South African mine owner Bridgette Radebe, who is the executive chairperson and CEO of Mmakau Mining, will be the guest speaker at Botswana’s inaugural Women in Mining conference, to be held in Gaborone on Friday.
Radebe’s Mmakau Mining Company has shares in various mining portfolios from coal, platinum, gold and chrome, among others. Radebe is the older sister to mining mogul, Patrice Motsepe and wife to South Africa Cabinet Minister Jeff Radebe.
The Women in Mining Conference will be held under the theme, ‘Celebrating Women’s Contribution to Botswana’s Mining Industry.’
Women in Mining is an initiative that many countries across the world have embraced, with a view to providing females working in the mining industry with an opportunity to demonstrate their capability in this previously male dominated industry.
“We found it fit to organise this platform for women in Botswana’s mining industry, in order to afford them an opportunity to showcase their contribution to the country’s mining industry, whilst also enabling them to learn from each other’s experience.
We believe that the conference, which will be held annually, will contribute positively to the advancement of all issues pertaining to women’s progress within the mining industry,” stated a press release from the organisers.
The conference, which is targeted at women in mining, will offer participants an opportunity to discuss topics such as mentorship and coaching as essentials for success. Participants will also start dialogue on the role of women as change agents in the workplace and how to attract more women into the professional mining industry, as well as discussions on how to build a career in mining and create a work/personal life balance. Former politician and diplomat, Dr Gaositwe Chiepe will also be among the speakers at the conference, which is supported by Puma Energy and DTC Botswana.
