Top 10: Women in Mining

The global mining landscape is undergoing a historic leadership transformation, moving beyond traditional board roles and into the heart of operational power. 

While the industry has long struggled with gender diversity in the C-suite, a new generation of women is ascending to the highest levels of executive command. 

The women in this list are not just policymakers; they are the architects of multi-billion-dollar production cycles, overseeing autonomous fleets and the complex supply chains essential to the global energy transition.

10. Mpumi Zikalala, CEO at Kumba Iron Ore (Anglo American)

Operations Began: 1931
Year Founded: 2006 (as a standalone entity)
Location: Centurion, South Africa

Mpumi Zikalala is a transformative leader overseeing one of the world’s largest iron ore producers. With a background in chemical engineering and more than 20 years at De Beers, she brings a deep operational experience to Anglo American’s South African footprint. 

She has been influential in de-risking heavy extraction through technology and safety, specifically focusing on the Ultra-High Dense Media Separation (UHDMS) project at the Sishen mine. 

Mpumi is a prominent advocate for the South African mining industry’s modernisation, bridging the gap between historical labour-intensive practices and the digitised, automated future of iron ore extraction.

9. Kristina Gauthier, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Vale Base Metals

Operations Began: 1942
Year Founded: 1942
Location: Toronto, Canada (Base Metals HQ)

As CCO, Kristina sits at the critical intersection of mining production and the global energy transition. She manages the complex supply chains for Vale’s nickel and copper portfolios. 

Throughout her career, Kristina has had a strong track record in driving business growth, leading high-performing teams and fostering strategic partnerships. 

She has a passion for innovation, which she combines with her deep industry knowledge to deliver impactful results in complex and competitive environments.

8. Helena Hedblom, President & CEO at Epiroc

Operations Began: 1873
Year Founded: 2018 (spun off from Atlas Copco)
Location: Stockholm, Sweden 

Helena is one of the most influential women in mining technology. Under her leadership, Epiroc has become the vanguard of the industry’s shift toward automation and electrification.

By driving the development of battery-electric vehicles and autonomous drilling rigs, Helena is driving the change in how mines operate on a physical level. 

Her influence extends beyond her own company; she is a primary catalyst for the ‘zero-emission mine’ concept, forcing others to rethink their underground operational strategies to meet aggressive carbon-neutral targets.

7. Alison Atkinson, Chief Projects & Development Officer at Anglo American

Operations Began: 1917
Year Founded: 1917
Location: London, United Kingdom

Alison Atkinson is responsible for the design, construction and delivery of Anglo American’s multi-billion dollar ‘next generation’ mines. 

Her role is both operational and technical, ensuring that massive capital projects, such as the Woodsmith fertiliser project and various copper expansions, move from blueprint to production.

With a background in civil engineering and infrastructure, Alison’s influence lies in her ability to integrate sustainability and digital twins into the architecture of a mine, ensuring that new assets are born efficient and future-proof.

6. Marie-Chantal Kaninda, President, DRC Operations at Glencore

Operations Began: 1974 (Glencore)
Year Founded: 1974
Location: Kinshasa/Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of the Congo 

Marie-Chantal manages Glencore’s operations in the DRC, the world’s most critical cobalt and copper supply chains. 

In her role, she oversees massive industrial sites like Mutanda and Kamoto while navigating the complex geopolitical and social landscape of the Congo.

Marie-Chantal is a key figure in formalising the relationship between industrial mining and artisanal miners, a role that is vital for the global technology industry and its ethical sourcing of battery materials.

5. Kathleen Quirk, President & CEO at Freeport-McMoRa

Operations Began: 1912
Year Founded: 1912
Location: Phoenix, Arizona, USA 

Kathleen leads one of the world's leading copper producers, including the iconic Grasberg operation in Indonesia.

Having spent over 30 years with the company, her influence is rooted in her clear understanding of copper’s nature and its operational costs. 

She has been instrumental in Freeport-McMoRan’s successful transition from open-pit to underground block-cave mining. Kathleen is focused on long-term resource expansion and technical excellence.

4. Djaria Traore, EVP Operations & ESG at Endeavour Mining

Operations Began: 2010 (first mine)
Year Founded: 1988 (as a finance entity)
Location: London, UK (West Africa Operations) 

Djaria oversees the operational pulse of West Africa’s largest gold miner. Her role is unique in its deliberate fusion of operations with ESG. 

By placing sustainability directly under the EVP of Operations, Endeavour ensures that environmental and social targets are met at the site level, not just in a corporate report. 

Djaria has been influential in the high-speed delivery of new projects like the Lafigué mine, where she ensures that production starts are balanced with local community development and rigorous environmental standards.

3. Natascha Viljoen, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Newmont

Operations Began: 1921
Year Founded: 1921
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA 

As the head of the world's largest gold miner, Natascha is the industry's most prominent operational leader. She began her career as a metallurgist and rose through the ranks as an operator. 

At Newmont, she is tasked with integrating the massive assets acquired from Newcrest while driving a culture of safety and modernisation. Natascha is a vocal advocate for systemic change in mining culture, using her platform to prove that the world’s largest mines can be both highly profitable and socially progressive.

2. Sinead Kaufman, Chief Executive, Minerals at Rio Tinto

Operations Began: 1873
Year Founded: 1873
Location: London, UK / Perth, Australia

Sinead manages a vast portfolio of Rio Tinto’s most diverse assets, including diamonds, borates and titanium dioxide. Her influence is characterised by a drive for operational efficiency through automation. 

Overseeing sites across several continents, she is a key proponent of the "mine of the future" concept, integrating AI and remote operations to enhance safety and productivity. 

Sinead’s background as a geologist allows her to bridge the gap between technical exploration and large-scale industrial execution, making her a pivotal figure in Rio Tinto's long-term growth.

1. Geraldine Slattery, President (Australia) at BHP

Operations Began: 1885
Year Founded: 1885
Location: Melbourne/Perth, Australia 

With a background in complex project engineering, Geraldine leads BHP’s most valuable operations in Australia. 

Controlling the massive Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) and copper assets, she oversees the engine room of the world’s largest mining company. 

Geraldine uses her seat on the Business Council of Australia (BCA) to advocate for streamlined environmental permitting and labour productivity reforms.

She is also a primary architect of the industry’s shift toward ‘social value’, ensuring that massive production volumes are balanced with decarbonisation targets and deep engagement with First Nations communities.