Teck Advances Inclusive Mining Through HeForShe Roundtables

Participants at the HeForShe Roundtable during the World Copper Conference (CESCO) in Santiago, discussing the future of mining and the experiences of students and young professionals entering the industry.  Photo credit: Teck.

As a HeForShe Alliance partner, Teck is demonstrating that advancing gender equality requires more than statements. It requires listening, learning and taking action.

Over the past year, Teck has convened a series of HeForShe Roundtables alongside major industry events, including London Metal Exchange Week in London, the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Convention in Toronto, and the World Copper Conference (CESCO) in Santiago. Led by Teck President and CEO Jonathan Price in his role as a HeForShe Champion, the roundtables have brought together senior leaders, students and early-career mining professionals to explore how men can be stronger allies and help create more inclusive workplaces across the mining sector.

What began as a single conversation has grown into an ongoing platform for honest dialogue, giving participants the opportunity to share their experiences, discuss the barriers they face, and identify what meaningful allyship looks like in practice.

Across all three roundtables, several consistent priorities emerged. Participants emphasized that inclusion must be reflected in everyday workplace experiences, from safe and appropriate facilities and equipment to respectful workplace cultures where everyone can contribute and thrive. They also highlighted the importance of active male allyship, leadership accountability, addressing bias and microaggressions, supporting caregivers, and strengthening pathways for women and diverse talent to enter and progress within the industry.

Key themes from the HeForShe PDAC Roundtable
The discussions at PDAC highlighted that creating inclusive workplaces requires both practical and cultural change. Participants emphasized the importance of ensuring workplaces are equipped with appropriate facilities and personal protective equipment, while also fostering environments where everyone is treated with respect and can bring their whole selves to work.

Conversations also explored how microaggressions, perceptions around representation, and caregiving responsibilities continue to influence career progression and belonging. Participants stressed that allyship should be active, with men speaking up, holding peers accountable, and participating in mentorship and sponsorship. The discussions also highlighted the importance of embedding inclusion into leadership, onboarding, hiring, training and performance systems, while strengthening the talent pipeline through early engagement with young people.

Key themes from the HeForShe CESCO Roundtable
At CESCO, discussions focused on how the mining sector can continue moving from intent to action by translating policies and commitments into tangible initiatives that create opportunities and embed inclusion in everyday practice.

Participants highlighted the importance of leadership role modelling, visible accountability and addressing unconscious bias and normalized behaviours that continue to affect women's experiences. Conversations also explored opportunities to strengthen recruitment, promotion and evaluation processes with a stronger gender lens, improve workplace infrastructure and PPE, and ensure workplaces reflect diverse life and caregiving realities. Participants further emphasized the value of engaging young people early, strengthening women's leadership networks, and maintaining zero tolerance for harassment, discrimination and gender-based violence.

Turning Insights into Action
The insights gathered through the HeForShe Roundtables will help inform a report of recommendations that translates participants' experiences into practical best practices and clear expectations for employers. Reflecting the voices of students, early-career professionals, women and diverse identities, the recommendations will support efforts to attract, retain and advance the next generation of talent across the mining industry.

The initiative supports Teck's HeForShe commitments to prevent gender-based violence and harassment, increase women's representation across the workforce, advance opportunities for Indigenous women, and engage men as allies in creating more inclusive workplace cultures. Through continued dialogue and collaboration, Teck is helping demonstrate how listening to diverse perspectives can inform meaningful action for gender equality.