Women in aluminium: The voices influencing aluminium’s next chapter

Welcoming industry readers worldwide to the last part of the “Women in Aluminium: Real Stories. Real Shifts” series, where we will talk about how these women wish to contribute to the change that they wish to see, as shared in the third part of the series and how they have been balancing both their professional and personal lives. In part 1 and part 2, we explored how these women came into the industry, the challenges they faced and the lessons that shaped their journey throughout. Let’s deep dive now. 

One theme deals with their contribution towards the change they wish to see in the industry

For most of these women in aluminium, contribution starts by embedding a stronger culture that includes and upholds mentorship, inclusion, collaboration and technical excellence. Many also believe that creating visible examples of women's contribution is not only in leadership roles, but also as technical specialists and creating work environments where achievements are recognised fairly and without bias.

Muna Abdullah Mohammed Al Nofali, the Lab Supervisor at Sohar Aluminium, said, "As I progress into a quality leader role, I see my contribution focused on embedding a culture of excellence and accountability across the organisation."

Besides this, these women also emphasised that they are making a difference in the industry by driving innovation, sustainability, operational excellence and by sharing knowledge. Be it digitalisation, recycling, quality systems or simply developing leadership skills, these women are actively shaping a more resilient aluminium ecosystem.

Sara Strand, the R&D Engineer at ABB, stated, "I aim to continue contributing to the development of more efficient products for the aluminium rolling mill industry, but also to have an impact beyond the technology."

For the changes previously stated, these women have enunciated that the future of aluminium will hinge on embracing circularity, aligning with ESG principles and attracting a diverse range of talent who can tackle complex global challenges.

Judit JENEY, the Managing Director of AUSTIN AI EUROPE, said, "The aluminium sector is undergoing a profound transformation, moving from a commodity-driven market to one focused on sustainability, circularity, and advanced technology."

One theme talked about creating balance in their professional and personal lives

According to these women in the metal sector, creating the balance has not always been about bringing perfection in their lives. Balancing is always about prioritising, having discipline, setting boundaries and focusing on upholding sustainability whenever possible. 

For them, family support is crucial, with continuous self-reflection, maintaining their physical health and knowing when to disconnect to be more focused and resilient. 

Angelica Papageorgiou, the Global Senior Director at Allumforce, said, “On a personal level, resilience comes from continuous learning, structured reflection, and maintaining balance.”

Some of the participants in “Women in Aluminium: Real Stories. Real Shifts” mentioned that staying motivated often stems from linking everyday tasks to a bigger purpose. This could mean helping others grow, promoting sustainability or driving industrial advancement.

Muna Abdullah Mohammed Al Nofali, the Lab Supervisor at Sohar Aluminium, said, "More important is developing people- mentoring teams, reinforcing high standards, and encouraging ownership at every level.”

As we wrap up the “Women in Aluminium: Real Stories. Real Shifts” series, one thing stands clear: Marking your journey within the aluminium industry is not just about being moulded by innovation and strategy. It is also being propelled by the people who are pushing it forward with their resilience, curiosity and sense of purpose. These discussions were not merely industry tales; they were narratives that are actively shaping the field yesterday, today and in the years to come.