Strathclyde full time MBA student Florence Adu has been named in the top 100 'Global Inspirational Women in Mining' which aims to highlight the diversity of talent in mining and celebrates inspirational women across the industry.
The award was first launched by Women in Mining UK in 2013 and the biennial “100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining” (WIM100), is now in its fourth edition.
For 2020 a record 626 nominations were received from 60 countries around the world. The 100 women featured in this most recent edition were selected due to their inspiring contribution towards a stronger, safer and more sustainable mining industry. This includes making positive and impactful changes, advocacy and a desire to empower others, perseverance in the face of adversity, and an ability to find solutions to challenges.
Florence was a senior geologist with the Newmont Corporation based in Ghana - she has since left the company to pursue her MBA. As a child she knew she wasn't keen on a regular office job. Geology offered the versatility she craved, with roles in exploration, mining geology and consulting before her current role in near-mine exploration.
"I loved being part of the team that made a ground-breaking discovery or extended the ounce delivery of the deposit. The adrenaline rush of going out and targeting the next best find was all I thought of."
However, that satisfaction was matched when Florence found what she refers to as her 'new calling' - giving back to her community.
"I accepted the challenge of leading the Women and Allies Network (W&A), Newmont's first business resource group in Africa. I had an opportunity to support diversity and inclusion initiatives and to reach out beyond the mine into the community. The W&A collectively institute projects in deprived communities to help other women and children. The inter fulfilment this has brought me is indescribable."