Being one of the more controversial sectors of the mining industry, uranium has its fair share of challenges. Perhaps it needs a woman’s touch?
Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) chair Vanessa Guthrie is well-versed in the area of uranium, having headed junior Toro Energy (ASX:TOE) and served as a director on the board of Vimy Resources (ASX:VMY).
Uranium mining has come under heavy scrutiny and faced strong opposition because of the inherent risks associated with digging up the radioactive material.
“Being a woman in the uranium sector presented no greater challenges than being a woman in leadership roles in the resources industry at large,” Guthrie told Stockhead.
“In fact, to some degree, being a woman was an advantage, as the greatest opponents of uranium mining have been women, largely in the 25 to 45-year-old cohort.
“And being a woman made it easier to connect with the concerns raised by other women and respond with authenticity and in a way which resonated.”
The proof is in the numbers
According to Guthrie, all of the data points to the fact that more diverse companies with at least 30 per cent women in their senior teams are more productive and successful on every measure of financial performance.
And while the junior end of the market right now is not doing so well at adding more women to their boards, or having women in leadership roles, Guthrie says the mining industry isn’t the worst.
Here’s a list* of ASX small cap miners and oil & gas companies with female directors:
ASX Code | Company | Market Cap | No. of Women | No. of Board Members |
---|---|---|---|---|
AX8 | ACCELERATE RESOURCES LTD | $1,571,460 | 1 | 4 |
AIV | ACTIVEX LTD | $34,559,540 | 2 | 4 |
ADY | ADMIRALTY RESOURCES NL | $13,909,616 | 1 | 3 |
AGR | AGUIA RESOURCES LTD | $18,101,068 | 1 | 6 |
A1C | AIC RESOURCES LTD | $13,125,000 | 1 | 3 |
ALY | ALCHEMY RESOURCES LTD | $5,725,454 | 1 | 4 |
AHQ | ALLEGIANCE COAL LTD | $51,116,544 | 1 | 6 |
ARS | ALT RESOURCES LTD | $6,469,902 | 1 | 4 |
AXE | ARCHER EXPLORATION LTD | $15,508,038 | 1 | 3 |
ARL | ARDEA RESOURCES LTD | $45,111,804 | 1 | 3 |
ADV | ARDIDEN LTD | $5,044,141 | 2 | 4 |
AXT | ARGO EXPLORATION LTD | $2,195,640 | 3 | 7 |
AKM | ASPIRE MINING LTD | $56,551,200 | 1 | 7 |
AYM | AUSTRALIA UNITED MINING LTD | $3,685,155 | 1 | 3 |
AZM | AZUMAH RESOURCES LTD | $14,860,909 | 1 | 4 |
BSE | BASE RESOURCES LTD | $279,989,536 | 1 | 7 |
BAT | BATTERY MINERALS LTD | $27,679,922 | 1 | 6 |
BCI | BCI MINERALS LTD | $79,521,784 | 1 | 4 |
BCN | BEACON MINERALS LTD | $43,136,264 | 1 | 3 |
BNL | BIG STAR ENERGY LTD | $1,986,000 | 1 | 3 |
BLZ | BLAZE INTERNATIONAL LTD | $4,410,000 | 1 | 3 |
BOC | BOUGAINVILLE COPPER LTD | $48,127,500 | 1 | 5 |
B2Y | BOUNTY MINING LTD | $38,515,032 | 1 | 5 |
BRK | BROOKSIDE ENERGY LTD | $11,990,662 | 1 | 3 |
BRU | BURU ENERGY LTD | $138,263,760 | 1 | 4 |
CMM | CAPRICORN METALS LTD | $82,414,936 | 1 | 4 |
CRB | CARBINE RESOURCES LTD | $8,389,363 | 1 | 3 |
CXU | CAULDRON ENERGY LTD | $6,585,794 | 1 | 5 |
CTP | CENTRAL PETROLEUM LTD | $103,374,992 | 1 | 6 |
CLQ | CLEAN TEQ HOLDINGS LTD | $205,276,560 | 2 | 9 |
COI | COMET RIDGE LTD | $218,362,928 | 1 | 5 |
CZL | CONSOLIDATED ZINC LTD | $15,299,518 | 1 | 4 |
CSV | CSG LTD | $71,308,904 | 2 | 4 |
CUE | CUE ENERGY RESOURCES LTD | $45,377,780 | 1 | 9 |
DNK | DANAKALI LTD | $198,316,800 | 1 | 6 |
DYL | DEEP YELLOW LTD | $67,433,336 | 1 | 6 |
DME | DOME GOLD MINES LTD | $54,845,240 | 1 | 3 |
E2M | E2 METALS LTD | $15,278,086 | 1 | 3 |
EFE | EASTERN IRON LTD | $1,647,602 | 1 | 4 |
EEG | EMPIRE ENERGY GROUP LTD | $41,635,516 | 1 | 3 |
ENX | ENEGEX LTD | $804,997 | 1 | 3 |
EME | ENERGY METALS LTD | $27,258,830 | 2 | 7 |
ERA | ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUST | $108,722,264 | 2 | 6 |
ETE | ENTEK ENERGY LTD | $3,917,832 | 1 | 3 |
EPW | ERM POWER LTD | $467,830,976 | 2 | 7 |
FZR | FITZROY RIVER CORP LTD | $16,997,128 | 1 | 3 |
FMS | FLINDERS MINES LTD | $118,495,784 | 1 | 5 |
FSA | FSA GROUP LTD | $135,725,488 | 1 | 4 |
GLL | GALILEE ENERGY LTD | $176,029,904 | 1 | 4 |
GCY | GASCOYNE RESOURCES LTD | $39,189,732 | 1 | 6 |
GML | GATEWAY MINING LTD | $12,928,473 | 1 | 4 |
GNX | GENEX POWER LTD | $76,545,720 | 1 | 6 |
GBE | GLOBE METALS AND MINING LTD | $6,522,913 | 1 | 5 |
GMR | GOLDEN RIM RESOURCES LTD | $7,172,988 | 1 | 3 |
GSM | GOLDEN STATE MINING LTD | $2,175,072 | 1 | 6 |
GRR | GRANGE RESOURCES LTD | $312,481,440 | 2 | 5 |
GBR | GREAT BOULDER RESOURCES LTD | $5,304,658 | 1 | 4 |
GSN | GREAT SOUTHERN MINING LTD | $9,709,195 | 1 | 3 |
GTR | GTI RESOURCES LTD | $1,953,818 | 1 | 3 |
HNR | HANNANS LTD | $23,855,454 | 1 | 5 |
HWK | HAWKSTONE MINING LTD | $16,567,632 | 1 | 3 |
HZR | HAZER GROUP LTD | $29,178,256 | 1 | 5 |
HFR | HIGHFIELD RESOURCES LTD | $242,200,880 | 1 | 10 |
HZN | HORIZON OIL LTD | $149,727,840 | 1 | 4 |
IDA | INDIANA RESOURCES LTD | $3,179,846 | 1 | 3 |
JRL | JINDALEE RESOURCES LTD | $11,548,276 | 1 | 5 |
KGM | KALNORTH GOLD MINES LTD | $3,576,960 | 1 | 3 |
KPC | KAZAKHSTAN POTASH CORP LTD | $32,400,000 | 2 | 8 |
KEY | KEY PETROLEUM LTD | $6,197,849 | 1 | 6 |
KGL | KGL RESOURCES LTD | $71,491,272 | 1 | 5 |
KMT | KOPORE METALS LTD | $5,712,988 | 1 | 3 |
KRX | KOPPAR RESOURCES LTD | $4,921,250 | 1 | 3 |
KGD | KULA GOLD LTD | $9,391,451 | 1 | 5 |
LCD | LATITUDE CONSOLIDATED LTD | $3,852,506 | 1 | 5 |
LPD | LEPIDICO LTD | $95,464,536 | 1 | 6 |
LNG | LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS LTD | $162,966,464 | 1 | 6 |
LRM | LUSTRUM MINERALS LTD | $1,794,127 | 1 | 3 |
MXR | MAXIMUS RESOURCES LTD | $2,158,543 | 1 | 3 |
MCM | MC MINING LTD | $98,615,712 | 1 | 10 |
MMR | MEC RESOURCES LTD | $1,658,314 | 1 | 4 |
MBK | METAL BANK LTD | $6,180,050 | 1 | 3 |
MEI | METEORIC RESOURCES NL | $15,941,063 | 1 | 4 |
MNB | MINBOS RESOURCES LTD | $5,654,562 | 1 | 4 |
MOD | MOD RESOURCES LTD | $91,121,120 | 1 | 6 |
MTB | MOUNT BURGESS MINING NL | $1,427,638 | 1 | 5 |
MGV | MUSGRAVE MINERALS LTD | $21,659,796 | 1 | 4 |
MZI | MZI RESOURCES LTD | $4,754,880 | 1 | 6 |
NMT | NEOMETALS LTD | $125,114,080 | 2 | 7 |
NWE | NORWEST ENERGY NL | $6,764,186 | 1 | 3 |
OXX | OCTANEX LTD | $2,181,704 | 2 | 7 |
PCL | PANCONTINENTAL OIL & GAS NL | $13,516,789 | 2 | 6 |
PAN | PANORAMIC RESOURCES LTD | $196,826,528 | 1 | 6 |
PGI | PANTERRA GOLD LTD | $3,374,421 | 1 | 4 |
PWN | PARKWAY MINERALS NL | $2,433,308 | 1 | 3 |
PKO | PEAKO LTD | $1,464,414 | 1 | 3 |
PNN | PEPINNINI LITHIUM LTD | $3,714,035 | 2 | 4 |
POS | POSEIDON NICKEL LTD | $97,779,968 | 1 | 4 |
PDZ | PRAIRIE MINING LTD | $71,112,152 | 1 | 6 |
RRS | RANGE RESOURCES LTD | $10,240,000 | 1 | 3 |
RFX | REDFLOW LTD | $38,481,596 | 1 | 5 |
REY | REY RESOURCES LTD | $71,149,064 | 1 | 6 |
RCO | ROYALCO RESOURCES LTD | $12,124,262 | 1 | 3 |
S2R | S2 RESOURCES LTD | $28,510,246 | 1 | 4 |
SRI | SIPA RESOURCES LTD | $13,658,367 | 2 | 4 |
SGQ | ST GEORGE MINING LTD | $37,264,528 | 1 | 3 |
SVY | STAVELY MINERALS LTD | $39,872,024 | 2 | 5 |
STX | STRIKE ENERGY LTD | $102,306,544 | 1 | 5 |
SRK | STRIKE RESOURCES LTD | $6,685,377 | 1 | 5 |
TLM | TALISMAN MINING LTD | $15,227,390 | 1 | 5 |
TAR | TARUGA MINERALS LTD | $4,093,850 | 1 | 4 |
TMR | TEMPUS RESOURCES LTD | $6,205,000 | 1 | 3 |
TML | TIMAH RESOURCES LTD | $4,454,224 | 2 | 8 |
TKM | TREK METALS LTD | $1,249,215 | 1 | 3 |
TON | TRITON MINERALS LTD | $48,211,172 | 1 | 5 |
VAL | VALOR RESOURCES LTD | $9,465,961 | 1 | 4 |
VAN | VANGO MINING LTD | $101,481,408 | 1 | 3 |
VMY | VIMY RESOURCES LTD | $27,141,628 | 2 | 6 |
XAM | XANADU MINES LTD | $47,307,220 | 1 | 7 |
YRL | YANDAL RESOURCES LTD | $10,695,670 | 2 | 3 |
ZER | ZETA RESOURCES LTD | $94,817,864 | 1 | 3 |
*The list does not include CEOs unless they are also directors.
“I think the premise of the mining industry being the worst in attracting and promoting women is a false one,” she said.
“My experience, and that of other women in leadership roles in other sectors, is that the barriers to the promotion of women to leadership are quite common in many sectors – whether that be sport, higher education, professional services, financial sector or media.”
Kelly Quirk, head of Perth-based recruiting firm Harrier Human Capital, told Stockhead earlier this year that the mining sector is a “lot better than people give it credit for”.
- Subscribe to our daily newsletter
- Join our small cap Facebook group
- Follow us on Facebook or Twitter
Guthrie believes the way the mining industry has tackled the issue has been one of the most constructive.
“While progress has been slower than we would like, the industry recognises the business case and has developed some really innovative ways to attract women and promote them into leadership roles,” she said.
“And all in an industry that operates under more difficult conditions than most sectors – conditions such as remote locations, shift work and long periods of isolation from families, and volatile commodity cycles that can impact significantly on financial and operational stability.”
Guthrie has plenty of experience in other sectors, currently serving as a director for the ABC and deputy chair of the Western Australian Cricket Association.
Shifting the dial
With respect to encouraging the promotion of women in the mining sector, Guthrie said the MCA was very conscious that it had a key role to play.
“Our contribution involves not only celebrating the success of women in mining through the state-based and national Women in Resources awards, but also drives change through our diversity working group, which highlights initiatives in structural and policy changes as well as cultural reform to address some of the unconscious biases that are present,” she said.
“In fact, the mining industry is one that is embracing the restructure of work to enable all employees to blend their career and family commitments and become more productive at work as a result.”
There is, however, still the problem of how people view the industry.
“To really shift the dial, we need to start with changing how we socialise girls and boys towards mining careers, and this starts with how we are perceived in the community,” Guthrie said.
“We are no longer a harsh, dirty and rough industry that is only based in the bush; mining is high tech, world-class in its research and at the cutting edge in digital automation, and many of our careers are based in the centre of our largest Australian cities.
“Shifting that imagery is key to attracting more people to work with us and enjoy some of the rich and rewarding experiences that I have enjoyed through my own career in mining.”