For Kim Solomon, one of the things that has kept her engaged in the mining industry throughout her career is its constant variety. 

"There is rarely a dull day," she says. "I genuinely enjoy solving problems and figuring out how to do things better." 

Across a career spanning workforce capability, diversity and inclusion, and now skills and workforce development, Kim has built a reputation for helping people succeed. Whether supporting individuals, developing capability or creating pathways for others, she is motivated by work that makes a positive difference. 

"I've always been fascinated by people," she says. "The mining industry is full of incredibly knowledgeable individuals, and I learn something new every day from the people around me." 

Through her work in diversity and inclusion, workforce capability and skills development, Kim has had a front-row seat to the evolution of women's participation in the mining industry. 

"Over the course of my career, I have seen the role and visibility of women in mining go from strength to strength," she says. 

She has witnessed organisations introduce new approaches, policies and programs that support the attraction, retention and progression of women, helping create stronger and more diverse workplaces across the industry. 

One of the most encouraging developments, she says, has been the growing number of male allies and champions who actively support inclusion and help create environments where people can thrive.

For Kim, one of the most important factors in helping women build long-term careers in mining is access to learning and development, as well as strong professional relationships. 

While training provides the foundation, Kim believes that mentoring, sponsorship, and on-the-job development are often what bring that learning to life. 

"Some of the most valuable learning in my career has come from working with experienced leaders and mentors who shared their knowledge, challenged my thinking and helped me navigate complex situations," she says. 

Throughout her career, mentors and sponsors have helped open doors, provided guidance at pivotal moments and encouraged her to take on new challenges. 

"The relationship component of development is often underestimated, yet it can be one of the most powerful enablers of growth." 

Her experience has shown that people are more likely to thrive when they have strong support networks, meaningful opportunities to learn from experience, and leaders who genuinely invest in their success. 

Looking to the future, Kim sees adaptability as a key skill for success as the industry continues to evolve. 

"Technical capability will always be important, but skills such as problem-solving, learning agility, critical thinking and collaboration will become increasingly important as the nature of work evolves," she says. 

As mining continues to be shaped by electrification, automation, artificial intelligence and digital technologies, Kim sees enormous opportunities for the next generation of workers. 

"Mining has always been an industry that innovates and adapts. People who are willing to learn, ask meaningful questions and embrace new challenges will be well placed to contribute to its future success."

Supporting that future requires strong development pathways and access to learning opportunities that help people build the skills needed for a changing industry. 

"Organisations such as AUSMASA play an important role in helping industry identify future skills requirements, strengthen career pathways, and ensure the workforce is equipped for the opportunities ahead." 

We celebrate the contributions of women like Kim, whose passion for learning, development and inclusion is helping build a stronger, more capable and future-ready mining workforce.