WIM/WIN Co-Chaird Nancy Komperdo welcoming attendees of the Mine Your Potential conference in Saskatoon. Photo by Joel Willick.
The mining industry is one of the countries fastest growing sectors, but according to organizers of a conference in Saskatoon under 25 per cent of the workforce in the industry is female.
The 4th annual Mine Your Potential conference is aiming to change that trend.
The one-day conference is hosted by the Saskatchewan branch of Women in Mining/Women in Nuclear (WIM/WIN).
“The event was created so women can get together and learn a little more about the mining industry,” said WIM/WIN Co-Chair and event organizer Nancy Komperdo.
However, Komperdo says more inclusion in the industry goes beyond women and that’s why both men and women are invited to take part in the conference.
“Without having both men and women engaged in increasing diversity and inclusion in the workforce it just won’t happen,” she said.
Anne Gent, another organizer for the event says the number of women working in the mining industry is increasing, but at the current rate it would take until 2039 to reach 30%.
“Today’s conference is about mining that gap,” she said.
One of the day’s Keynote speakers was Rosalie Woloski, who has worked as a journalist for the past 45 years and is the current Senior Producer for CBC Radio’s “Saskatoon Morning” show. Woloski drew comparisons between the two industries in that they have both been historically dominated by men with women only breaking in over the past 30 years.
“You don’t get change without pioneers and you don’t get change without people pushing the boundaries,” she said while addressing a room of over 200 people. “The mining industry is expanding and women should be a part of it.”
Several keynotes and breakout sessions featured varying topics within the mining industry.
Representatives from Cameco, Areva, PotashCorp and BHP Billiton were among those participating in the conference.