-awareness, and practical skills through shared learning.
Pit to Peak Pathfinders
The Pit to Peak Pathfinders mentoring circles is an initiative designed to empower and connect mining professionals across the globe. Recognising the unique challenges of a geographically dispersed and diverse industry, this mentoring programme provides a supportive and inclusive space where participants can contribute and accelerate both personal and professional growth within their profession or current work area.
This initiative aims to create a dynamic space for the mining community to come together – to engage by function, learn from one another, build professional connection and share valuable insights to drive both big and small changes within the industry.
![]()
Vision
To cultivate a thriving, inclusive, and empowered community of mining professionals who support each other’s growth through shared learning and collaboration.
![]()
Mission
To connect individuals across the mining sector through structured, supportive mentoring circles that foster knowledge sharing, personal development, and collective problem-solving, enabling every member to contribute meaningfully to the industry.
![]()
Values
Inclusivity
Collaboration
Integrity
Respect
Empowerment
Growth
Programme Details
Pit to Peak Pathfinders is open to men, women and non-binary people working in, or connected to, the mining and resources sector, providing an inclusive space for community building, professional growth and collaboration.
Each circle will consist of up to 10 members brought together by function or profession across geographies and across seniority levels to ensure meaningful interaction and peer learning.
We are opening it up to over 20 functions however if we don’t have enough participants to start a circle we will start with wider areas. If more than 10 people apply per area we will form several circles by function.
The 2026 cohort will run in English.
Pit to Peak Pathfinders mentoring circles will run for a formal period of 9 months.
Circles will usually meet virtually once a month for 60–90 minutes.
At the end of the formal period, circles will be invited to reflect and provide feedback. Circles may continue informally afterwards if members wish.
If required, IWIM can provide an online meeting platform.
Each circle will have co-leaders where possible.
Co-leaders help the circle start well, keep a rhythm, support the Circle Charter, encourage participation, manage time and topic flow, and escalate serious issues to IWIM where needed.
Co-leaders are facilitators, not individual mentors, counsellors or experts expected to carry the group alone.
We recommend that each mentoring circle have 2 co-leaders to share the burden and ensure there is always a leader present to facilitate meetings even if one is unavailable — recognising that these are volunteer roles.
Co-leading also offers valuable opportunities to build collaboration and shared management skills, effectively providing a job-sharing experience.
Each mentoring circle will operate under Chatham House rules to ensure this is a safe space for all participants. For those that do not know what this means, you cannot accredit any words to a specific person or company and ideally what happens in the circle stays in the circle and isn’t shared externally. This is important to establish trust.
In addition, each circle will have to define at the outset where conflicts of interests are.
For any questions contact us at pathfinders@internationalwim.org with the subject title Pathfinders
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
After successful application, members are grouped based on profession or area of work. You can share preferences in the application form.
Each circle will have co-leaders where possible. Co-leaders support the group’s process and dynamics.
If a placement issue arises, participants should contact IWIM. Changes cannot be guaranteed and will depend on capacity, timing and circle fit.
Each circle will have co-leaders where possible. You can let us know via the application form if you wish to sign up as a leader. Leaders will be confirmed by IWIM as part of the application process.
Pit to Peak Pathfinders mentoring circles will run for a formal period of 9 months.
At the end of the formal period, circles will be invited to reflect and provide feedback. Circles may continue informally afterwards if members wish.
Rejoining is possible but depends on the discretion of your mentoring circle leader. Keep in mind that each circle has a limited number of members, so if the group is full, you may need to reapply for the next cohort.
Participation in the Pit to Peak Pathfinders mentoring circles is free. Our goal is to foster accessible professional development opportunities for all.
Participants may be invited to share feedback or testimonials after the formal circle period. Any named quote, photograph or testimonial will only be used with appropriate consent.
We encourage members to attend at least 75% of meetings to maintain group cohesion. If you must miss a session, please notify your circle leader in advance and stay engaged through online communications.
That’s completely understandable! Please notify your mentoring circle leader in writing so they can keep the group informed and manage any necessary adjustments smoothly. If you are a leader or co-leader, see if another member of your circle is happy to step up and take your leader role. If you are a leader please provide ample notice and also inform IWIM so we ensure the circle doesn’t abruptly stop.
The Pit to Peak Pathfinders mentoring circles are open to everyone in the mining industry. They will bring people together by function or profession across geographies and across seniority levels.
We will start with English and aim to provide circles in other languages as soon as the first cohorts are matched.