Women represent 12.7% of the mining workforce, and that talent has also contributed to the strong momentum the industry is experiencing today.
By Panorama Minero
Laura Hernández, President of Women in Mining Argentina (WIM), spoke with Panorama Minero and expressed optimism regarding the growing percentage of women in the mining industry, although she advocated for greater participation “in decision-making positions.”
The young leader said she was satisfied to have managed to relocate and reopen the “Leadership, Inclusion and Networks” space—an “Encounter of Women in the Industry”—despite the adverse weather conditions that affected the opening of Expo San Juan Minera 2026. She also expressed gratitude for what she described as a “completely network-based and supportive effort among women” that made it possible to hold the event despite the difficulties.
Hernández highlighted the presence of “several women mayors, community leaders from San Juan, San Martín, Chimbas, and other institutions, women from politics, and from the Ministry of Production.” She especially acknowledged the support of San Juan City Mayor Susana Laciar in overcoming the challenges caused by the severe weather.
She also emphasized the importance of the attendees and supporters: “We also have women mining colleagues and women leaders from other sectors who came specifically because of Expo San Juan Minera, and that is where we connect with what San Juan represents today within the broader industry landscape, and how women, their talent, and their permanence have also contributed to mining reaching this point at this moment.”
Who is needed? Hernández believes everyone is necessary: private companies, the State, business chambers, and labor unions. “It is a joint effort that must continue to be articulated so that women not only enter the industry, but remain in it and generate the transformation the industry requires,” she stated.
Hernández opened the event with a greeting for Mining Day “to all women and men miners who are currently, from the Puna to Patagonia, making the effort, serving the country, and working so that this industry continues to grow.”
Statistics, Permanence, and Natural Barriers
The President of WIM Argentina referred to statistics and explained that 12.7% of the workforce in the mining sector nationwide is female and that, compared to 2020, “it is a number that has grown steadily, but also invites reflection on how much more we must do to accelerate that growth, especially so that the growth also includes women in decision-making positions, because that is what will truly generate the transformation we are seeking.”
Laura Hernández stated that it should no longer be a matter of “gender integration,” but rather “everyone working together for the growth of the industry.”
WIM Argentina’s slogan for 2026 is “remain to transform.” The objective is for women to find in mining “healthy workplaces; spaces for development; places where they feel motivated and encouraged. That is what truly generates transformation: women in decision-making positions, influencing policies and driving change.”
“When we talk about transformation, we mean being part of the agenda and at the table where real decisions are discussed. That was the spirit behind the 2026 slogan,” Laura insisted.
Hernández believes there is a common and linear factor for everyone: the mining industry in Argentina is still young. In addition to this general condition, there is also the fact that the industry has historically been “male-dominated” since its origins.
She acknowledged that “there are natural barriers,” such as motherhood and distance. “Mining operations are located in hostile environments, far from population centers and far from home, in places with difficult climates. Whether we go south, to the Andes Mountains, or to the Puna, these are challenges that mining inherently brings,” she highlighted.
Laura concluded on a hopeful note: “I believe that women, in general, across all industries and sectors, are realizing that we are capable not only of entering these spaces, but also of remaining in them and leading them.”
