PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Western Australian resources sector has been issued a challenge to increase female participation in key positions, with Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Marmion saying that increasing the number of women in executive roles would provide important leadership.

“With the industry facing some challenges, there is no better time than now for companies to further embrace the advantages of gender balance,” Marmion said.

Addressing the Women in Energy and Resource Leadership Summit, in Perth, the Minister pointed to a study conducted by the Chamber of Minerals and Energy, which found resource industry teams that included women demonstrated higher levels of innovation and creativity.

It also found that when women were part of mine site workforces, better care was taken of equipment and workplace relations and overall safety records improved.

“To me, it’s a no-brainer. Many Western Australian resources companies have excellent programmes to encourage female employment and advancement but the industry still needs more women at the corporate level, in senior management and on site,” Marmion said.

A 2013 study found 19% of Western Australia’s resources sector workforce were female, and of these, 16% were working in management roles, an increase from 7% from 2011.

Marmion noted that the state government was working to facilitate the employment of females in the resources sector, with the government recently convening the first of three Women’s Consultative Forums, to encourage increased female participation and promotion in key industries including resource-related engineering, science and technology.

“We’re committed to working with industry to promote women’s career pathways, which start at high school,” the Minister said.

At the same event, mining major BHP Billiton’s head of group investment and value management Vanessa Torres said that workforce diversity and inclusion were even more important during challenging times, and could be a source of competitive advantage.

“The best ideas come from people who think differently and work collaboratively. Diversity of thought is the ultimate objective which can only be achieved in an inclusive environment where everyone feels their ideas are valued and can speak up.”