The Gender Diversity and Inclusion Guidance initiative is close to the heart of the association, as it is one of its top strategic priorities. PDAC's goal is to provide information and tools for companies to implement strategies for gender diversity and inclusion and subsequently cultivate more inclusive and diverse environments internally as well as in their respective communities.

"There is often an assumption that improving gender diversity and inclusion is a resource intensive pursuit," said Lisa McDonald, executive director of PDAC. "This guidance document challenges that assumption and demonstrates how small actions can have a tremendous impact on diversity and inclusion."

She backed up PDAC's mission with data, pointing out that while the Canadian mineral exploration and mining sector employs around 630,000 individuals directly and indirectly, women make up just 17% of workers. On a national level, she added, women make up 48% of the overall workforce.

PDAC president Felix Lee added that bridging the gap in minerals is a critical element to addressing upcoming labour shortages. It also can play a role in the financial, health and safety challenges and longevity issues today's mining industry is facing.

"In a male dominated industry, companies of all sizes can take key actions to alter business practices and processes that address these inequalities," he said.

The guidance programme, which is available as a standalone document on the PDAC website, will also be published as a new chapter addition to its e3 Plus Social Responsibility Toolkit.

PDAC's diversity and inclusion working group, which collaborated to develop the guidance, is make up of 30 industry experts from 25 organisations.

In all, PDAC has more than 7,500 members around the world.