As we embrace 2023, we are excited for a new year filled with opportunities for women in the mining industry. We wish our 2021-2022 Chairperson, Petro du Pisani, well as her continued role as WiMSA Board Member, and we welcome Raksha Naidoo as our 2023-2024 Chairperson.
At Women in Mining South Africa, we are proud of our 2022 achievements and look forward to connecting with our members even more in 2023.
WiMSA was established in 2010 and is an entirely independent, volunteer-run organisation aiming to support women in our mining industry.
We look forward to collaborating with our sister WiM organisations in other countries as we work together to make a global impact in our industry. Contact us directly if you want to get involved in new projects with Women in Mining South Africa this year.
A Message From Our 2023-2024 Chairperson
Hello Everyone, and a very Happy New Year to you all!
As we embrace 2023, I am very proud as I step into some very big shoes as the Chairperson of Women in Mining South Africa. Firstly, a very big thank you to our outgoing Chair, Petro du Pisani, for her leadership and guidance and the many successful projects she executed over the last two years.
As I began to prepare for my term as Chairperson, I reflected on the past two years and what an absolutely life-changing journey this has been. My passion is people and helping them in various ways where or however necessary.
When I joined the WiMSA team, I joined the mentorship subcommittee, which has just been the most fulfilling experience. Every session left me with a happy heart and full of inspiration - because the mentorship programme provided huge motivation and mentorship to us mentors as well. And as I write this now, I am fighting my inner critic, pushing aside all that self-doubt and silencing the imposter syndrome of "Why Me". These challenges, coupled with everything else we women face in this industry, make the overall journey more challenging.
But this journey has taught me that it's okay not to have it all figured out, that there are tools that will help you cope, and that at the end of the day, you show up and shine as your best self!
Taking these lessons, learnings and self-discovery, I found myself owning who I am over the past few years and showing up daily as my most authentic self, flaws and all. Because we all need to be braver, take more risks, have courage, and stand strong as ourselves because then, when we stand stronger together, we can fight the challenges, biases and discrimination that so many of us face in this industry.
If I were not brave, I wouldn't have taken a leap of faith in my leadership. If I were not bold, I wouldn't have found my voice to fight against bullies and anti-mentors, and then I just wouldn't be the me I grew into.
So this year, I challenge you to show up and shine brighter than before and join me in embracing our new theme, to be your strongest, bravest, most authentic self.
Let us work together, to Be Bold, to Be Brave and to Be You. So together, we become the strongest versions of ourselves and can be the change that industry and society need.
I look forward to engaging with you and working with you throughout this year.
But for now, will you be accepting my challenge?
Here's to a successful 2023!
2023 Mentoring Programme
We are pleased to announce that our 2023 Mentoring Programme applications are now open. Please follow the link below to complete the application form.
Applications close on 31 January 2023, so don't delay!
Visit Our New Website
Our new website is live!
Thanks to the sponsorship received from OIM Consulting, we have a new website for you. Please check it out and see some new pages, like our events section with the events gallery, our career booklet page, and much more.
We will introduce a Members Portal soon so you can keep your information up to date.
Remember to save info@wimsa.org.za to your safe senders' list, so you never miss an update from us.