Research and solutions management company Solver Consulting has embarked on a ten-week campaign researching and highlighting women in mining to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences in the industry.

The South African Mining Charter currently stipulates that at least 10% of all local companies’ employee base must be women and Solver Consulting partner Trish Heimann notes that many companies are still struggling to fill this quota.

Solver is undertaking interviews with women who fill positions in various mining companies and across all levels of their organisations to gather inputs and experiences relating to this issue.

“Solver Consulting is motivated by the role of women in mining and is confident that this campaign will go a long way towards enlightening the country and its people of the enormous potential for women in this field, as well as creating an awareness of the issues and shortcomings as women soldier on towards realising their dreams and making a difference,” Heimann says.

Some of the topics that will be covered during the campaign will include gaining an understanding of the world of women in mining, their experiences and whether they feel they have equal opportunities and are regarded as equal contributors to men.

Solver executive coach Juanene Frydman highlights that women in the industry often feel pressurised to fit into a male-dominant mould to manage expectations.

The campaign will explore women’s experiences in a predominantly male world while not losing their femininity and adopting behaviour more associated with men to enable them to manage more effectively in the working environment.

It will also highlight career progression opportunities for women in mining, the difficulties of and the type of support that assists women in developing their careers in the mining sector.

Heimann adds that, to successfully integrate women into the mining industry, the 10% quota must not be regarded simply as an end goal, but rather as a means of continuing to empower and employ women within industry.

As a result, impeding factors need to be addressed to enhance job satisfaction among women currently employed in mining and to potentially attract more women to the industry.

Various women in mining will be showcased across the next couple of weeks and the culmination of the research will be presented at a breakfast event on January 28, 2014, along with some recommendations to address the development of women in mining.