Creating a cultural change in the mining industry

Maria Joyce, the winner of the BGC Contracting Contribution to Mining Award at the 2018 Australian Mining Prospect Awards, is passionate about the role she can play in shaping company culture.

Maria is MEC Mining’s general manager – strategy and business development. She regards diversity and inclusion as vital ingredients that create a culture that enhances mining companies. She says the benefits of having diverse leadership are clear and that mining more broadly has started to move further in this direction.

“It’s definitely progressing – there are more opportunities for women in the sector than I have witnessed in my entire career – but there’s still a long way to go,” Joyce says.

Joyce urges the next generation of female mine workers to take the same ambitious attitude to the profession that she did 14 years ago. “If you are passionate about a career in this sector, go out and get it. Don’t let any social perceptions or the ratio of men to women stop you,” Joyce says.

Maria was named as one of the top 100 inspirational Women in Mining in 2018. The full version of this article originally appeared in Australian Mining and can be read here.