Internationally recognised nonprofit organisation International Women in Mining (IWiM) last month announced its new governance board and advisory council to support the next wave of strategic development for the organisation.

The new board has been appointed following the stepping down of an executive group which had been in place during a five-year tenure that came to an end over the past 12 months.

In addition, IWiM added an advisory council to ensure wider and more comprehensive geographical representation, intersectionality and subject matter expertise.

The council comprises what IWiM says are diverse and passionate ambassadors from the mining industry, as well as policymakers and consultants.

This combined leadership team will build on an already successful programme of growth for IWiM, which is the only organisation of its kind in the natural resources industry, pursuing gender equity internationally.

Newly appointed board directors and areas of expertise include iron-ore major Kumba Iron Ore CFO Bothwell Mazarura, who will lead the finance department for the board.

The business development for the board will be headed up by multinational mining and metals processing group Sibanye-Stillwater business development VP Nicola Jackson.

Diversified miner Rio Tinto general counsel corporate head Scheherazade Walter has been appointed to address legal aspects for the IWiM board, and multinational gold miner Endeavour Mining secretariat head Susanna Freeman will lead the governance division of the IWiM board.

IWiM founder Barbara Dischinger will continue to be part of the board as its MD.

“The search for our new board started [in 2022] as our existing board had supported the creation and delivery of a strategic plan that saw us make significant impact and grow exponentially,” she says.

Dischinger adds that being able to welcome such an array of incredible industry leaders is a testimony to the work and she is both grateful and delighted that IWiM can now look to the next stage of development, with “many exciting plans in store”.

“I want to wholeheartedly thank Gillian Davidson, our outgoing chairperson, as well as the board’s outgoing directors, for their contributions, great insight and expertise,” says Dischinger, adding “ . . . IWiM is stronger because of their participation.”

Davidson says that diversity remains a priority for the mining industry, and for her it has been an honour to serve IWiM. “It is exciting to now see the next phase of growth and impact for the organisation. I wish the new board great success.”

The search for the new board was conducted probono by specialist global executive search firm Granger Reis.

“The advisory council will be pivotal in supporting IWiM’s strategy, long-term vision, and the execution of its projects to increase our impact,” stresses Dischinger.

“Overall, this is an incredibly exciting time for IWiM,” she added.

Founded in 2007, IWiM currently has more than 15 000 followers in more than 120 countries and works with over 20 organisations.