• Edgardo Orderique, IIMP director, indicated that the number of female professionals in the sector will increase exponentially in the coming years.

The director of the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers, Edgardo Orderique, encouraged all the young women participating in the Student Leaders program to take a chance on mining since women are increasingly participating in the mining industry.

The IIMP executive informed that currently, the number of female professionals working in a mining operation is growing and will increase during the following years. For this reason, young female university students must see mining as a space for professional development.

"Currently, the change is being noticed at the level of management and executive positions, but this will occur at all levels of the mining industry," he pointed out during a talk given to the 385 university students who participated as volunteers in PERUMIN 36th Mining Convention.

In addition, Orderique recommended to all university students to see mining as an opportunity for personal development. He also remarked that in this globalized world, it is essential to learn languages, especially English and Chinese.

"I am currently learning Chinese. No matter if you are 40, 50, or 60 years old, the key is continuous training. To believe in yourself and your potential," he assured.

It should be noted that 40% of the international pavilion at PERUMIN 36 was made up of the Chinese delegation.

He also acknowledged that in the sector there is a call to work in operational discipline to optimize costs, therefore, future professionals must know how to work as a team, but when challenges arise, they must be open to new perspectives.

The talk entitled "Challenges of a Mining Operation" was part of a series of lectures given by mining executives, who shared their experiences in the sector with university students from different mining careers who came to Arequipa from various parts of the country.