Many people say that failure is not an option. However, I think failure is the first step: the first step to learning, growing and becoming. Life is too short to wonder about it – just try.”
Maria Combrink
Senior Data Geologist, ERM
Persons with disabilities
Photo credit: Martin Potgieter
ERM is committed to the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities and takes action for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the workplace. We support this through our Disability Employee Resource Group and by hosting online events and resources.
For the past several years, one of the ways we have demonstrated our commitment is by celebrating International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The theme this year was “Building Back Better: toward a disability-inclusive, accessible and sustainable post COVID-19 World.” We used this day and our global events to shine a light on disability, particularly to highlight that not all disability is visible. If we truly want to build back better, it starts with an understanding of disability in its multiple forms, as well as what we can do to create a workplace that enables our colleagues who live and work with a disability to feel they are supported and can thrive while working at ERM. Throughout FY21, we focused on several topics important to our employees, including mental health, hidden disabilities and the role of allies.
Maria Combrink, a data geologist based in our South Africa office and is a member of both the Geological Society of South Africa and the South African Compliance Institute and serves as a committee member of Women in Mining, South Africa. She is an enthusiastic advocate of including people with physical disabilities in the workplace and is currently involved in different organizations and charities that champion this cause. Maria presents talks on inclusion, transformation, and reasonable accommodation at corporate events and schools.
Maria is also an avid sportsperson and a champion para-athlete, and in April 2021, she set a new World Record in the women's F64 shot-put event at the Toyota SASAPD National Championship in Gqeberha, South Africa. Maria secured her record with a massive 11.15 m heave, smashing the previous world best of 10.35m. Maria is now in the running to qualify for discus at the Tokyo Paralympics. She also set the South African record for the Paralympic powerlifting bench press. We congratulate Maria on this latest and inspiring achievement. In January 2021, Maria shared some of her story on an episode of our internal All Inclusive podcast, in which Neil Griffiths, our global head of DE&I, interviews interesting and insightful employees to explore important issues.