Muse Of The Month: Maria Joyce

Twenty years in mining, an industry that didn't always leave room for women and Maria Joyce has spent every one of them leading. She got there almost by accident, drawn away from civil engineering by the variety mining offered: The Atacama Desert one day, boardrooms the next. She's since led through some of the toughest periods the industry has seen, often the only woman in the room and never once softened who she is to fit it. These days that shows up as a Blazé Milano blazer, Gianvito Rossi boots and a bag that's just as likely to hold high vis as it is a cashmere polo. We asked Maria about leadership, style and what she's still building after two decades in. 

You started out wanting to be a civil engineer and found your way into mining, what made you stay?

I loved the variety the job offered me. From hands on experience where you could be on the ground blasting dirt to working in the corporate landscape. 

You led through one of the toughest stretches the industry has had. What did that period teach you about the kind of leader you wanted to be?

It taught me to always hold true to my values and that I’m stronger and more resilient than I think I can be. I have always told myself if I had the opportunity to use my leadership platform to make an impact and shape the industry for better for the generations of women and men to come after me, I had to take it. I feel like I have a duty to date, leadership is a privilege I don’t take lightly. These opportunities rarely come up when the timing is right. Leadership is hard, you need to make tough calls.

You’re often the only woman in the room. What do you wear when you need that room to take you seriously, and has that changed over twenty years?

Over the last twenty years I’m pleased to say huge change has happened, so there are less of those rooms where I’m the only female. For me I want to feel strong and confident and if I’m wearing the right outfit it does that for me. Go to is a Blaze Milano blazer always, polished silk shirt, sleek pants like my Avenues, pumps or my favourite Gianvito boots. My style has definitely matured so much over the years from jeans and polo to today.

You’ve said you can be in the Atacama Desert one day and in the office the next. What actually goes in the bag?

I’m always telling my Calexico girls I need clothes I can use for both work and play and they deliver. My go to staples, a couple pairs of denim (usually Nili and CoH), clean white button up shirt (again Nili), a white tee, soft goat cashmere polo, Avenue Bellini trousers and one of my Blaze blazers. Throw in my high vis and work boots. With some light accessories sets me up well for literally everything and I can dress up or down.

You know Brisbane and Melbourne well. Which one do you feel most yourself in, and do you dress differently in each?

Brisbane will always be home, it’s where I grew up, where my family are and my babies born. I have to say I LOVE Melbourne and would definitely live there again. I feel at home in both to be honest. My style is pretty similar between the two, Melbourne though gives you the chance to dress for a proper winter. I find winter dressing fun and enjoy being able to play around with different coats and scarves to add variety.

Twenty years in, what are you building now , and what do you want to look different in your industry by the time you’re done?

There are lots of specifics I could share on where I’d love to see the industry go. To keep it simple it’s about continuing to ensure that we bring resources and people together to create a better world both now and into the future. Through my leadership I need to ensure I stay true to that purpose and my values. Practically this means doing everything I can to create safer work environments for our people through to ensuring meaningful partnerships are sustained with the communities in which we operate, vendors in which we engage, and the customers we serve. The world relies on our resources to help feed populations through potash, to power our lifestyles via steel making and copper to fuel our digital age.