Amanda Hilton

“Put community first and be there for your neighbors.”

President
Nevada Mining Association

Primary Industry
Mining

Principal Location
Ely

Nevada Citizenship
October 1976

A fourth-generation Nevadan, raising her family’s fifth-generation, Amanda Hilton is the president of the Nevada Mining Association (NVMA). Prior to joining NVMA, Hilton served as the first female general manager of the KGHM Robinson Mine, one of Nevada’s largest and oldest operating mines. Widely respected in Nevada’s mining industry, Hilton has worked her way to her current position through grit and strong work ethic. Hilton is also committed to rural Nevada and her home-community of Ely where she championed the establishment of the Boys and Girls Club Early Learning Center, the first year-round licensed facility for children from 6 weeks old to five years old in the area.

What do you love about Nevada?
I love our history. Nevada became a state because of its tremendous mineral inventory during the Civil War, in particular the silver from the Comstock Lode in Virginia City. The resilience and diversity of the people in mining is a testament to our past and the strength of our future.

How did you come to be in mining?
Mining found me! I entered this industry as a mine site accountant at the Robinson Mine in Ely and navigated through various roles until becoming the General Manager of the site (600+ employees) in 2019. In January 2024, I was honored to take on the role of president of the NVMA.

If you could meet a woman from any time in history, who would you meet?
Gold prospector Mayme Schweble. She operated her own mines in Nevada, led women’s clubs before suffrage, and in 1924 became one of the first women elected to the Nevada state legislature, making her the only working miner in the capital at the time. Mayme showed that women can swing a muck stick and shape policy with equal force.

What are you most proud of having achieved in your career?
I am most proud of being selected to lead the Nevada Mining Association at such a critical time for both the industry, our state, and the nation. It is a matter of both pride and humility.

What advice do you have for the next generation of female leaders?
Look for good mentors and listen closely to what they say – and know that anything is possible with hard work and experience.

What lessons do you wish you had learned early in your career?
I wish I had learned earlier that careers thrive when you step off the main route. Saying yes to short contracts, supplier exchanges, community projects, and front-line field work sharpens judgment, range, and network faster than any office ladder. Seek the unexpected and payoffs multiply.

What drives you to be successful?
There is a sense of responsibility in this role. I represent the voices of 35,000 Nevada miners, and I take that seriously. Before every meeting or conversation, I remind myself that I’m here to help tell their story and to make sure people understand just how essential their work is to Nevada and beyond.

Is there anything you’d like to add?
Mining needs sharp, driven women who are ready to lead change and push sustainability forward. This is global work with real-world impact that powers everything modern life depends on. Step into this field and you’ll shape strategy, steward resources responsibly, mentor diverse teams, and find adventure few careers can match. Join us and break ground for the next generation together.

Click here for the full article on all of the women who were chosen.