By: African Mining

Pinpoint Stewards’ Women and Leadership in Mining Conference is set to put a spotlight on inclusivity and transformation in the mining sector. Taking place on 1–2 September 2026, the annual event identifies and selects different speakers yearly from the executive level to on-the-ground change-makers.

This inclusive conference will be held in Fourways, Johannesburg, and will bring men into the conversation while driving meaningful progress to co-exist and achieve women-focused targets in line with the Mining Charter.

Organiser, Sudhira Sewsunker, emphasises: “The conference is more than just a discussion platform. It is a dedicated space to connect, share strategies and drive change. Over two days, delegates will hear from 12 industry presentations, alongside a panel discussion and survey designed to generate feedback for relevant authorities.” She notes that the conference aims to have women return to their workplaces with the mentality and drive to not just be present but perform in their respective roles. 

In addition, the conference seeks to unpack the latest pain-points as well as opportunities shaping mining presently, but across various roles and levels, while offering first-hand perspectives on how women experience, navigate and remain grounded within the sector.

Women currently make up approximately 15% of South Africa’s 450 000, strong mining workforce, and previous targets to double this figure have not been achieved. In 2026, the urgency is clear. Industry leaders and regulators are strengthening policies, strategies and frameworks to advance gender equality and empowerment and this platform is at the heart of those strategic conversations.

Championing equal pay and corporate responsibility

A central focus of this year’s conference is structural inequality. Fred Arendse, president of the Junior Mining Council, will head a crucial discussion spotlighting the gender pay gap, a persistent barrier driven by occupational segregation and the “motherhood penalty” which sees women earning up to 35% less than their male counterparts.

Transitioning from equity to environmental and social governance, Tebogo Leepile, Group manager of Stakeholder Relations at Exxaro, will address ESG metrics with an intentional gender lens to build sustainable social value.

Driving productivity and inclusive operations

The agenda highlights how diverse leadership directly influences mine site productivity and culture:

• Workforce statistics: Mbali Malinga, vice-president of Human Resources at Sibanye-Stillwater, will dissect current workforce participation statistics for women at all levels of the mine and explore the next steps for growth.
• Operational productivity: Rebecca Sebelebele, Chief Mine Planner at Gold Fields, will deliberate on the specific leadership skills required to boost productivity within male-populated environments.
• Inclusive cultures: Foyn Molete, Chief SHERQ Officer at Evander Gold Mine (Pan Africa Resources subsidiary), will lead a session on building inclusive leadership cultures to empower women for sustainable industry growth.
• Supply chain equity: Dipalesa Lekhanya, HR Manager at Impala Platinum, will detail how expanding preferential procurement for women-owned businesses will economically benefit the entire mining value chain.

The conference will also tackle the psychological and physical realities women face on-site:

• High-performance teams: Nandi Ziphethe, Senior Process manager at Seriti Power, will speak on “the leader’s shadow” and building safer, high-performance teams one conversation at a time.
• Overcoming bias: Nanji Sheni, Business Development manager at MEAC Wood Group, will address cultural resistance at the rock face and methods for tackling deep-seated bias in teams.
• Navigating workplace power: Lebogang Makinita, Safety Officer at WCM Samancor, will shed light on the silent struggle of young women navigating power politics and survival in mining.
• Resilience and identity: Mulalo Olga Mudau, Pit superintendent Load & Haul Mining Operations at Valterra Platinum, will offer a personal reflection on leading without armour, resilience, and overcoming internal and external barriers in both mining and entrepreneurship.

A panel discussion focusing on Women in Tech will be moderated by Dr Khuthadzo Mudzanani, Research and Development Engineer at Mintek and she will be joined by contributing panellist, Patience Nyatwa, Engineering manager, Sedibeng Iron Ore.

Early registration is currently open to mining professionals, stakeholders and policymakers. To view the full agenda, register, sponsor, or to become an empowerment partner, email info@pinpointstewards.co.za.