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No stranger to breaking societal stereotypes, Martina Ahlborg began her career path working in a factory as a forklift driver. She was appointed the general manager and managing director for AARD Mining Equipment in April 2023, as the acquisition from Epiroc was finalised. Martina has a Master of Science from Chalmers University in Sweden – she has been with the Epiroc group for 14 years and comes with extensive experience in operations and research and development. Martina has held roles as quality manager, assembly manager, production manager including manager of research and development. A Swedish national with broad international experience, South Africa is the fifth country she has lived in. Amongst other things she studied her Master of Business Administration in Mexico and worked in Brazil. She says her mission is to integrate the Epiroc way with the existing AARD structure through innovation, collaboration and commitment. 

Innovation

Martina brings fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to challenges, while her diverse background and experiences lead to encouraging creative problem-solving and the development of new ideas. Her unique insights drive progress and innovation. Martina is passionate about  psychological safety as a foundation for innovation:  “The more perspectives and new ideas that people dare to express – the more likely we are to be faster than the competition.”

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Collaboration 

She excels in fostering teamwork and was driven to build inclusive environments where everyone’s contributions are valued. Through  her management style she demonstrates the power of collaboration in achieving common goals and bringing people together to leverage collective strengths. “To build a collaborative culture you must be open and build trust with each other, in combination with creating clear targets,” – Martina.

Commitment

Martina demonstrates unwavering dedication to safety and  sustainability in the workplace and in society and  approaches her responsibilities with integrity, resilience, and a strong work ethic, while her commitment to excellence inspires the workforce and contributes to the  overall success of the organisation; Martina is driven by creating a better tomorrow for her children along with the children of others and attributes this to her passion for sustainability. Furthermore she has set herself four personal goals which is the baseline for everything she does: to excel in what she does, to  learn new things, to inspire others and to have fun at work and in her personal life. 

According to the Minerals Council of South Africa women represent 12 percent of South Africa’s total mining labour workforce of 454 861 people. The number of women working in the mining sector has increased significantly over the years. It states 11 400 women worked in the industry in 2002  – this figure grew to 56 691 in 2019.    

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