The mining industry in South Africa is at a crossroads, which also presents an opportunity to embrace a more diverse leadership, especially from women, says Deloitte director Gillian Hofmeyr.
She addressed attendees of the Deloitte Women in Leadership and Women in Mining South Africa breakfast last month, which sought to explore how women can be agents of change within the mining industry.
Hofmeyr described the South African mining industry as being “amenable to investment” despite the myriad of challenges it faces.
These challenges range from rising power and labour costs – which Hofmeyr said required a new kind of dialogue – to policy uncertainty over proposed State intervention.
She noted the bleak outlook of low growth that the mining industry would face in the years ahead and that countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Australia and China were stiff competition for South Africa with regard to the supply of key minerals to the global market.
Hofmeyr said these challenges required a new generation of managers who can lead change and women could help bring about that change.
She suggested that women lead change by employing basic change management strategies used in other industries. “Do not be afraid to be a pioneer . . . stand up for what you believe in and . . . mobilise a network of support.
“Keep your plan simple and pragmatic and do not try to change everything at once,” said Hofmeyr, who also advised on the need to focus on a few critical behaviours and build from there.
She added that it was also important to enlist “change carriers” – individuals who can drive the vision and maintain enthusiasm like a ‘positive’ virus.
Delegates at the breakfast also participated in the Deloitte Insomnia Index, an online survey that enables professionals to identify risks and opportunities in their respective sectors.
They also identified bursaries that contribute to skills development, opportunities for expatriates and the leadership skills of women as the top three opportunities in the mining industry for women. Male-dominated culture, legislation and the retention of female talent in the industry were identified as the top three challenges.
The breakfast concluded with a panel discussion by distinguished female leaders in the mining industry. The panel noted that barriers to entry into the mining industry remained high, starting with companies failing or refusing to improve underground working conditions for women, such as providing toilets.
However, the panel argued that women needed to adapt to the industry through a mixture of tenacity, innovation and focusing on the things they do well.