Beneteau wins award for promoting diversity and inclusion in mining

Donna Beneteau, assistant professor in the Department of Civil, Geological and Environmental Engineering, has been recognized for her contributions toward improving diversity and inclusion in the mining industry.

She received the 2022 Diversity and Inclusion Award from the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) at its recent convention after being nominated for recognition by her peers.  

“I have been so lucky to volunteer and collaborate with many women and men on mining outreach activities,” Beneteau said. “I am proud to be part of the Canadian mining industry as I love rocks and society needs to use them to maintain our quality of life.”

Beneteau is very passionate about outreach and public education, focusing on giving students the information and contacts they need to consider mining as an education and career choice.

She has volunteered extensively with Women in Mining and Women in Nuclear Saskatchewan Inc., chairing the organizing committee for its Mine Your Potential conference, which helps advance WIM/WiN-SK’s goal of connecting and inspiring a diverse workforce in Saskatchewan’s mining and nuclear industries. She has also volunteered with WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) Sudbury, CIM, CIM Saskatoon Branch and USask.

Beneteau obtained her BASc in Geological Engineering from the University of Waterloo in 1990. She worked in backfill research at the Noranda Technology Centre, as a mine engineer at Holloway Mine, and consulted with Ionic Engineering before returning to school to earn her MSc in mineral resources engineering at Laurentian University in 2012. At USask she has progressed from a contract sessional position to full-time instructor and then to professor. 

Beneteau’s current passion project is working with the mining industry to complete a historical Canadian mining database.