OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO LISTEN

Astrid is a Communities Supervisor in Antofagasta, Chile, who has worked at Glencore for 13 years. She works with local authorities and farmers in the areas around Lomas Bayas, managing meetings and community programmes. She is proud of her ability to listen to a range of perspectives, finding solutions that are both beneficial to the community but also support Glencore’s social licence to operate.

Astrid was inspired to embark upon a career in social work by her mother, who worked in a home for underprivileged children. From a young age, she learnt how to listen and help vulnerable people, and discovered her talent as a communicator.

Astrid manages the company’s scholarship programme for local young people and self- development programmes for employees. She also represents the company at local fairs and public events.

For us as a company, it is our responsibility to have a good relationship with all our stakeholders because when we properly engage with them, we can understand what they expect from us. Once a month, we hold community work groups, bringing together members of the community and Glencore colleagues. At the start of every session, I remind everyone that our priority is trust and transparency. We work on issues together, seeking a solution that everyone is happy with.

We also have various support programmes for farmers in Calama near Chile’s Atacama desert. We have agricultural specialists and a legal advice programme that can assist them with their queries. We also work with the Antofagasta Regional Hospital to provide them with medical support.

In my personal life, I try to be empathetic every day. Sometimes, when I speak with someone, I won’t have the answer to their problem on the spot. As part of the HSEC and Human Rights management team, I put my whole heart into my work. If I can’t solve a problem at a particular time, I get new input or look for other options.

The communities know they can count on us. I know this because in 13 years, the team I work with has had zero complaints. Last year, we gave a social grant to over 20 young people from the Chilean mining town of Baquedano. Many young people didn’t understand why they couldn’t get a job. We found out that most of them didn’t know how to prepare a CV or present themselves in an interview. Together with our Human Resources team, we worked to develop their skills and connect them with Lomas Bayas. I believe that giving tools to a community is fundamental. If we give them the tools, we can work together to build a long-term and sustainable future for them and for us.