WISER and IWIMRA partner to accelerate women’s participation and leadership in resources and energy
Australian women’s networks WISER (Women In Sustainable Energy & Resources) Inc. and Indigenous Women in Mining and Resources Australia (IWIMRA) have announced an agreement to partner for the betterment of every woman in the sector and strengthen connections between Indigenous and non-Indigenous women in natural resources and energy.
WISER and IWIMRA are working together to improve the outcomes for all women who touch upon the sector, with both entities committed to leaving no woman in the industry behind, particularly in regional and remote areas.
This collaboration agreement follows the announcement on 15 July 2024 that all WISER members will receive a 12-month Premium+ membership of Women on Boards (WOB) Australia to kick-start and then support their journey to the boardroom. WISER aspires to see Indigenous women take up 10% of the available WOB memberships and course places, including any additional support which may be needed along the way. This has all been made possible with the backing of WISER’s corporate partners - Thiess, u&u. Recruitment Partners, Norton Rose Fulbright, QEM Limited, and Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners.
Joanne Bergamin, WISER chair, and communications and sustainability director at WISER Bronze Partner QEM Limited (ASX:QEM) was excited to share that of the first official WISER member cohort, 5% of the women are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin, thereby giving both WISER and IWIMRA much reason to aspire to a meaningful and fruitful partnership.
“We are aligned in so many of our goals and we share IWIMRA’s ambition to strengthen ties between First Nations communities and the critical energy and resources sector. This has been an important part of WISER’s identity from our formative activity, a collaborative artwork designed by Indigenous Australian artist and proud Mayi woman from NW Queensland, Leah Cummins, and completed by 100 WISERs,” Bergamin said.
“Leah has been part of the WISER journey from the outset, involved as both an artist and as an active member of IWIMRA, herself formerly holding geotech roles in energy and mining companies. When we have Leah at our events and she offers the Acknowledgement of Country, it means even more to me and everyone in the room, because we are building this community together.”
Bergamin said, “This partnership also aims to elevate the profile of First Nations women working in the industry. As both entities build their communities, the WISER and IWIMRA leads will look for ways to work together towards increased representation across Australia’s critical energy and resources sector. I am thrilled to be putting this into action with IWIMRA co-chairs and industry leaders Karina Lynch and Christina Coleman.”
Karina Lynch, IWIMRA co-chair said, “IWIMRA is very supportive of this partnership to boost industry-wide participation and retention, and support our members’ upskilling, whether that looks like refining professional profiles on LinkedIn or preparation for leadership and board roles.”
“Working with Joanne and the WISER committee on their plan to positively shape their and our members’ futures and accelerate gender balance in our industry, is a fairly significant way of closing the gap.”
Christina Coleman, IWIMRA co-chair added, “We are in dire need of more women in leadership positions in our industries, and experienced and skilled Indigenous women should be part of the mix.”
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