Women from ME Elecmetal operations across South America — including Lima (Peru), Calama, Antofagasta, Copiapó, and Santiago (Chile) — gathered in Rancagua for an unprecedented meeting to reflect on the company’s present and future. Centered on the theme “Envisioning ME Elecmetal in 2030,” the event emphasized the vital role of diversity diversity — and, above all, diverse talent — in shaping ME Elecmetal’s sustainable growth.
The gathering aimed to strengthen connections, recognize career journeys, inspire a more inclusive and collaborative culture, and build shared purpose — all in support of the company’s strategic goal of doubling the business sustainably by 2030.
Although ME Elecmetal has made significant progress in positioning diverse talent as a core value, female representation in the mining and metallurgical sectors remains low. Despite industry improvements — with women now representing 23.1% of the workforce in large-scale mining (CCM Eleva, 2025) — continued action is needed to achieve meaningful balance. This initiative seeks to promote professional development and strengthen women’s participation in building a more diverse, innovative, and sustainable organization.
To advance this vision, a group of women leaders from ME Elecmetal Global and Chile organized the Women’s Meeting in Rancagua, which brought together nearly 90 female employees — marking a milestone in the company’s history. For the first time, women from all South American operations came together to foster community, pride, and belonging, while also sharing valuable insights about their experiences, expectations, and challenges.
The meeting incorporated digital interactions that gathered valuable insights on opportunities for improvement, shared purpose, and recognition — providing a solid foundation for future initiatives. In this context, Mariángeles Canitrot, Technical Commercial Manager, was voted the session’s “Inspiring Woman,” reflecting the spirit of collaboration and mutual admiration that defined the day.
The event — which will be followed up through future initiatives — lays the groundwork for systematic actions that promote inclusion, attract and develop diverse talent, and strengthen retention across all levels of the organization. These efforts aim to prepare ME Elecmetal to meet its medium- and long-term objectives while advancing a culture rooted in collaboration and respect.
It reaffirmed a powerful conviction: true participation in the workforce is not only measured in numbers, but in the ability to build a culture where every voice is heard.
In Chile, this challenge remains particularly significant: female labor participation stands at only 52.6% compared to 71.8% for men, and just 27% of management positions in companies are held by women (INE, 2025).
In this context, ME Elecmetal is actively working to close these gaps by engaging in key industry initiatives such as Women in Mining, Women in Action (promoted by APRIMIN), and Women Open Innovation (WOI), part of the Women Economic Forum Chile. During these events, Constanza Echeverría, Global Sustainability Director, presented the paper “Sustainable Transformation: ME Elecmetal’s Model for the Industry of the Future,” while Jacqueline González participated in the Women in Mining roundtable — further reinforcing ME Elecmetal’s commitment to advancing gender equity and inclusion in the mining industry.
The meeting also brought together company leaders — including Roberto Lecaros, Vice President of Technical Department, Global Marketing, and Sustainability; José Pablo Domínguez, General Manager of ME Elecmetal South America; and Cristian Rioseco, Manager of ME Elecmetal Grinding Media – Chile, among others — who emphasized that the company’s growth and innovation are only possible when diverse perspectives, cultures, backgrounds, knowledge, and experiences are integrated.
The initiative was designed as a space for connection and collective growth. Through teamwork sessions led by various leaders — featuring inspiring talks, interactive activities, and data-driven insights — participants explored ways to strengthen their sense of belonging, collaborate with shared purpose, and expand the company’s female network.
The main objective was to strengthen ME Elecmetal’s cultural identity, fostering an environment where everyone feels recognized and part of a shared purpose. These meetings encourage collaboration across operations, highlight female role models, and help accelerate progress toward greater diversity and inclusion, contributing to ME Elecmetal’s vision of consolidating a more diverse talent base by 2030.
For the first time, women from all South American operations came together to foster community, pride, and commitment. The activity helped identify new internal ambassadors for diversity and inspired leaders to continue driving concrete actions. Above all, it reaffirmed the belief that equity is not only measured in numbers, but in the ability to build a culture where every voice has a place.
