Loreto Acevedo is a chilean civil engineer, entrepreneur, and researcher who has dedicated her career to advancing innovation in the mining industry. She is currently a PhD researcher at Queensland University of Technology in Australia, where her research focuses on how mining companies collaborate with start-ups to accelerate technological solutions. Over the past decade, she has worked at the intersection of mining, technology, and entrepreneurship.
Loreto Acevedo | Indimin
Through her work, she aims to help the industry adopt innovation faster while strengthening collaboration between companies, researchers, and emerging technology providers in a sustainable way. At EliteX, we are proud to have Loreto Acevedo as part of the edition: Prominent Women in Mining, 2026.
Loreto’s connection to the mining industry began early in life. Mining was an important part of her family history, as both her grandfather and father worked in the sector. Growing up around this environment helped her understand the importance of mining for communities and national economies. This early exposure also helped her develop a deep respect for the people who work in the industry and the challenges they face every day.
A more inclusive mining industry will lead to stronger innovation and long-term progress.
Her professional journey started with civil infrastructure projects for underground mining operations. Working in these environments allowed her to see the complexity of mining firsthand and understand the realities faced by frontline workers. These early experiences helped her build strong technical knowledge while also giving her insight into the operational challenges that mining professionals deal with daily. Over time, she became increasingly interested in how innovation and new technologies could improve safety, efficiency, and sustainability in the industry.
At the beginning of her career, women were still underrepresented in mining, especially in technical and operational roles. In underground environments, it was uncommon to see women working as engineers. As a result, she sometimes had to prove her capabilities more than once to gain the same level of trust as her colleagues. Looking back, she recognizes that many women in the industry have faced similar experiences. Despite these challenges, she was fortunate to work with leaders who supported her development and gave her opportunities to grow professionally.
A turning point in her career came when she began working in leadership roles and reflected on the careers of many women who had started in the industry at the same time as she had. Most of them were talented and committed professionals, yet their career progression had been slower or had taken different paths. This realization helped her understand that the issue was not individual capability but structural barriers that affected women’s progression in the industry.
This moment shaped her perspective on leadership and motivated her to become more involved in supporting equal opportunities within mining and entrepreneurship. Since then, she has lead supported initiatives that help increase visibility and opportunities for women in the industry. She believes leadership is not only about professional success but also about contributing to positive change within the sector.
Loreto strongly believes that empathy is one of the most important qualities for leading change in mining. The industry operates in environments where safety is critical and workers must follow strict standards. At the same time, companies are expected to innovate and adopt new technologies. This can sometimes create tension between maintaining safety and introducing change. Effective leadership requires understanding this balance and supporting all who are involved through the transition.
Her work with innovation initiatives such as company she co-founded in 2016 reflects this approach. Through this work, she collaborated closely with frontline workers to develop artificial intelligence solutions designed to support their daily activities. One of these developments was Indimin Coach, which was co-design with input from workers themselves. By including their experience and knowledge in the design process, new technologies become easier to adopt and more effective in real working environments.
Empathy and collaboration are essential for driving meaningful change in the mining industry.
Women are also playing an increasingly important role in driving innovation and leadership in the mining sector. Loreto believes women often bring collaborative approaches to leadership that help build trust and strengthen teamwork. Innovation is is more than about developing advanced technologies but also about understanding people, creating safe environments for testing new ideas, and building strong relationships within organizations.
Like many professionals in mining, Loreto acknowledges that balancing leadership responsibilities with personal life can be challenging. Mining operations often involve remote locations and demanding schedules, which can make it difficult to maintain perfect balance. She believes that careers evolve through different stages. Early in a career, professionals may prioritize gaining operational experience, while later stages may allow for more strategic roles that offer greater stability. Organizations should recognize these different stages and continue supporting employees throughout their professional journeys.
Throughout her career, Loreto has received several recognitions for her contributions to the mining industry. In 2020, she was recognized as one of the 100 Inspiring Women in Mining Worldwide by Women in Mining International. In the same year, she was also honored as one of the Most Distinguished Chilean Women and received the Emprende STEM Award. Earlier in her career, she was named Outstanding Woman in Mining by the Chilean Ministry of Mining. For her, these recognitions represent not only personal achievements but also a broader effort to connect mining with innovation and inspire new generations of professionals.
As she prepares to submit her PhD research, Loreto is reflecting on how she can continue contributing to the future of the mining industry. Her experience across operations, entrepreneurship, and research gives her a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. She hopes to continue supporting sustainable innovation and strengthening the connection between mining operations, technology development, and entrepreneurship.
Looking ahead, she believes the future of women in mining will depend on meaningful structural change. Increasing the number of women entering the industry is important, but organizations must also understand how many women remain and continue progressing over time. When companies create environments where women can grow and lead, the industry will become more inclusive, resilient, and innovative. Diversity, she believes, is a powerful driver of long-term progress in mining.
Innovation in mining succeeds when technology is built with the people who use it.