In honour of International Women’s Day, BME takes a moment to reflect on its dedication to promoting gender diversity and empowerment in the mining sector. BME showcases the impactful contributions of four women who epitomise leadership and innovation in the mining industry.
Kasturi Adari, BME’s GM for Human Resources, affirms the company’s commitment to actively support and elevate women throughout the blasting industry. Adari emphasises BME’s provision of equal opportunities for women across the entire blasting value chain, spanning recruitment, training, career advancement, and leadership roles. Creating safe and respectful workplaces, BME ensures an environment conducive to women’s professional growth.
“We constantly review our hiring practices, using dedicated recruitment processing outsourcing (RPO) for market research to attract the best talent.”
– Kasturi Adari, BME’s GM for Human Resources
Adari underscores the importance of awareness campaigns within BME, sharing success stories of women within the business to inspire others. Initiatives to recruit, retain, and develop female talent are tailored to address the challenges unique to the explosives’ industry. BME actively invests in specialised training programs for women, including a rock-breaking qualification, aimed at improving female representation in the field.
“Where we offered entry blasting assistant programmes to our community members in the Northern Cape, 60% of the intake were females. We intend to expand our offerings in the various regions where we operate.”
– Kasturi Adari, BME’s GM for Human Resources
Queeneth Vikisi, Business Development Manager at Mining Chemicals, BME’s sister company in the Omnia Group’s mining division, shares her perspective on the influential role women play in mining. Vikisi acknowledges the industry challenges but sees them as opportunities for continuous learning, emphasising problem-solving as a vital skill in the ever-evolving mining sector.
Reflecting on her role in the chemical sector, Vikisi highlights her contributions to BME, including creating project pipelines and advising on new technologies. She believes that the success of women in the mining industry serves as a source of inspiration for younger generations, showcasing what’s possible despite circumstances and backgrounds.
“Mining includes several disciplines that are attractive to young women. Mining-related fields including geology, environmental science, surveying and other engineering disciplines are attracting new talent today. What inspires young women is seeing other women succeed and excel in their fields, as it encourages them to pursue their own goals and passions. These role models become living examples of what’s possible despite circumstances and backgrounds.”
– Queeneth Vikisi, Business Development Manager at Mining Chemicals
Nelisile Thanjekwayo, Head of Legal at BME, embodies the spirit of International Women’s Day and reinforces BME’s dedication to a diverse and empowering workplace. Thanjekwayo’s leadership journey was recognised as one of South Africa’s Mail and Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans. She emphasises the importance of an inclusive leadership style, teamwork, and communication.
“I believe in advocating for the growth of each team member, understanding their personal career goals, and ensuring their overall well-being through one-on-one catch-up sessions.”
– Nelisile Thanjekwayo, Head of Legal at BME
Maria Sequeira, BME’s Credit Manager, reinforces the significance of women’s leadership in an organisation. Sequeira highlights that women leaders foster a culture of trust, collaboration and accountability. Empowering team members and equipping them with the skills to adapt to industry trends, Sequeira champions excellence and growth within her team.
“I’ve empowered team members to take ownership of their responsibilities and strive for excellence, ensuring they are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to adapt to evolving industry trends and challenges.”
– Maria Sequeira, BME’s Credit Manager
BME Managing Director Ralf Hennecke emphasises the company’s commitment to creating an inclusive environment where women can thrive and contribute to the industry’s success. Hennecke reaffirms BME’s support for the global movement for gender equality, recognising the challenges women face daily.
“At BME, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment where women can thrive and contribute to the industry’s success. We proudly support the global movement for gender equality, recognising crucial issues that women face every day. We continue working together towards a more inclusive and diverse mining sector.”
– Ralf Hennecke, BME Managing Director
Click here to read the full post in Modern Mining Magazine.
