Women in Mining: Top 100 recognition and supporting our Women's network

Anglo American is proud to announce that three of our talented colleagues have been recognised in the 2024 edition of Women in Mining UK’s (WIM UK) “100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining” (WIM 100). This prestigious publication celebrates the achievements of 100 extraordinary women from around the world who are driving positive change in the mining industry.

We are honoured to have our team members included in this esteemed group as we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.

We caught up with our featured colleagues to ask them about their journey within the mining industry and what keeps them motivated.

“Mining is absolutely essential to society and plays a key role in the energy transition to reduce the emissions which accelerate climate change.

I was born and raised in the most traditional mining state in Brazil, and I must admit that I did not necessarily understand and appreciate the mining sector during my childhood. However, I ended up being attracted by the transformational power that mining has in society, its essentiality to our lives today and in the future, the role it plays in the energy transition journey and the possibility to truly positively impact local communities and the environment.

There is no future without responsible mining. When I reflect on my leadership role today, I feel responsible and empowered to continue improving mining to become more sustainable each day, while working on its perception through active listening and communication.”

Ana Sanches, President of Anglo American in Brazil

“First, when I joined Anglo American as a new graduate, I realised the enormous opportunities that mining can offer to improve people's lives, in line with our Purpose and particularly how we can foster spaces for all of us to bring the best of ourselves to work.

That is what continues to motivate me to this day. My wish is that more and more people can join the company, and that they can put their talent at the service of the organisation, regardless of who they are. My wish is that we continue building an organisation with more and more diverse talent in a space of respect and inclusion.”

Fernanda Vergara, Capability Development Specialist in Chile

“I grew up in a mining town in Brazil, where the oldest mine in the country is located. I’m the fifth generation of my family to work in the mining sector. My ancestor, Thomas Lloyd, left Wales in the 19th century and moved to Brazil to work in a gold mining town. My great-grandfather, grandfather, father, and now myself have all been part of this industry. I started my career with an internship at 17, working at the South America corporate office of a mining company.

I went on to train as a chartered accountant and have worked across various areas of finance and different mining companies for over 20 years. When it came to marrying the worlds of finance and mining, I started by learning about the basics of geology and mining engineering, which are crucial for accurate accounting. This foundational knowledge helped me grasp the full scope of the mining production process, from resource identification to mine closure and rehabilitation.

After the first five years in finance, I transitioned to internal auditing and worked on key controls. Following a decade in finance and enterprise risk management, I was introduced to operational risk management and safety. This shift from finance to technical roles allowed me to support mines in implementing robust risk management processes and preventing fatal incidents.

I joined Anglo American after 16 years of working for a gold mining company. Initially, I was part of the group technical team focusing on operational risk management. My background in both finance and technical areas made it clear that I was well-suited for my current role of Risk and Assurance Governance Principal.”

Maria Lloyd, Risk & Assurance Governance Principle

This year, the WIM UK team received 570 individual nominations and worked over six months to select the 100 finalists. This is the WIM100’s most diverse year to date, with women finalists nominated from 41 countries compared to 40 in 2022 and 32 in 2020. This is a significant increase from the 15 countries we had nominations from when we first started the Initiative back in 2013 and demonstrates the global reach of the WIM100 today.

Last week, our Women at Charterhouse Street Network (sponsored by Alison Atkinson, our Director of Projects & Development), took part in an inspiring panel featuring some of our recognised colleagues from Women in Mining UK's Global 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining to celebrate their achievements and the impact they’ve made in our industry. The discussion highlighted ways our business can support women in mining year-round and shared the Network's vision for long-term progress.