Namdeb, hailed for its work on gender diversity, has thrown its weight behind the launch of a new association to support women in mining in Namibia.
Namdeb, hailed for its work on gender diversity, has thrown its weight behind the launch of a new association to support women in mining in Namibia.
Zenzi Awases, WiMAN President, at the launch.
The Women in Mining Association Namibia (WiMAN) was set up in April as an outcome of the first Leadership Development for Women in Mining Conference, spearheaded by the Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy, Kornelia Shilunga, and was officially launched in November.
Namdeb is affiliated to WiMAN because it supports the organisation’s focus on gender diversity and inclusion. The company has pledged to continue to drive the women in mining agenda through the involvement of both female and male employees.
Zenzi Awases, a former Namdeb bursar and now employed at Debmarine Namibia, is the WiMAN President and at the launch presented a certificate to Namdeb CEO Riaan Burger in recognition of the company’s work on gender diversity.
Cindy Andrews, a Namdeb geologist, also serves on the first WiMAN Executive Committee - as secretary.
Pauline Thomas, Namdeb Corporate Affairs Manager, said: “Namdeb is proud to have been represented and acknowledged at the official launch of WiMAN because the company has pioneered many advancements for women, and these achievements are celebrated and create learnings within the mining industry.”
The April conference created a platform for discussions around the integration and development of women in mining, and also celebrated the advances already made with the appointment of women to technical roles. It was recognised that a formal platform was needed to continue developing women in leadership and management roles in the mining industry.
Furthermore, the platform would focus on ensuring that mining companies continued to create a conducive working environment, as well as growth opportunities, for female employees.
WiMAN is fully supported by the Namibian Chamber of Mines and endorsed by the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME). Kornelia Shilunga is the association’s patron.