Equity, diversity, and inclusion are central to the mining industry improving financial and operating performance, with women essential to its digitalisation and ESG objectives, according to non-profit International Women in Mining (IWiM).  

In its 2021 Impact Report, the UK-based IWiM said the mining industry has come under "intense scrutiny" due to increasing societal expectations, regulatory constraints, and investor requirements focusing on its environmental and social performance.

Despite what it calls an "unprecedented global effort" to expand opportunities and reduce risks for women in mining, a lack of coordination can still hinder strategies to improve inclusion, the IWiM said.

Gillian Davidson, chair of the IWiM, said improving such coordination to enhance effectiveness and accelerate positive impact for women has been "core to IWiM's purpose" since its inception in 2007 and has only increased in significance since 2020.

Although equity, diversity, and inclusion are significant engagement areas are "significant engagement areas for many organisations," breakdowns in operations can "dilute resources, risk interference among initiatives and dimmish positive impact," Anderson added.

"Going forward, IWiM will focus on leveraging the collective strength of women in mining to drive better recognition of women's outstanding contribution to mining and equal rights."

"Our ambition to transform mining is shared worldwide by visionary men, women, and organisations across the mineral value chain: together we can realise new and unique opportunities for women, the mining sector, and the communities they invigorate and empower," she explained.