The general manager of the Andalusian Energy Agency inaugurated the II Meeting on Women in Industry and Mining where Challenges of Women in the Industry of Andalusia with the title «successful stories of women’s contribution to the industry and mining in Andalusia.» The meeting was organized by the Ministry of Industry, Energy, and Mines of the Andalusian Regional Government within the framework of the Week of Women in the Industry and Mining of Andalusia that is celebrated until Friday.
Márquez emphasized during the opening of the day that «the energy transition is an excellent opportunity for Andalusia to create new professional profiles where we need women’s talent.» In this line, he stressed that the involvement is required not only from public administrations but also from social agents, companies, and society as a whole. «We all have to push in the same direction.»
The general manager of the Andalusian Energy Agency, an entity attached to the ministry, emphasized that «more visibility should be offered to the women who are part of these sectors» and used women’s football as an example, which «becomes more visible vocations among girls. Having references of women in the industry, energy, and mining can inspire and awaken STEM vocations in young women,» he reflected.
The director of the Moeve Huelva factory, Esther González, during the inspiration she shared at the meeting held as part of the Week of Women in Industry and Mining in Andalusia.
The day continued with an inspiring discussion by The director of the Moeve Huelva factory, Esther González in which she shared the development of her professional career and explained the goals of her company, the former Cepsa, to move towards equality, aiming to reach 30% of women in leadership positions by 2025. González emphasized the importance of «learning to handle criticism and self-criticism, as women tend to be more cautious and prudent than men when applying for a vacant position that they do not meet 100% of the requirements» and mentioned references and guidelines with whom to share experiences or doubts as key.
Next, a Panel discussion on «Female Leadership in Industry» moderated by the Director of Institutional Relations and Communication of the Technological Corporation in Andalusia (CTA), Vanessa Moreno, who had the director of Cosentino, Emilia Cruz; Director Caricas Zurita, Ángeles ORATES-ZURITA; The president of the Business Association of Martos (ASEM), Ana Belén Molina, and the Chief of Mine Safety at Atalya Mining, Isabel Zamora.
In it, the reflections focused on the characteristics that define team management when women are in charge, according to Ángeles Ore-Durita, in «greater empathy, more concern for well-being.
The moment of the debate on female leadership in the industry.
For Isabel Zamora, the key lies in «Normalizing» women leading teams, especially in a sector like mining where the presence of women is smaller, while Emilia Cruz emphasized the importance of «creating opportunities and training» so that they can perform such functions. Ana Belén Molina, on the other hand, shared the experience of being the first woman in charge of a mixed business association, which allowed her to verify «the lack of visibility that business women had.»
Subsequently, the Panel titled «Work for Equality» was moderated by the vice president of the largest industry association, María Luisa García, and included the Director of the Women’s Institute of Andalusia, Olga Carrió; The Secretary of Training and Equality of Fica-Gug, Ana Isabel González; Director of Winnova, Carmen Baena, and the head of women and equality at the Industry Federation of CCOO, Eva María Madrigal.
Carmen Baena emphasized that the visibility of being an independent advisor in traded companies is offered to increase the presence of women in other stages of the industrial world is «fundamental.» In turn, Olga Carrió insisted that «we have to sow from below, from school, to advance faster upward». «It is the duty of the administration to make girls consider new options that are not common, as they are culturally channeled in this direction,» she reflected.
Eva María Madrigal believed that «equality plans are positive and their implementation is very necessary to achieve what cannot be done on its own initiative,» while Ana Isabel González emphasized that equality plans contribute to companies being more aware of the human capital they have.
Representatives from administration, companies, and unions discussed equality in the second of the panels.
Finally, the day ended with a panel discussion moderated by Rosa Siles, Innovation, Leadership, and Talent Development, where they shared Success Stories including the optional director of Global Pan, Bárbara Gómez; María Luisa Parra, responsible for purchasing services at Airbus plant; Candelaria Ortiz, a furnace operator at Atlantic Copper Castor; Noemí Rodríguez, a certification engineer at Airbus Sevilla.
Bárbara Gómez, the third-generation mining engineer, entrepreneur, and worker at Pan Global, a company with over 40% female employment, analyzed that she has always faced «difficulties as a step, not as an insurmountable wall» «You have to give visibility, and the smaller, the better, to the mayor, and talk a lot about equality at home.»
On her part, María Luisa Parra shared the story of her family’s connection to mining, as they are originally from the mines of Villanueva del Río and highlighted the influence of references throughout her life, leading her to study engineering, which was «a male-dominated career» and the explanations she sought for decisions. Now, «we go to schools, so that girls know what engineers do.»
Candelaria Ortiz, a mining metallurgical operator, studied a higher module in industrial technology, where there were only three female comrades. «I never questioned that I couldn’t do it. I said I want to do something to earn money and have job stability.» – The industry offers good contracts, good salaries And so I became a factory operator,» although she acknowledged that the beginnings were not easy for a woman to enter the job market as a factory operator.
For Noemí Rodríguez, an aeronautical engineer, it remains the «hanging issue» that women occupy technical positions in the workshop, and for this, it is necessary for girls to know what technical maintenance profile entails.
Participants in the last roundtable of the day on women in the industry and mining discussed successful cases.