Break the bias in the resources industry this International Women’s Day

Kate said her own journey from working at the coal face to Commissioner meant overcoming gender bias and stereotypes and even needing to break down legal barriers in South Africa which prevented women from working underground.

“The resources industry may have been traditionally male dominated, but in my opinion, women have a massive role to play in its future,” Kate said.

“Women can bring so much to the resources industry—involving more women can alleviate skills shortages, increase business performance, improve safety, and create a more inclusive workplace culture.

“Women can bring more diverse perspectives, life experiences and qualities to the industry and this can often translate into significant business, operational and safety benefits.

“Most successful resources industry women lean into what makes them different and understand just how valuable their diversity and skills are—these potential benefits are being realised more and more in our industry.”

“However, to realise the full potential, we must strive to break down the existing biases in our industry.”

Kate said that while the resources industry still lags some way behind in gender equality terms, she has seen a slow and steady improvement in the number and proportion of women employed in the industry, and particularly in management and professional roles.

“I would like to congratulate the industry on the work it has done to improve opportunities for women and to encourage more women to seek those opportunities in the future,” she said.

“The opportunities I have earned have been life-changing, and the camaraderie and friendships I have made have endured for decades.

“One of the keys to my positive experiences was a series of strong mentors and role models who recognised the potential benefits of a more diverse workforce.

“I strongly urge women and men who wish to expand the participation of women in the resources industry to support Women in Mining and Resources Queensland (WIMARQ) who do fantastic work connecting, nurturing, and supporting women to achieve their goals in the industry.

“I wholeheartedly support the International Women’s Day 2022 theme of #BreakTheBias and encourage all people in the resources industry to consider the benefits of a more equitable workplace and what they can do to improve diversity in their workforce.”

For more information about International Women’s Day go to www.internationalwomensday.com.

For more information about WIMARQ go to www.womeninminingqueensland.com.