Female participation in mining companies in the Antofagasta Region reached 25.8% in 2025, quadrupling the levels recorded a decade ago. Progress in recruitment, leadership, operational roles, and STEM education was one of the central themes of the seminar "Challenges in Human Talent and Female Leadership in 21st Century Mining," held as part of EXPONOR 2026.
Chile’s mining industry continues to advance toward greater gender inclusion, with the Antofagasta Region consolidating its position as the national leader in this process. This was highlighted during the seminar, which brought together representatives from mining companies, specialized organizations, and industry professionals to discuss both the progress achieved and the challenges that remain.
Currently, women represent 25.8% of the workforce in the region’s mining companies, exceeding the national average of 24% and positioning Antofagasta as the region employing the largest number of women in Chilean mining. This figure reflects a sustained transformation over the past decade, considering that female participation stood at only 6.6% in 2014.
The trend is also evident in recruitment processes. In 2025, 39.7% of all new hires made by large-scale mining companies were women, meaning that nearly four out of every ten new employees entering the industry were female.
Natalia Morales, Executive Manager of the Mining Skills Council – CCM-Eleva Alliance, emphasized that: "The work carried out by the Antofagasta Region over recent years has been outstanding. Today, it shows female participation above the national average and particularly significant progress in operational and maintenance areas. This reflects the commitment of mining companies and suppliers to create concrete opportunities for training, professional development, and the incorporation of women into the mining industry of today and tomorrow."
Female Leadership: The Challenge for the Coming Years
The increase in female participation is reflected not only in the overall workforce but also in leadership positions. In Antofagasta, 22.2% of mining decision-making roles are held by women, surpassing the national average and demonstrating a growing female presence in leadership positions.
During the seminar, speakers agreed that the industry's current challenge is no longer simply increasing the number of women entering mining, but rather creating the conditions that allow them to develop professionally and access strategic leadership roles.
In this context, Fabiola Espíndola, Vice President of Women in Mining Chile, stated: "The industry's greatest challenge is to continue advancing a cultural transformation that enables more women to enter mining, develop their careers, and reach leadership positions. Today, female talent not only wants to work in mining; women also want to influence decision-making, contribute new perspectives, and actively participate in shaping the industry's future. That diversity is a value that strengthens the entire sector."
This vision is shared by mining companies themselves. Juliet Taylor, General Manager of Integrated Operations at Spence | BHP, highlighted that: "At Spence, we are very proud of the progress we have made in inclusion. Today we have achieved gender balance across all levels of our operation, with women representing 49% of leadership positions. Events such as EXPONOR provide an excellent platform to showcase these achievements and demonstrate how greater female participation contributes to building a more diverse, innovative, and competitive mining industry."
More Women in Operations and Digital Mining
One of the most significant advances in recent years has been the growing presence of women in roles directly linked to mining operations.
Between 2020 and 2024, female participation in operational positions increased from 10.3% to 23.5%, while participation in maintenance roles grew from 4.2% to 14%. This demonstrates that women are no longer concentrated primarily in administrative functions but are increasingly taking on essential operational roles critical to mining activities.
This trend is further reinforced by the growth of digital mining. The Antofagasta Region hosts five of the country's fifteen Integrated Operations Centers (IOCs), where female participation reaches 32%, exceeding the national average.
STEM Education to Meet Future Demand
The strengthening of female talent is also evident among younger generations. During 2024, enrollment in mining-related technical secondary education programs in the Antofagasta Region reached a historic high of 3,830 students, with 30.1% female participation, the highest rate recorded nationwide.
In higher education, female enrollment in mining-related academic programs continues to grow, while the number of female graduates increased from 94 in 2014 to 305 in 2023.
For Claudia Domínguez, General Manager of Codelco Radomiro Tomic, the next challenge is expanding the talent pipeline to meet the industry's future workforce needs. "Today, two women lead Codelco divisions, demonstrating the remarkable progress our industry has achieved in recent years. The challenge now is to strengthen our connection with universities, schools, and local communities so that more young women choose technical and professional careers related to mining. We must show them the development opportunities this industry offers and inspire them to become part of its future."
These figures become even more significant considering that the Antofagasta Region will require approximately 18,480 new workers by 2034, representing more than 50% of the total mining workforce demand projected for Chile.
Against this backdrop, seminar participants agreed that the future growth of the industry will depend not only on the adoption of new technologies but also on its ability to attract, develop, and retain diverse talent—a challenge that positions women as key protagonists in the future of Chilean mining.
