As the world has evolved, so has Australia’s mining and resources sector. For a long time, the workforce, as well as the broader mining industry, was not considered a place for women to be included.
In terms of the number of women gaining a seat on mining companies’ board of directors, by 2022 it had grown to around 17.6% within the top 500 listed companies. This represents a 4.9% increase from a decade earlier.
Although women in mining represent only 16% of the industry’s workforce, Mining.com.au is recognising the executives that are promoting and supporting the workforce, as well as helping shape a positive future for mining.
The winner of the inaugural Mining.com.au Women in Mining Leadership award is Joanne Bergamin, co-founder and Chair of Women in Sustainable Energy and Resources (WISER), and non-executive director at Sunshine Metals (ASX:SHN).
The Masters of Mining award recognises a team leader, manager, or company executive who has made a significant contribution to the mining industry over the course of their career.
Bergamin is a seasoned communications and sustainability professional with expertise and experience across the resources and energy sectors in Queensland. Alongside her roles with WISER and Sunshine Metals, Bergamin has held roles with QEM (ASX:QEM) and Arrow Energy (ASX:AOE).
Established in 2023, WISER is an inclusive industry network of women in sustainability energy, resources, and related industries in Australia. Established in Queensland, the network is run by a group of like-minded women who are passionate about increasing female representation in the industry.
Bergamin says that WISER is built upon the importance of uplifting every woman in the industry.
“It is incumbent upon all of us to ensure that opportunities for growth, recognition, and leadership are extended to women from diverse backgrounds and experiences,” she says.
“Fostering a culture of inclusion and support not only benefits individual women but also enriches the entire industry with a wide range of perspectives, talents, and innovations.”
Similarly to the Australian mining industry, WISER aims to support and advocate for women working at the forefront of these transformative industries — from graduates to senior leaders — by providing opportunities to network, educate, celebrate, and share ideas.
Bergamin studied at the University of Queensland, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts and Commerce, and an MBA. In 2022, she also completed a Graduate Certificate in Sustainability Energy.
While working in Rome and the Vatican from 2007-2020, Bergamin held various journalistic and marketing roles, including for the Pope’s newspaper — which is considered one of the most influential papers in Italy, according to Britannica.
Prior to working in Rome, she worked in marketing and PR in the mining and energy sector in Australia and Thailand.
The inaugural 2024 Mining.com.au Masters of Mining Awards are the newest national awards program to recognise and celebrate companies that contribute to the mining and minerals processing industry within Australia.
The awards recognise companies and individuals that excel in everything from exploration, to diversity and inclusion, innovation, leadership, job creation, and sector advocacy.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: LinkedIn
