Mining Magazine August 2020 | Page 56

WHAT IS NEEDED FROM AN INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY STANDPOINT TO ATTRACT MORE WOMEN INTO THE INDUSTRY ?
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER WOMEN CONSIDERING A CAREER IN MINING ?
SPECIAL FEATURE
56
It ’ s also important to call out when I ’ m faced with obstacles and say , you need to get on board , you need to be a team player , everyone needs to get into the game and pull together to pull Rössing up through the depressed uranium market and into the future .”
WHAT IS NEEDED FROM AN INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY STANDPOINT TO ATTRACT MORE WOMEN INTO THE INDUSTRY ?
Liezl Davies : “ When we get to a phase now in our technological development where we have autonomous vehicles you don ’ t necessarily need a haulage truck operator , but you need a more intelligent approach . We need workers who can operate the controls , or design the operating system , the control room or the trucks are running on , employees who can design the pit lay out , and the cycle the trucks need to hang on . It just opens a completely different world where everyone can be there and from all walks of life and physical ability . The underground mining environment is now a place where all our workers can contribute .”
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER WOMEN CONSIDERING A CAREER IN MINING ?
Liezl Davies : “ We are seeing a growing number of women being interested in the mining disciplines that weren ’ t there previously . I think we ’ re doing quite a bit to encourage them at Rössing so they are motivated to actually study more in the mining disciplines that they see other women succeeding in ; it gives them hope . You must not be fooled , it is a tough environment , but all jobs are stressful , so you need to find your happy place , your place in the sun , and this is the type of environment that spoke to me , and that I feel I could actually thrive in , as long as you are a team player , and you can get the job done .”
SUMMER / AUTUMN 2020