We’re celebrating International Women in Engineering Day

The theme this year is #makesafetyseen so we spoke to some colleagues who are working to do just that, including Alison Atkinson, our recently appointed Projects & Development Director.

“Fundamentally, I believe safety comes down to what we care about,“ she says. “We must put people and doing the right thing at the heart of everything we do as engineers. From deep thinking in design and testing, refining different methods and ways of delivering; to collaborating across different disciplines, elements of execution and operating safely. Success is almost certain when you can hear what people have to say, seeking diverse opinions and driving inclusivity. The best ideas win.”

Production engineer Carol Paiva Belluzzo is the Safety, Risks and Emergencies Manager for our Nickel operations in Brazil. Since her first day in the mining industry, Carol’s mission has been to break stereotypes and build a safe, inclusive, and equal future for everyone.

She says: “On this International Women in Engineering Day, I celebrate the importance of safety in my life and am grateful for the opportunity to make a difference as a woman in my area. Gender diversity brings unique perspectives and strengthens engineering as a whole. Also, by highlighting the achievements of other women in engineering, we inspire each other to follow our dreams and overcome barriers.”

In Chile, Pabla Castillo Pino, is a metallurgical civil engineer and Control Superintendent at the Chagres foundry, which serves our copper business in the country.  

“I welcome the opportunity to inspire more women to join this exciting profession,” she says. “I am committed to continuing to lead the way for other women in engineering.”

Speaking about the theme of the day, she adds: “At Anglo American, safety is an essential value that permeates our culture…we recognise that safety is the responsibility of all of us.”

In Peru, at our copper mine in Quellaveco, environmental engineer Lucero Ortiz Meléndez works in Environmental Affairs Management.

“Women’s presence in our profession makes it more diverse,” says Lucero. “And that diversity contributes to creativity, productivity, and innovation. It’s the job of those of us working today to encourage and support young girls and teenagers into the profession to become our engineers of the future.”

Phillipa Starmer, Area Manager – MTS and Shafts, with our Crop Nutrients business in the UK started her career as an electrical project engineer in our Steelmaking Coal business in Australia.

She says: “I have a strong view that safety should be front of mind in all we do, whether it be driving to work, setting high standards of safety at work and in our personal lives. Good engineering principles contribute to driving and improving safety.”

A chemical engineer by training, Simangele Soni is Senior Operations Manager at De Beers Sightholder Sales South Africa (DBSSA).

She says: “Engineers are involved in tasks that are inherently high risk (but) having been with the company for nearly 20 years and seeing how safety is at the centre of all we do has allowed me to dream and achieve my goals, with no fear of physical harm.”

In Peru, at our copper mine in Quellaveco, environmental engineer Lucero Ortiz Meléndez works in Environmental Affairs Management.

“Women’s presence in our profession makes it more diverse,” says Lucero. “And that diversity contributes to creativity, productivity, and innovation. It’s the job of those of us working today to encourage and support young girls and teenagers into the profession to become our engineers of the future.”

Isabella Taylor is a Graduate Automation Engineer at Grosvenor Mine in our Steelmaking Coal business in Australia. “In my experience, being visible as a woman in our profession has allowed me to have more opportunities and experiences and has enabled me to help others. I would encourage people to attend networking events and say yes to opportunities, even if they are out of your comfort zone. These events are always beneficial and I always come away with new skills, insights, and more female engineer connections.

“In terms of safety, it’s my number one priority when designing a new engineer product. I like to work with the mindset that every piece of engineering should be improving the safety of the mine.”