Women in Aluminium: From early struggles to shaping the industry’s future

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It has been over a month since we released our special magazine, “Women in Aluminium: Real Stories. Real Shifts”, where women working in the aluminium industry across roles and domains have come together and shared their stories. Be it navigating the industry upon entering or thriving through the challenges, they have done it all. 

The participants not only talked about their challenges, but also shared the projects and milestones that shaped their journey while maintaining both their professional and personal lives. 

In the debut edition, the esteemed participants include Angelica Papageorgiou from Allumforce; Muna Abdullah Mohammed Al Nofali from Sohar Aluminium; Véronique Dufour from EPIQ Machinery; Carla Vierhout from Gouda Refractories BV; Dr Yashuang Gao (Song) from EnPot; Julie Lessard from REEL; Simonenko Inga from RUSAL; Sara Strand from ABB; and Judit JENEY from AUSTIN AI EUROPE. 

Other participants included Kirsty Davies-Chinnock from Women With Metal; Amy Bird from Women in Recycling; Eloise Harvey, Rupali Kaushik, and Véronique Dufour from EPIQ Machinery; Eirini Mylonopoulou from METLEN Energy and Metals; Nadine Bloxsome from ALFED; Lisa Roobottom from Alpha HPA; Mariateresa Marino from European Aluminium; Lucy Thomas from Norsk Hydro; Lauren Walker from Aluminium Fire Systems and Bhavna Razdan from Ansh Enterprises.

The journey of these women cannot be defined in a single conversation, but in this magazine, “Women in Aluminium: Real Stories. Real Shifts”, has covered the most impactful narratives in eight major themes. Here are two among eight themes covering their diverse roles shaping the future of the industry. 

One of the themes of the magazine was their current job role and responsibilities, and what a typical day looks like.

What came out is that these women have taken roles that not only cover the end-to-end aluminium value chain but also go beyond what people say "comfort zone", outshining in their respective domains. They took up roles which are multi-dimensional and strategic, rather than confined to a single function. 

Given the dynamic nature of the metal industry, where factors like energy, geopolitics and market volatility keep changing almost every day, the focus of these women has always been on being resilient, competitive and aligned with the future demands. This not only helped them to excel, but also built their confidence and resilience.  

And there is no typical day. Atypical, to say the least, like any other professional in the industry. Julie Lessard, the Executive Director of REEL, said, "No two days are ever the same at REEL, which is exactly what makes my role as an Executive Director so engaging."

​Another theme was how they entered the metal industry and what shaped their paths so far.

Different women, different stories, but one thing that remained constant for all is “curiosity” and “appetite” to adapt in a fast-paced industrial environment, creating measurable differences in their responsibilities. 

Inga Simonenko, the Head of Market Intelligence at RUSAL, stated, “Curiosity is the core of my resilience.”

While some began their journeys with backgrounds in engineering, chemistry, physics or global trade, which naturally led them to various roles in labs, production and technology development. Others simply started out of “curiosity”, “interest”, or just to roar through a “male-dominated” industry. ​

Not one strategy or method shaped these professionals' journey, but while in discussion, what stood out the most was “mentorship”, “team collaboration”, “being competitive”, and “experiences.” 

​What nudged their confidence in taking up different yet challenging roles? Mentorship, taking up difficult projects and tackling real-world problems paved the way for a smooth transition into the various dynamics of the industry.

Angelica Papageorgiou, the Global Senior Director of Allumforce, said, "Rather than viewing challenges as obstacles, I approached them as opportunities to strengthen expertise and credibility."

​The magazine "Women in Aluminium: Real Stories. Real Shifts" reveals the stories that are built on experiences and stepping out into the real world. These stories are not just about getting them steeping their foot in the door, but more about making a real impact, being adaptable, and showing strong leadership throughout the aluminium value chain. Experiences shared by these professionals demonstrate how they are thriving in the aluminium industry with curiosity and commitment.

Stay tuned for the second part of the series, where we will explore the common and uncommon challenges they faced and the projects and milestones they are proud of. Stay tuned.