Pilbara woman joins the best of the West
WA Governor (front) with 2012 inductees into the WA Women's Hall of Fame, including the Pilbara's Jahna Cedar (Governor's right)
If you question the potential of young people to strive and thrive in a remote location, have a look at Hedland born and bred Jahna Cedar and think again.
Mrs Cedar, at just 28, became the youngest inductee into WA’s Women’s Hall of Fame last week as part of the state’s official International Women’s Day celebrations.
Her work with indigenous people, with the Bloodwood Tree Association, with women’s advocacy, training and her own consultancy company Cedar Enterprises has now been recognised at a state level with several other dedicated professional women.
“It was quite a shock when I got the first email to say that I was nominated initially; twice as shocking when I found out I’d won, given the calibre of the women that were also winners,” Mrs Cedar said.
She said she felt out of place at the ceremony, listening to the stories told by the other women.
“I thought, how can I be sitting amongst professors and lawyers and judges?
“At 28, I felt not worthy enough to be surrounded by women who’ve worked all their lives for a similar thing.”
Mrs Cedar doesn’t see herself as a role model, but hopes that other women here can see that even if we are so remote, we still have a lot of the same access, if not more opportunity than city people.
Mrs Cedar has just moved to Perth and is working with the Centre of Excellence for Rail Training as a trainer and assessor, with hopes of returns to her Pilbara home with a rail traineeships course they are working on.
With the prestigious award under her young belt, she’s inspired now to create new networks in her career.
Mrs Cedar is aiming to create a course in teaching Aboriginal people how to contextualise material to deliver to indigenous audiences.
And it doesn’t end there for this passionate achiever, who is also wife to a proud husband and “just mum” to her young children.
“I am now committed to completing my MBA,” Mrs Cedar said, a Master of Business Administration.
