Mohd Nauman
Special Commendation
Alumnus Award for Early Career Achievement
Class of 2016, Bachelor of Teaching & Learning Inservice (Early Childhood)
As a recent migrant to Australia, Mohd Nauman graduated from CDU in 2016 with a Bachelor in Teaching & Learning In Service (Early Childhood) following the completion of his Graduate Diploma in Teaching & Learning (Primary).
These two courses combined gave Mohd the skills and confidence he needed to start his own medium-sized early childhood service from scratch in Tarneit 3029 Victoria (Greenvue Kindergarten).
Four years later, currently accommodating 132 pre-kinder & kinder enrolments annually with plans to extend the service even further next year, as a private kindergarten his service offers the funded kindergarten program to the children of the City of Wyndham which provides a more affordable service for those families compared to any other local community or council run service.
The majority of enrolled families pay no out-of-pocket expense for their child's enrolment in the kinder programs. Coupled with their excellent reputation in the local community and successful accreditation rating with the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), it naturally results in very long waiting lists for all pre-kinder & kinder groups every year.
Very recently, Mohd has acquired the property next to the kinder which will be used to extend his existing kindergarten premises to accommodate even more children from 2021.
As an approved provider with the Victorian Department of Education & Training plus a fully registered school & early childhood teacher serving the local community of Wyndham, Mohd credits Charles Darwin University for equipping him with the knowledge and skills to be able to achieve everything he has in the last 4 years since graduating.
Mohd is a good example of what a motivated graduate can achieve with the high-quality tertiary education delivered by Charles Darwin University.
Rikki Bruce
Special Commendation
Alumnus Award for Early Career Achievement
Class of 2018, Bachelor of Engineering
Rikki graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree at CDU. Through her hard work commitment, attitude and academic achievements, she is becoming a recognised role model and mentor.
As a graduate student employed by INPEX, Rikki has supported and mentored INPEX vacation students during their 12-week placement by meeting with them and helping them settle in and adjust to the workplace.
She regularly participates in-school presentations and attends events where INPEX interacts with young people who have questions regarding the work she does and the pathway she has taken also the many challenges she faces in the workplace.
Her skills, abilities and academic background enable her to be a part of a team working on a world-class project. Rikki has appeared in several INPEX & industry-related articles and provided information about her history, Aboriginality, academic success and dedication to become a mechanical engineer in a mainly male-dominated profession working on one of the world's largest resource projects.
She has participated in INPEX's National Women's day events as a panelist answering questions about her pathway into engineering and the challenges and opportunities she has encountered in her short career to date.
In her short time as a mechanical engineer, she has been involved in the export of LNG gas and LPG petroleum, in cooling down of piping, and preparation for export overseas.
She has also completed courses in flange management, small-bore fittings, vibration analysis, and machinery level 1 lubrication technician. Rikki is currently completing centrifugal gas compressor training.
Rikki's future goal is to successfully begin a career as a rotating equipment engineer and in be involved with more programs that benefit Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal women.
In her short time with INPEX, she has been recognised by the company through nominations for several awards in the resource industry. These nominations reflect the impact she has already demonstrated in her graduate role and signifies her potential to be a future leader in the gas industry.
As one of the few females and Aboriginal mechanical engineers in the Northern Territory, Rikki regularly participates in CDU careers days, attends highs schools to conduct presentations and interact with students and has participated in events like the Engineering Australia’s SySTEMic collaboration pilot program showcase events.
Rikki was given the honour of presenting the CDU Indigenous and Mainstream Valedictorian speeches on behalf of all CDU graduating students.
In 2019 Rikki was awarded:
- The Northern Territory Indigenous and overall winner of the Young Achiever of the year and in 2020 is a member of the judging panel
- The Northern Territory NAIDOC Scholar of the year
- The National Early Careers Professional STEM award for outstanding excellence & contribution to her career
- Women in the Resources Industry finalist
- Honour Roll – Australian of the Year Awards.
Jahna Cedar
Special Commendation
Indigenous Alumnus Award
Class of 2006, Bachelor of Business
Jahna Cedar OAM GAICD MBA is a Nyiyaparli woman from the Pilbara region of Western Australia and is recognised as a strong Indigenous community leader.
Jahna has worked for over 20 years advocating for equal rights and reconciliation of Indigenous people and has represented Indigenous Australia at the United Nations in New York, on three occasions. At the last sitting, in March 2017, of the Commission of the Status of Women (CSW) in New York, Jahna played an instrumental role in negotiating agreed conclusions that included wording on Indigenous empowerment, for the first time in CSW history.
In 2012, Jahna was the youngest person to be elected into the WA International Women’s Day Hall of Fame and in 2017 proudly won Business news 40 under 40, First amongst equals. Jahna was also awarded a Telstra Business Women Award for WA – For Purpose and Social Enterprise Winner in 2017.
In 2020, Jahna was awarded an Order of Australia (OAM) Medal for her work with Indigenous communities in Australia. A motivational leader, Jahna’s corporate experience includes 18 years in business/human resources management and consultancy, including the implementation of organisational and change management strategies, projects, and policy development, in both the not-for-profit and private sector.
Jahna is dedicated to challenging preconceptions, breaking down damaging stereotypes and working hard to make a difference for Indigenous people, specifically women and youth.
Jahna is also active in the community, holding various board positions including:
- Chairperson Niapaili Aboriginal Corporation
- Institute of Community Directors Advisory Committee
- Curtin University Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee
- Deputy Chairperson IBN Corporation.
- Volunteers as a Guardian on Deadly Guardians to tackle youth suicide
Jahna is currently the Director Policy, Evaluation, and Indigenous Engagement at IPS Management Consultants and works hard to mentor and coach Indigenous women in business, for economic sustainability and empowerment. IPS recently were awarded Certified Supplier of the Year, 2019, by Supply Nation.
Prior to this, Jahna was the Executive Officer of Gumala Aboriginal Corporation (GAC). She led a corporation that remained solvent despite an 80% loss of revenue (due to downturn in mining) and oversaw the transition of GAC towards self-determination, capacity building and empowerment of traditional owners with a holistic and inclusive consultation method that maintains cultural connections to country and people.
Jahna drove operational efficiencies and reduced costs across the business, including reducing administrative costs by almost 64%, whilst maintaining a constant level of member programs for the 1600+ members. Jahna was humbled to be the first female and first traditional owner to manage the affairs of Gumala.
Jahna has a thirst for knowledge and educational advancement and therefore continues with ongoing professional development, including attending training at INSEAD in Singapore and completing an MBA.
“Education can give people economic security and positively impact health, education, poverty, hunger, inequality, jobs, and growth. I dream of the day where I have a PhD so that I can show grass roots people that it is possible. Dream big!”
Mark Mayo
Special Commendation
Indigenous Alumnus Award
Class of 2000, Bachelor of Science
Mark Mayo is a Darwin man of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage.
Mark began his career as a laboratory trainee and over the course of more than 25 years, has developed a substantial career in medical research. While building his career at the Menzies School of Health Research, he has completed three qualifications at the Northern Territory University and Charles Darwin University- initially completing a Diploma in Science (1996), followed by a Bachelor of Science (2000), and in (2011) a Diploma of Project Management, through RTO Biznorth based in Darwin.
Mark’s health research credentials are impressive. He has been an author on over 100 peer-reviewed publications and has been a Chief Investigator on six research grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). His work focuses on issues of importance in Indigenous and tropical health, reflecting both his Indigenous and Territorian heritage.
Mark is a long-term member of the Menzies Child Health Indigenous Reference Group and been involved with panels providing advice to the NHMRC Council and CEO on issues relating to Indigenous Health Research. He has developed substantial collaborations with both national and international colleagues.
More recently, through his role as the Interim Deputy Director of Indigenous Leadership and Engagement at Menzies and as a co-leader of the recently awarded Ramaciotti Centre for Excellence in Building Regional and Remote Biomedical Capability, Mark is actively creating opportunities and fostering the career development of the next generation of Indigenous biomedical professionals in the Territory.
Mark is an outstanding example of what Territorians can achieve through education at CDU, and the positive and tangible impacts that their work can have through their dedication and commitment to their community.