Mineral Exploration is the official publication of the Association of Mineral Exploration British Columbia.
Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1319479
W inte r 2020 43 want. In other words, systemic change. The single act of recruiting one woman to your board is just the start of the reactive phase. Systemic change requires an orderly approach, investment allocation, definition of clear goals and accountability, and assignment of directed resources. "We need to be setting key performance indicators like we do with safety and environmental goals," Cruz says. "We must set goals and measure our performance. Business as usual is not good enough." Just as field geologists must immediately locate themselves on the map when in new terrain before planning their next steps, we, as an industry, must take a moment to locate ourselves on the diversity and inclusion maturity curve. Only then can we start applying the same rigours we have applied to health and safety reform to disrupt the diversity and inclusion status quo in our workforce. A BOYS CLUB… FOR GIRLS The Artemis Project helps women-led contractors overcome the "buddy" system Diversity and inclusion must also expand beyond a company's walls and into its supply chain. In exploration, these are service providers and suppliers such as helicopter and drill companies, specialist technical consultants, laboratories, heavy equipment operators, seasonal workers and more. Consultants Elisabeth Ronacher and Jenna McKenzie co-founded Ronacher McKenzie Geoscience in 2014 to supply integrated geoscience technical services to exploration companies. The team has grown to include additional senior exploration specialists but Ronacher and McKenzie noticed that contracts were passing them by. "Potential clients have admitted to going with "buddies" despite our integrated offering," says McKenzie, noting that people rarely reach out to new suppliers. This short-sightedness fits into the inactive stage of the change maturity curve. So, when Ronacher and McKenzie heard about a new network for women entrepreneurs called the Artemis Project, they were at once interested. The Artemis Project, founded by Heather Gamble and Laura Mottola, is a business generator that actively connects female entrepreneurs with large mining companies. The goal is to help established, women-led businesses grow and reach new clients while providing an untapped stream of diverse perspectives and skills to help companies innovate and meet environment, social and governance goals. "Being an entrepreneur can be lonely," says diversity consultant Jamile Cruz, a fellow Artemis member, "What Artemis does is put women-led companies and entrepreneurs in front of decision-makers." "We don't want preferential treatment; we just want to be noticed," adds Ronacher, "We want to be shortlisted so we can be considered for opportunities and then present our technical capabilities." ■