Mining and metals advocacy group the ICMM has announced a collective goal to drive more diverse, safe and inclusive mining workplaces by establishing a benchmark on gender representation and equality in the industry.

The organisation says progress towards the goal will be reported in a biennial performance report starting 2026.

The ICMM has also published a set of practical tools to support improved performance on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and a roadmap to help accelerate meaningful progress across the wider industry.  

In 2023, the ICMM published a DEI position statement in which its members committed to four actions by the end of this year.

This included developing a roadmap outlining key steps being taken on DEI, setting individual and collective goals, disclosing aggregated performance against these goals and encouraging wider collaboration to address shared challenges.  

The group says the benchmark, focussed initially on gender, will enable members to track their progress in implementing equitable practices in hiring, pay and investment in training.

The ICMM says it will publish a biennial report on members’ performance, offering transparency and accountability for companies and stakeholders with the overall aim of improved performance on DEI across the wider industry.  

To support mining companies embed DEI policies and practices into their strategies and operations, the ICMM has developed six practical tools.

These resources provide guidance on using inclusive language; integrating DEI in business strategy and governance; designing inclusive workplaces; addressing workplace psychological and psychosocial safety; recognising local nuances and adopting inclusive language; using a maturity matrix to assess progress. 

Underpinning this work is a DEI roadmap which outlines the steps already taken by ICMM and its members, sets out future milestones towards achieving its DEI aspirations and aims to inspire other companies to also take positive DEI action. 

“Our collective goal, the tools for DEI and our DEI roadmap reflect a shared determination to build a mining sector that is not only more equitable but also a better place to work. We recognise that achieving meaningful progress will take time, effort and deliberate endeavour.

“Establishing benchmarks will help companies and stakeholders understand what good looks like and where improvement is required. They'll provide inspiration for companies to meet or exceed them and ensure accountability, with members’ progress against the benchmarks published in a biennial report.

“I hope this goal, along with the tools and roadmap, encourage others to join this effort to drive the change we so urgently need,” says ICMM social performance director and co-COO Danielle Martin.

“No one should experience harassment, discrimination or unsafe conditions in the workplace. Together, we must eliminate these harmful behaviours and foster a truly diverse and psychologically safe environment. This is not just the right thing to do – it is essential for attracting and retaining the talent our industry needs for the future.

“I am proud of the momentum ICMM members have catalysed on strengthening diversity and inclusion, and of the progress we can make when we collaborate on the critical challenges facing our industry. While there remains work to do, this commitment reflects the recognition within the mining industry that real progress depends on humility, collaboration and sustained action,” says Teck Resources CEO Jonathan Price.