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The image of leadership in heavy industry is changing. Where blazing potlines and control rooms were once seen as unlikely spaces for women, today they reflect a broader transformation underway across the aluminium sector. From smelters and power units to boardrooms and global institutions, women are steadily shaping operational excellence and strategic direction.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day on March 8, 2026, AL Circle is releasing its special edition of e-Magazine “Women in ALuminium: Real Stories. Real Shifts” to celebrate the decisive shift in the sector once labelled rigid and male-dominated. The edition looks at the entire value chain - leaders and change-makers, shop-floor experts, HR and IT professionals, sales and branding strategists, young innovators, and those driving sustainability, CSR and technology mandates.

Women who built the foundation

When we are celebrating women in the aluminium industry, we must name esteemed figures like Negisti Gebreegziabher Gared in Ethiopia who established NAYS Aluminium Engineering PLC after beginning her career under the Ethiopia-German (GIZ) programme and Lubna Qassem of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) who is not only the first female Graduate Engineer in her section of Operations at EGA but first female UAE national to join the potline shift operation crew. . In 2024, Negisti Gebreegziabher Gared was even honoured with “Women with Metal – the Role Model” award.

In Austria, Ramona Tosone at AMAG has been pushing material innovation through AI-backed research and environmentally responsible aluminium solutions aligned with net-zero ambitions since 2019. Currently, she is the Head of Centre for Material Innovation. Duygu Saymen in Türkiye also grew and made TALSAD grow as a coordinator in 2019 to Secretary General in 2024, underpinning how industry bodies themselves are evolving.

At the global level, Pernelle Nunez at the International Aluminium Institute leads programmes on life-cycle management, waste reduction and GHG mitigation. In the UK, Nadine Bloxsome at ALFED continues to connect stakeholders around the 2050 decarbonisation pathway. In India, Suneela MVS at BALCO oversees expansion projects while promoting merit-based inclusion. Karla R. Lewis at Reliance Steel & Aluminium Co. drives structured business growth, and Geetika Anand at Hindalco reinforces regulatory discipline and corporate governance from within.

To know more about the global primary aluminium industry 2026 outlook, book the report “Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026"

Women in strategic command

The leadership shift is increasingly visible in 2025. Hindalco Industries Limited elevated Kopal Agrawal to CEO - Aluminium Downstream, placing her in charge of the company’s downstream portfolio. With experience in energy, manufacturing and transformation, her appointment reflects how women are moving into roles that directly influence business direction in heavy industry.

Women at the core of operations

The most striking changes are unfolding on the ground. In March 2025, Vedanta Aluminium transitioned an entire potline at its Jharsuguda smelter in Odisha into a fully women-operated and maintained unit. The move was executed in three phases, covering more than 100 duty positions. Women selected through internal postings and diversity outreach programmes underwent structured on-the-job training with mentorship support before assuming operational control.

At the same site, Odisha’s first all-women power operations team now manages a 135 MW unit in partnership with NGSL. The team of electrical and mechanical engineers operates within what is described as the world’s largest aluminium plant. Vedanta has also expanded its all-women locomotive team, adding six professionals to the existing seven-member group and outlining plans for a second unit. The locomotive function remains critical for internal raw material movement.

The company has set defined targets: 30 per cent women workforce representation by FY2030 and 50 per cent women hiring at the fresher level. Supporting measures include Project Shree Shakti, which introduced night shifts for women in Odisha operations for the first time in the state, and Project Panchhi, aimed at enabling higher education and career pathways for girls from marginalised communities.

Inclusion drive at Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA)

Beyond India, similar efforts are underway. Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside oil and gas, has reported that more than 180 women have joined the company. EGA now employs 714 women in the UAE, of whom 445 are UAE nationals. More than 330 women work in operational roles, with over half of them Emiratis.

Through its Challenger Programme, launched in 2023, EGA works with other industrial companies to address practical challenges related to gender diversity. Joint initiatives focus on inclusive recruitment, talent development and workplace culture. One recent outcome is a gender diversity toolkit designed to define inclusive policies and behaviours across the employee lifecycle in heavy industry.

EGA also introduced new safety signage across its facilities featuring icons of both women and men. The signage has already been installed in casthouses and potlines and will be rolled out company-wide. The company has also made the designs available to other industrial organisations.

The signage initiative forms part of ‘Break the Mould’, a campaign intended to encourage young women interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics to consider careers in industry, drawing attention to the contributions of women within the UAE’s industrial sector.

Together, these developments reflect a clear shift across the aluminium sector. From boardrooms to potlines, women are increasingly present in leadership roles, production units and workforce planning, signalling that inclusion is steadily becoming part of everyday industry practice.

On the occasion of Women’s Day, we will launch a special e-magazine on March 7, 2026, dedicated to celebrating the women shaping the aluminium industry. We invite women leaders and professionals from across the globe to be part of this edition and share their journeys, achievements, and impact on the sector.Please contact us at promotions@alcircle.com to participate.

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