SPECIAL REPORT
mining professionals and engineers .
“ Mining companies can ’ t get enough men to fill certain jobs so they ’ d be crazy not to look beyond the traditional talent pool and try to attract suitably qualified women ,” Conway said .
As baby boomers retire , many experts believe more women could soften the blow if companies dedicated more resources to recruiting and retaining them . Whether or not those resources become available , many women-dedicated organizations are stepping up to the plate to reinforce their presence and make their voices be heard .
Speaking up Organizations like the WMC and WIM Canada have been a critical piece to ensuring initiatives and programs are in place to better serve women .
The Women in Mining Canada ( WIM ), which is a national not-forprofit organization formed in 2009 , works to advance the interests of women in the minerals exploration and mining sector in Canada .
“ Our organization encourages peers to engage in focal issues through mentorship , networking , research , educational forums , advocacy , sharing knowledge , best practices and personal and professional development ,” says Cynthia Le Sueur-Aquin , president of Laurion Mineral Exploration Inc .
Along with working to develop programs and policies aimed at increasing women ’ s advancement within companies , WIM strives to empower women by eliminating barriers of various career positions ; provide equity in pay structure and gender advance ; and create a flexible environment which aids the balance of work , community life and home .
In 2014 , WIM Canada awarded a grant from Status of Women Canada to develop a National Action Plan for the attraction and retention of women in the skilled trades and executive
“ We are seeing some great initiatives come out of the mining sector , designed to broaden the talent pool and improve gender diversity ”
- Helen Conway , Director of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency
22 A pril 2015