As the sun sets on South Africa’s historic elections, women in SA mining are calling for more speedy change to move the mining sector forward, especially regarding the issues around gender equality through appointment and opportunities, says Pinpoint Stewards. The company will be hosting the annual Women in Mining conference on 28 and 29 August at the NH Collection Hotel, Sandton. The theme for this year’s conference is “Safeguarding and encouraging the future progress of women in SA Mining” by reaching for higher ground.
Supplied by Pinpoint Stewards
“Women in mining face a host of challenges but, now more than ever, opportunities are being seized by women, especially if you look at what women are achieving, for the first time in history, in some cases. The mining sector is one of the few sectors backing women empowerment with laws, proposed white papers and by adopting company policies to attract more women. Although slow, winds of change are blowing and we are excited to profile some of these exceptional women and host the annual conference in August,” says, conference organiser, Ankia Roux.
Insights and presentations will be delivered by trailblazing women active in the mining sector, and include:
Dr Adwoa Boaduo Issaka, unit manager, Safety at Goldfields. She is the first female mining engineer in South Africa to earn a doctorate in the field, breaking barriers as the first black South African woman to do so. Issaka will be speaking on “the opportunities and challenges in doubling the percentage of women in mining”.
Nozipho Dlamini, mine manager, Thungela Resources will be leaning in to discuss overcoming age-old barriers which include: stereotyping, pay gaps, lack of career advancement, adaptation of workplaces, imposter syndrome and more. She was the 2022 president of the South African Colliery Managers Association, an industry association representing more than 400 managers in coal mines in the country. Dlamini was the first woman to hold this position in the organisation’s history.
The first female mine overseer at Cullinan diamond mine, Ofentse Debete. She currently hails from Goldfields will share her journey to being a successful leader in mining and the reasons “women deserve the corner office”.
Nandi Sibanyoni, executive head, SHE, Anglo American- Kumba Iron Ore, recognised as a 2023 Safety Hero for women in mining by the Mineral Council of South Africa, will cover “Mental health as a barrier and enabler for women in sustainable mining”.
Nomvula Ngcobo engineering manager – Asset & Maintenance Management, Central – Randfontein Harmony Gold Mining Company Ltd will discuss “why women should be retained and developed in mining”. With over 17 years of experience in mining, Ngcobo advocates for diversity, recognising the value of varied perspectives in problem-solving and innovation and is the group engineering manager at the company.
Kristell Holtzhausen, previous company secretary of African Rainbow Minerals Ltd, Ferrous Division (Assmang) will tackle the topic “overcoming burn-out – the enemy from within – through applying mental awareness and wellbeing at the workplace”.
Mpho Nyarela, WIM chair Limpopo RTF exco member , Palabora Mining Company will dissect the subject of “Re-writing HR policies to align with targets and including the influx of women at a faster tempo”. She has a Mining degree and a Masters degree in Business Administration, Governance and-Finance.
Cindy Mabala, rock engineering officer, Impala Platinum Ltd will address the challenges and opportunities for women in the mining industry. Among her array of accolades is the fact that she participated in a Rockbowl Competition at the international ISRM congress 2023 in Salzburg, Austria, representing the South African National Institute of Rock Engineering (SANIRE).
Bontle Mtshengu founder and co-owner of Quantum Leap Smart Engineering will home in on how women can access the mining sector through “modernisation towards safety and sustainability”. Mtshengu spent over 23 years in the mining indusry and is currently pursuing her MBA.
Three women in mining chairpersons will unite their expertise to give useful and practical insight into “the composition of women in mining forums and committees”, to achieve change and look at ways to support women at the mine, to be discussed during a panel discussion. They include: Hendrietta Sarile, environmental co-ordinator: Systems and Compliance Exploration, Ivanplats; Cynthia Muvhango, mine engineer, Foskor and Mpho Nyarela, WIM Chair Limpopo RTF exco member , Palabora Mining Company.
The conference will bring women from all mining levels together to demonstrate that anything is possible with 11 speakers sharing their purpose and journey. Women and men in mining are encouraged to join the discussion to debate on how the mining sector can embrace women and to seek out ways for the industry to move mining towards gender equality at a faster pace.
Sponsors, exhibitors and partners are encouraged to contact info@pinpointstewards.co.za or to register online: www.pinpointstewards.co.za. Discount when registering before 1 July applies. Pinpoint Stewards sponsor 20 post-graduate students to attend each year to enable them to find a mentor or job shadowing opportunities during the two-day conference.
Source: Supplied by Pinpoint Stewards