Meet the Team: Emily Fenton

Emily Fenton, P.Geo
Director, Mine Shift

At Mind Shift, our Board of Directors is made up of passionate leaders working to create a safer, and more inclusive, and respectful mining industry. We are proud to spotlight Emily Fenton, P.Geo, who has served as a Director with Mine Shift since August 2021.

Professional Background

Emily is a Senior Project Geologist specializing in the planning and execution of exploration programs from early to late stages of development. Her expertise includes drilling programs, camp operations, mentoring field teams, and managing geophysical, geotechnical, environmental, and geological data collection. Throughout her career, she has developed a strong reputation for advocacy, team development, and inclusive and respectful leadership.

Why Emily Joined Mine Shift

Emily joined Mine Shift because she believes deeply in creating workplaces where everyone feels safe, respected, and supported.

After entering the mining industry in her mid-20s, she quickly recognized that the experience was not always equitable for women and racialized individuals. She heard stories of women facing harassment and assault in camp environments and later saw these challenges affect people close to her. As one of only a handful of women working in large camps, she was often given advice on how to navigate workplace safety that placed responsibility on women rather than addressing systemic issues.

“Early in my career, I heard stories of women being assaulted in large, male-dominated camps, and a few years later, a close colleague shared her own experience of the same issue,” said Emily Fenton, Director at Mine Shift. “I was also warned to be careful who I gave my résumé or business card to at conferences. Later in my career, a mentor told me that my body was ‘too fat’ to continue leading field programs and that I needed to lose weight if I wanted to keep my career on track.”

These experiences reinforced Emily's commitment to advocating for change and inspired her to become involved with Mine Shift. She believes the mining industry can do better and is dedicated to helping make that vision a reality.

What Change Looks Like

Emily wants to see a mining sector where diversity is reflected at every level. She hopes to see more women in leadership and executive roles, greater representation of Indigenous Peoples in scientific, technical, and management positions, and stronger community engagement throughout the lifecycle of mining projects.

Most importantly, she believes that bullying, harassment, and exclusion have no place in the industry's future.

Expertise in Psychological Safety and Inclusion

Emily advocates for inclusion through practical action, particularly in camp settings. She recognizes that psychological safety starts with meeting basic needs and creating environments where people feel supported. From implementing gender-neutral bathrooms in the small exploration camp she works in to ensuring access to size-inclusive PPE and secure accommodations, Emily focuses on creating workplaces where everyone can thrive.

Fun Facts about Emily

A country-loving Albertan at heart, Emily has proudly called the West Coast home for more than 15 years. She has an impressive green thumb and once cared for more than 80 houseplants. Outside of work, her greatest loves are dogs, her sisters, and cheese.

We are grateful for Emily's leadership, expertise, and commitment to building a better mining industry for everyone.

Join the Movement

Creating a safer, more inclusive mining industry requires all of us. Whether you work in the field, in the office, at the executive level, or as a community partner, you have a role to play in driving meaningful change.

Click on the social icons below to follow Mine Shift to meet more of our Board members, learn about our work, and join the conversation about psychological safety, inclusion, and respect in mining. Together, we can help build an industry where everyone feels safe, valued, and empowered to succeed.