The event begins with a panel presentation by Anglo American regional manager Margaret Davies, Xstrata Coal NSW operations manager Elizabeth Watts and GE Intelligent Platforms solution consultant Ana Duarte at the Sydney Showgrounds’ Sommerville Room.

Lainie Anderson of Mining Family Matters will be facilitator.

This will be followed by a keynote from Australian Coal Association chief executive Nikki Williams, covering her career to date and speaking about challenges that motivated her.

Williams is also expected to address opportunities for women in the mining industry and provide insights on what needs to be done to encourage more women into the industry.

Designating the second day of the four-day AIMEX event to Women in Mining is being embraced as a continuation of the exhibition’s theme of innovation, in this case social innovation.

“It’s probably our most successful [day of the exhibition] in terms of involvement from different groups from around the country,” Reed Mining Events exhibition director Paul Baker told MiningNews.net.

“It’s all about business innovation. You hear some great stories about some very successful women in the industry on the panels we’ve had previously, and they’ve never felt different or been treated differently.

“The industry’s come a long way over the last decade.”

Other speakers at the panel discussion will be Anglo American Drayton mine apprentice auto-electrician Gabrielle Horn and Improvement Resources manager of operational readiness Natalie Bussau.

Visitors are invited to join the panel and keynote attendees for drinks and live entertainment in the event area’s beer garden following Williams’ address.