Anna joined Kinross in 2012 and is currently the GM Executive Assistant at Tasiast where she is constantly going above and beyond her day-to-day responsibilities to support her colleagues, in particular by advocating for female employees.
When Anna arrived at Kinross, she noticed a low number of female employees and worked closely with the Human Resources department to develop a recruitment program aimed at promoting jobs to women in the region. Since this program was initiated, Tasiast has seen an increase in female employees, particularly in roles typically held by men.
Anna not only believes in advocating for women in a male-dominated industry, she believes in the importance of women developing their networks with one another. After hearing feedback from her colleagues that they lacked a space to connect with one another she spearheaded an initiative to create a ‘Ladies Lounge’ at Tasiast for women to foster networking opportunities and build upon their relationships through conversation and activities. The Ladies Lounge is now a central hub for women to spend their break time or before and after their shifts getting to know one another.
Anna is a key contributor to many social initiatives at Tasiast, and encourages female participation in all events to ensure women feel welcome and included, and that Tasiast operates as one team. She coordinates events such as Pink October, International Women’s Day and is a co-organizer of the annual GM Soccer Tournament. This year, Anna advocated for expanded roles for women in the tournament outside of spectating by having them take part in the opening and closing ceremony.
“Employees trust and respect Anna to be a voice for them, and she then delivers on that trust and respect by advocating for them and saying ‘how can we improve’. The way she interacts with people and subsequently brings them together generates goodwill, a sense of respect and a sense of community at Tasiast,” said Afjal Hashim, Vice-President and General Manager, Tasiast.
