Vale manager is a 'trailblazer'

Women in Mining (WIM) has awarded its second annual Canada National Trailblazer Award to Vale's Samantha Espley of Sudbury.

Espley is the company's general manager of mines and mill technical services (Ontario operations). The award aims to recognize women who have taken personal career risks and helped to advance the careers of other women, a release from WIM states.

The presentation was made March 5 at the annual WIM International reception during the annual PDAC conference in Toronto.

Espley, an engineer by trade, began her career 25 years ago. She's worked in Northern Quebec, New Brunswick and Ontario. Since 1990, she has worked for Vale’s Ontario operations. 

“I am humbled and honoured to receive this prestigious award from WIM Canada,” said Espley in a release. “Mining has allowed me to have a challenging and rewarding career, and I think it’s incumbent on female professionals to promote mining as an attractive career choice to the next generation of young Canadian women.”

She currently leads a multi-disciplinary group of more than 200 mining and mineral processing engineers, geologists, metallurgists, technologists and other technical staff supporting Vale’s mining and milling operations in Sudbury.

Vale said this week that Espley is the only woman who has held many of these roles for Vale and “is a true trailblazer,” as well as a role model for young women striving to attain senior roles in the mining industry.