A powerful step towards gender equity in Papua New Guinea’s mining, petroleum and energy sectors was taken today with the official launch of the Women in Resources and Energy (WIRE) Committee, an initiative by the PNG Chamber of Resources & Energy (PNG CORE).
As PNG celebrates 50 years of nationhood and industrial growth, the resources sector continues to evolve. While more women are entering technical and managerial roles, gender representation remains uneven—particularly in operational, trade and underground environments. Many women still face cultural, structural and safety-related challenges that hinder their full participation.
To address these challenges, PNG CORE has established the WIRE Committee to champion diversity, drive systemic change and support women across all levels of the sector.
“Today marks more than just the formation of a new committee. It signals a shared commitment to building a more inclusive, resilient and future-ready resources sector for Papua New Guinea,” said Ms. Karo Maha, chair of the WIRE Committee and Country Manager of New Porgera Limited.
“WIRE is not just about women—it’s about equity across the entire workforce. It’s about recognising the silent achievers—especially the women working in underground mines in other parts of the world, on offshore rigs if we do have them in this country, in remote gas fields, and those in trade and technical roles who are often unseen but essential.”
The Committee will serve as a collaborative platform to celebrate achievements, identify persistent barriers and promote practical, industry-driven solutions that benefit not only women but the broader workforce and communities linked to the resources sector.
WIRE Committee Objectives:
• Promote women’s participation in STEM, trades and leadership roles.
• Identify and address barriers to gender equity in the workplace.
• Recognise and elevate silent achievers, including women in underground, field and frontline roles.
• Foster a safe, respectful and inclusive industry culture.
• Advocate for policy change, including lifting the prohibition on women working underground.
The initiative builds on the efforts of leading resource companies such as ExxonMobil PNG (EMPNG), Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML), Newmont, New Porgera, K92 Mining and Santos, who have already introduced meaningful programmes to advance women across mining operations, oil rigs, gas fields, engineering and more.
The launch included a panel discussion with 12 speakers from 11 different companies. The panel called on the National Government to fast-track the enactment of the new Mining (Safety) Act and regulations. These are over 50 years old, and there is general alignment between industry and government on the proposed changes, which should be brought to Parliament as soon as possible.
The launch of the WIRE Committee reinforces PNG CORE’s commitment to building a more inclusive, resilient and future-ready resources industry for Papua New Guinea.
