Empowering Women in STEM: A South Deep Case Study
Dr. Adwoa Issaka presents a case study on empowering women in STEM at the Wits Women in Leadership event. The presentation highlights the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields in South Africa and emphasizes the importance of gender equality in education and skills development. The study from South Deep showcases the positive impact of increasing female workforce participation and improving female representation in various occupational levels. Global aspirations for women's empowerment in STEM align with the African Union Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
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Empowering Women in STEM: A South Deep Case Study Presenter: Dr Adwoa Issaka (PhD) BSc , MSc Engineering (Mining) - Wits Women in Leadership: Engineering, Infrastructure, Innovation 28 February 2024 Brought to you by: 1
Interesting Facts.Did You Know?? 28% The representation of women in STEM fields in South Africa. Below the global average of 35% Female representation across academic levels worldwide 45% - Bachelor s 55% - Masters 44% - PhD 13% The proportion of female tertiary STEM graduates in South Africa. Notably low 1 Sources: The Exchange - Africa: Breaking barriers to promote Women and girls in Science, UNESCO Cracking the Girl Code
Global Aspirations The Big Picture African Union Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want Aspiration 1: Goal (2) Well Educated Citizens and Skills revolution underpinned by Science, Technology and Innovation a) Priority area Education and STI skills driven revolution Aspiration 6: An Africa Whose Development is people driven, relying on the potential offered by African People, especially its Women and Youth, and caring for Children a) Priority area Women and Girls empowerment b) Priory area Youth Empowerment and Children. United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 - Gender Equality a) ..real and sustained gender equality in all aspects of women and girls lives Gender equality: A fundamental human right, inherent in the broader spectrum of equality rights Brought to you by: 2 Sources: African Union Agenda 2063; United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, South Africa Bill of Rights
SOUTH DEEP JV CASE STUDY 3
South Deep Workforce 30% Female workforce increased from 524 in 2020 to 716 in 2023 28% 28% 27% 26% 72% 28% 24% 24% Female Male 23% 22% 20% 18% Brought to you by: 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-21 31-Dec-22 31-Dec-23 4 Source: South Deep HR department February 2024
South Deep Female Representation Compared to the SAMI Occupational Level Total Female Percentage South Deep performance is Senior 20.0% Management Professionally Qualified Skilled Technical above the SA 34.6% mining industry 19.8% average Brought to you by: Source: Minerals Council South Africa Women in Mining Factsheet (2020) 5
WOMEN IN CORE MINING DISCIPLINES May 2022 Actual 671 Total number of women at South Deep Percentage of women in core mining occupations 416 (62%) The majority of female employees at South Deep are engaged in core mining disciplines Brought to you by: 6
South Deep Female Representation Progressive Targets Recruitment Preference given to women who meet requirements and show capability to do the work Occupational Level Senior Management Professionally Qualified Skilled Technical 2024 2025 2026 2027 29% 33% 33% 33% Selection Preference given to women to meet requirements for the job 33% 35% 35% 35% 27% 29% 31% 33% Training Focused on the development of women through skills programs, experiential & immersive training Gold Fields ESG target is to have 30% Female representation by 2030 Brought to you by: 7
Overcoming Barriers to Achieving Targets Addressing the skills shortage Contributing towards growing the talent pool through provision of bursaries, graduate training, internship programme, recruitment and training of cadets. Category Female Intake Bursaries, Students and Graduates 2021 -2023 Bursaries 21 out of 27 (78%) Graduates 18 out of 31 (58%) Cadets 2022-2023 Cadets - 63 out of 124 (51%) Learnerships 2021-2023 Learnerships 21 out of 42 (50%) 8
Other Initiatives Globally Futures Programme Bursary 2023 - awarded 11 female STEM stars from Perth high schools Designed to encourage girls into STEM subjects and enable them to have opportunity to enter STEM-based tertiary studies and careers. Caters for final two years of high school and the first three years of tertiary Part of commitment to increasing female participation in the workforce to 30% by 2030 Recognises that there are multiple interventions needed to attract more students to STEM Mine of the future Mechanisation, automation, more women in senior management roles Respectful Workplace awareness campaign Leadership and support teams engage with employees and Business Partners Reinforce the Respectful Workplace and broader Gold Fields Way messages 9 Sources: Gold Fields Media Release 10/02/2023; Gold Fields LTD SharePoint (The Gold Fields Way)
Conclusion Gold Fields acknowledges the importance of empowering women to pursue and remain in STEM careers. South Deep has made significant strides in increasing female representation in core disciplines, encompassing various STEM fields. Representation of women at South Deep across occupational levels surpasses industry averages. Progressive targets set by South Deep exceed Gold Fields' 2030 ESG target of 30% for gender diversity. South Deep actively contributes to increasing the talent pool of females in STEM fields. Over 50% of beneficiaries from bursaries, graduate programs, cadetships, and learnership programs at South Deep are women (from 2021 to 2023). Gold Fields go a step further by fostering a culture of a respectful workplace. 10
Thank You www.pinpointstewards.co.za 15
