PDAC Diversity and Inclusion Working Group
In 2016 and 2017, the PDAC hosted deliberative dialogues on the subject of “Women and Mining”. During these sessions, participants from a variety of stakeholder groups identified barriers to diversity and inclusion in the mineral exploration and mining industries. In order to begin to break down these barriers, participants recognized that exploration and mining companies need improved guidance on how to cultivate more inclusive and diverse working environments, particularly for women, and that PDAC, as the “voice of the mineral exploration industry in Canada” and creator of e3 Plus, was best positioned to undertake this work. These dialogues informed PDAC’s 5 year strategic plan which adopted Gender Diversity as a key priority.
Recognizing the complexity of this issue and the fact that the mineral industry’s efforts towards improved diversity and inclusion were in their infancy, the PDAC established a Diversity & Inclusion Working Group comprised of various subject matter experts to contribute collaboratively to guidance on matters of diversity and inclusion, with a particular focus on gender in 2018. The PDAC recognizes that diversity is broader than gender, and gender itself is broader than women, and sees gender as the first step in addressing diversity and inclusion within the sector.
The working group serves as a knowledge hub for diversity and inclusion in the mineral exploration and mining industries.