Ahead of International Women’s Day, we spoke to several women in the aluminium industry on their careers.
This is a abridged article taken from a series of features from our upcoming March/April 2026 issue.
Norsk Hydro
Lucy Thomas, Raw Materials Procurement Manager, UK & Scandinavia at Norsk Hydro, fell into the industry by chance while looking for a graduate commercial role.
Hydro stood out as a company that seemed like a great place to work, offering interesting projects and opportunities to travel.
“Throughout my career at Hydro, the support and guidance from peers and colleagues have been instrumental to my development.”
Lucy Thomas, Raw Materials Procurement Manager, UK & Scandinavia at Norsk Hydro.
South32
Elizabeth Langa is a Process Control and Improvement Specialist in the Carbon Department at the Mozal aluminium smelter, located in Mozambique and operated by South32. She is based in the rodding shop and induction furnace area.
“When women enter and lead in this sector, the entire industry becomes stronger, more resilient, and more innovative.”
Elizabeth Langa, Process Control and Improvement Specialist, South32.
Novelis
Laura Basile, Operations Director at Novelis Italy, oversees a unique setup of two plants and two distribution centres that together reflect the entire Novelis production cycle end-to-end.
“International Women’s Day is a reminder of the progress we have made, but also of the work still ahead. Diversity isn’t just a moral imperative; it’s also a business move. Diverse teams drive creativity, problem-solving, and better decision-making.”
Laura Basile, Operations Director at Novelis Italy.
Albras
Emmily Fonseca, a Senior Process Engineer at Albras, has been working in the industry since 2016, progressing through roles as an intern, trainee, and process engineer.
As a Senior Process Engineer specialising in carbon electrode production for aluminium smelting, her responsibilities focus on process control to ensure the quality and performance of carbon electrodes.
“When access is equitable, women step forward. Talent and willingness have always been present, what makes the difference is opening the door and ensuring the environment allows them to grow and thrive.”
Emmily Fonesca, Senior Process Engineer at Albras.
Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto’s Lizzy Thompson, a Maintenance Superintendent for Central Services at RBC Works in Kitimat, leads several maintenance teams that help keep its operations running safely, reliably, and efficiently.
Her work ranges from coordinating shutdown personnel, to overseeing instrumentation, automation, and electrical trades, to supporting the response to unplanned equipment issues.
“For me, success comes from staying grounded in my values, being intentional in how I show up, and ensuring that the standards I set for myself and others are respected. It also means advocating for fairness, creating space for diverse perspectives, and supporting other women so that future pathways become easier.”
Lizzy Thompson, a Maintenance Superintendent for Central Services at Rio Tinto BC Works in Kitimat.
Tomago Aluminium
Aman Kaur, an Occupational Hygienist at Tomago Aluminium, has always loved the diversity of the type of work heavy industry has to offer.
When she first got into Occupational Hygiene, she enjoyed attending manufacturing sites, learning the way different sites worked, interacting and learning workers’ behaviour and providing an input in their exposure assessment to ensure work was carried out safely.
“The opportunities are endless. Whatever your background or area of expertise, there is likely a place for you in this industry.”
Aman Kaur, Occupational Hygienist at Tomago Aluminium.
Bridgnorth Aluminium
Alicia Stevens, an Apprentice at Bridgnorth Aluminium, has always known about Bridgnorth Aluminium as the 20-year-old’s dad and two older brothers work at the company headquartered in the Midlands, UK.
Her father and eldest brother are machine operators, and another brother a mechanical engineer.
“Women shouldn’t have to feel apprehensive to start a new job because of how they may get treated due to it being a male-dominated industry, they should feel nervous for all the right reasons. There are various different roles to take on and many opportunities to keep bettering yourself.”
Alicia Stevens, Apprentice at Bridgnorth Aluminium.
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA)
With more than 15 years working for Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), Amal Aljasmi, Director of EX Technology at EGA, is an expert in her field, specialising in next-generation smelting technology as the sector transitions to Industry 4.0.
“On International Women’s Day, my message would be this: heavy industry is not defined by gender — it is defined by competence, innovation, and determination. And women have every place in shaping its future.”
Amal Aljasmi, Director of EX Technology at EGA
