The event, one of the largest and most influential events on the mining industry calendar, explored whether a diversity debate that begins and ends with gender is doomed to fail.
The discussions, hosted in conjunction with Women in Mining WA, were held in front of over 300 guests at the historic Perth Mint.
This year’s panellists also included Raleigh Finlayson, Managing Director, Saracen Mineral Holdings; Matthew Popham, Tax Director, Newmont Goldcorp Australia; and Tashana Jones, President Women in Mining and Resources and Student, Curtin University.
Marinkovich was able to draw on her experiences as a woman in sport during the debate.
“Having worked in a highly male dominated industry, as a Senior Account Executive in an international broking company prior to my coaching career, to then transitioning to a female dominated organisation as Head Coach of the West Coast Fever, I have gained some unique and quite different experiences that have helped shape my views in the area of gender,” she said.
“As the leading women’s sport in the country, the gap between Netball and even the third largest leading men’s sport, from broadcast, pay and corporate support is significant.”
Marinkovich argued that in order to address diversity, we must first tackle gender.
“For all of us working and living in Australia there is a powerful focus on equality and opportunity and, now more than ever, an active push to empower people and communities to achieve regardless of who they are and where they come from,” she said.
“However, there are still significant hurdles that we face in our own individual pursuit of success, and despite the incredible progress we have made in this area, gender is still one of them.”
“It’s also a hurdle that, if overcome, can have the greatest impact in shifting the dial in our approach to addressing all areas of diversity.”
The Fever Head Coach congratulated the Gold Industry Group for its commitment to supporting women in sport.
The Gold Industry Group has helped Shooting Stars expand its footprint across Western Australia, held Leaderships Camps for the Aboriginal All Stars team; and later this month will help launch the first ever Netball Scholarship program, thanks to the University of Western Australia.
“The Gold Industry Group set about investing in a partnership with a real organisation that creates genuine pathways for young women into education, employment and ultimately into leadership roles in the community.”
The debate will continue around the country, with events to be held in Sydney and Melbourne next week.
