Maria Joyce is a General Manager at MEC Mining, and has served the company as a mining engineer for over ten years. Maria now adds another important role to her professional portfolio, having been appointed Committee Chair of Women in Mining and Resources Queensland (WIMARQ) and a Queensland committee representative for Women in Mining Network (WIMnet).
WIMARQ is a group of volunteers who support, mentor and encourage women in the minerals and energy sectors. It shares information about gender diversity issues, strategies and statistics, and welcomes women and men from across the sector to events in Brisbane and regional locations.
They live by the vision of a diverse community of passionate people collaborating to connect, nurture and support women to achieve their goals within the Queensland minerals and energy sector
“We congratulate Maria on her achievement. She’s an ideal person to champion women in mining and resources because she’s passionate, proactive and an excellent example of success in the sector,” said Simon Cohn, MEC Mining Managing Director.
WIMARQ launched the Resources Awards for Women and the Women in Resources National Awards with the Queensland Resources Council (QRC), and it also partners with the QRC to host the annual International Women’s Day Breakfast.
Over the past four years more than 100 Queensland women have completed the mentoring program run by WIMARQ and the QRC. “Many report that the experience has been life-changing,” said Maria.
Maria acknowledges the unique strengths that a diverse workforce brings to businesses and believes it is vital that every individual has a meaningful work purpose, contributes to a common goal and is nurtured in their role.
“Companies need to cast the net wider and think about the skills and experience of women, rather than a prescriptive career path,” said Maria. “They need to look around their boardrooms and see who’s missing – not just women, but also people of different ages, experience, backgrounds and cultures.”
For organisations who are interested in supporting Women in Mining Queensland, visit WIMARQ or contact Committee Chair Maria Joyce.
