The International WIM Community Portal (www.womeninmining.net) was initiated end of 2007 to be a global web-based community of women professionals working in the mining and metals sector. The Portal not only serves as a

communication platform for WIM groups, but also as a global network of registered members, particularly helpful for women working in jurisdictions where there is no WIM group. Currently around 700 women are registered form all over the world.

Its objective is twofold:

• By celebrating successes to constructively publicise the issue of women in mining

• To promote the professional development of women working in the mining and metals sector by providing a web platform for global discussion, networking and dissemination of information, jobs, courses and events.

The WIM Portal has facilitated more coordination and information swapping between groups by publishing events and newsletters of each group.

By establishing our discussion forum on LinkedIn (3000 members) it has really allowed members of each group as well as non-affiliated women to communicate with each other. The group is called Women in Mining and is recognisable through the same logo.

WIM Portal also actively encourages the creation of new women in mining groups, and shares advice.

We are looking for sponsorship to improve and maintain this not for profit project. Contact Barbara Dischinger at barbara@womeninmining.net.