Fifteen women employed by Newcrest Mining Limited in Lihir are breaking barriers for women in the Mining Industry.
The group, 12 of which are of Lihirian heritage, are not only creating pathways for women in New Ireland Province and the country but contributing to a productive working culture to improve Newcrests’ operations.
The women are currently working in various trades within the Newcrest operations. These trades were once fully male dominated.
Josephine Tutum, a Lihirian who works as a fitter machinist with the Back End Maintenance team, began her career when she joined the apprenticeship program at the Lihir Technical Training Centre (LTTC). She has been working with the company now for 11 years.
Another Lihirian, Ann-Doreen Gaoro from Zuen village, has been with the operations since 2008. She is a technician with the Information Communication Technology section of the mine’s Commercial department. She does her assignments with a high level of professionalism.
“Customer-service is important to me. I always want to make my customer happy,” said Gaoro.
Others include; Ruth Tamdar, a fitter from Mazuz village, and Pennie Salot both working with Tanks and Tails team, Salome Papara and Catherine Kelpet both working with the Workshop team and Fredlyn Kuten who is working with the Power and Utilities Mechanical.
Tutum, Gaoro and Tamdar said the social and cultural challenges many women in PNG face can easily discourage them from pursuing a career in male-dominated fields.
But they said nothing was impossible with good education, self-determination and strong family support as well as from their male colleagues and supervisors.
Picture: Ruth Tamdar, a fitter with Newcrest-Lihir performing a task while at work. (Credit Newcrest Mining Limited)