London-based Women in Mining (UK), a non-profit association aimed at promoting the achievements and position of women in all levels of the global mining industry, has named Samantha Espley (GeoE 8T8) as one of their top 100 inspirational women in mining worldwide.
Espley is part of a Canadian contingent of 12 honourees in the 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining Project, a list designed to promote the significant impact of women in the traditionally male-dominated industry.
“WIM (UK) has collaborated with WIM groups all over the world in order to reflect a broad cross-section of global industry talent in The 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining project,” said Amanda Van Dyke, chair of WIM (UK). “From engineers and geologists, to finance professionals and investors, each woman has been selected because of the lasting impact she makes on those around her as a positive role model and her contribution to the industry.”
Currently the General Manager (Mine and Mills Technical Services) at Vale – Sudbury Operations, Espley’s lengthy curriculum vitae reflects this impact.
She was a founding member of Women in Science and Engineering, a local group dedicated to promoting women in the broad science and technology academic disciplines, in 1998 during her graduate work. One year later, she received the Governor General’s Gold Medal, an award that honours the doctoral student with the highest standing at each university.
From 2003 to 2008, she chaired the science committee and held a position on the Board of Directors at Sudbury’s Science North, one of the leading science educational centres in Canada. Espley is currently the Co-chair of the Underground Working Group, Global Mining Standards and Guidelines Committee.
She has been recognized for her hard work, too, having received the International Women’s Week Award in 2004, the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Distinguished Service Medal in 2009, and the Trailblazer Award from Women in Mining Canada in 2013.
Espley was also recently honoured by the University of Toronto Engineering Alumni Association, receiving the 2013 2T2 Mid-Career Achievement Award. This award recognizes a graduate who has earned respect within the profession and broader community, attained significant achievement and exhibits promise of further contributions.
“Samantha is truly a trailblazer,” said Professor Brent Sleep, Chair of the Department of Civil Engineering. “Her work to promote women in the Canadian and global mining industries is inspiring to our community of future engineers. We congratulate her on this recognition and are honoured to count her as one of our alumni.”
