María Paz Núñez, Vice President of Ausenco Chile, and Carolina Vargas, Senior Biodiversity Engineer, have been recognized as part of the 100 Inspirational Women in Mining, Chile 2024 initiative. Organized by Women in Mining Chile (WIM), the initiative honors women whose leadership and contributions are making a meaningful impact across the Chilean mining ecosystem. The stories of these women are featured in a book that celebrates their achievements.
Now in its third year, this award highlights women from diverse backgrounds, including trades, technical roles, and leadership positions who have excelled in mining operations, research, academia, engineering, consulting, and entrepreneurship, among other areas.
For the first time, Ausenco is proud to be represented by two outstanding leaders, underscoring our ongoing commitment to nurturing talent in an inclusive and dynamic environment. With initiatives like the Graduate Program, to the Women@Ausenco global network and mentoring program, Ausenco is dedicated to creating spaces where women can thrive and drive meaningful change.
María Paz Núñez was awarded in the Executive category, which recognizes women who lead mining companies or hold executive positions in the industry and stand out for their strategic vision, management capacity and impact on the development of the sector.
“This recognition not only reflects my personal journey but also Ausenco’s commitment to empowering women in mining. I’m proud to stand alongside my colleagues in advancing equal opportunities and fostering talent development across the industry,” said María Paz Núñez, Vice President of Ausenco Chile.
Carolina Vargas was celebrated in the Professionals category, which honors women whose technical expertise and dedication enhance the entire mining value chain. “Being recognized among so many talented women is a testament to the growing focus on sustainable mining practices. I’m grateful for this recognition and proud to contribute to a more sustainable future for Chile’s mining industry,” commented Carolina Vargas.
Maritza Henríquez, Director of Women in Mining Chile, said, “At this celebration of the mining ecosystem, we wanted to honor, congratulate, and name 100 leading women in the mining industry. We are thrilled and proud to reach this moment, which has been a process of preparation, but that is not significant without the stories of each of us. We considered 468 stories of women who were nominated, so we, as WIM Chile, are proud to present this book and share the stories of these leading women.”
These awards highlight the strength and diversity of Ausenco’s team, which is built on the talent, commitment, and expertise of everyone within the organization. With a continued focus on innovation and sustainability, Ausenco remains a key player in driving forward the growth and evolution of the mining industry.
About Ausenco
Ausenco is a global company that redefines what is possible. Our team is based across 26 offices in 15 countries, with projects in over 80 locations worldwide. Combining our deep technical expertise with a 30-year track record, we deliver innovative, value-add consulting studies, project delivery, asset operations and maintenance solutions to the mining & metals and industrial sectors. In South America, we work in Chile, Peru, Brazil and Argentina. Our Chile office is the firm's largest and a hub for both our leading consulting and engineering practices.