Modern Mining August 2022

WOMEN IN MINING

Giyani Metals drives gender diversity By Tavistock’s Adam Baynes (associate) and Tara Vivian-Neal (consultant)

It is widely accepted that, traditionally, mining struggles to attract women to join its ranks. According to recent research by McKinsey, between eight and 17 per cent of the global mining workforce is represented by women. However, more concerning is that there are far fewer women working at the executive level of the mining industry.

H oning in on Botswana, one of Africa’s premier mining jurisdictions, there is little evidence – although the data is sparse – that the situation there is much different. This is despite the fact that there are many women in the industry with the requisite skills and knowledge to make a significant contribution to the sector. Elisa Kgomotso Davis, newly-appointed country manager for the TSXV-listed high purity manganese developer Giyani Metals, is one such example of the untapped potential of female talent in the sector. She is responsible for overseeing everything that Giyani does in Botswana, particularly in guiding the devel opment of the company’s portfolio of high-quality assets within the Kanye Basin in south-eastern Botswana. In an interview Davis spoke about some of her experiences during her 12-year career, her ambi tions for the future, and what Giyani Metals is doing in Botswana to welcome more female talent. Davis explained that, especially earlier on in her career at various companies, she experienced

stereotypical backward attitudes: “You could be made to feel like you don’t belong, or that you could not do certain jobs or activities, physically and men tally. There was also a lot of undermining, and one’s intelligence was questioned, just because you are a woman.” Specifically, she remembers the lack of indus try-wide practices in place to cater for female employees: “PPE was always too big for me, or didn’t fit comfortably, and I was not always able to find safety boots small enough for my feet. There wasn’t always anywhere specifically for women to get changed either.” Over the past ten years, Davis says she has noticed definitive change in the sector. “Whereas I fortuitously fell into my profession, these days I know of young women who have dreams of being mining engineers, geologists or metallurgists, and they have a real passion for the industry from a young age.” This is where education can really help to normalise the role of women in the sector, and influence future generations of decision makers, Davis adds. She

Elisa Davis.

Davis guides the development of the company’s portfolio of high quality assets within the Kanye Basin in south-eastern Botswana.

26  MODERN MINING  August 2022