Inspiring girls in the resources industry

In early August, 215 students from 25 Western Australian schools gathered for the 2023 Inspiring Girls Career Forum at Optus Stadium.  

The event was organised by the Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) WA and aimed to expose female secondary school students in years 10, 11, and 12 to the huge variety of career opportunities in the resources industry.  

As a sponsor, we had an interactive booth at the forum, as well as a table of 8 students hosted by two Monadelphous representatives: Emma Gauld, HSEQ Manager, and Afsoon Zanjani, Graduate Project Engineer.  

During the forum, Emma and Afsoon guided the students through an engaging hands-on activity organised by the Australian Earth Science Education team. The activity aimed to showcase the diverse skill set required in the resources sector. Students were challenged to establish a theoretical mine and assess various environmental, social, and geological factors to locate the largest possible gold deposits.  

Afsoon said the event was a great way to inspire young girls and that she could already see a huge difference in their mindsets.  

"We met a lot of girls on track to becoming boilermakers, electricians and mechanical fitters, I'm certain they will make such an impact on the industry."  

"I'm glad I had the opportunity to talk to girls who mentioned they had thought about engineering but didn't believe they are smart enough. I shared my experience and that it doesn't matter what you know, if you are open to learning and working hard then you can achieve whatever you set your mind to!" Afsoon said.  

Aside from participating in the engaging activities, the students also had the privilege of hearing personal stories from industry professionals and exploring various company booths during their breaks.  

The forum addressed an ongoing challenge in the industry - the underrepresentation of women. Monadelphous places a strong focus on promoting gender diversity and inclusion through its Gender Diversity and Inclusion Plan.  

Events like the Inspiring Girls Career Forum play a vital role in motivating young women across Western Australia to consider pursuing a wide range of opportunities, from trades to professional roles, within the resources sector.