Female empowerment on the menu

More than 100 women attended the ninth Pilbara Women's Network Luncheon hosted by the Small Business Centre at Karratha Ibis Styles Hotel last week.

The biannual event aims to support and empower women who are working in the Pilbara through a series of valuable networking and professional development opportunities.

Keynote speakers at the luncheon included award- winning motivational speaker Karen Schmidt and Aboriginal community leader Jolleen Hicks.

Ms Schmidt said there were myriad opportunities for female leaders in regional areas such as the Pilbara.

"The regions are where you come to zoom your career ahead," she said.

"When I lived in the Territory, I got the equivalent of 10 years experience in the three years I was there.

"People are far more willing to give you a go in the regions; it's just a matter of networking with like-minded people and finding those opportunities.

"There are a lot of innovative female leaders in the Pilbara, so today I focused on how the ladies can use their natural advantage as a female leader in a male-dominated environment."

Ms Hicks agreed there were many opportunities for women in the Pilbara outside the mining industry.

"My biggest piece of advice is not to wait too long to move into business," she said.

"Gain as much knowledge and experience as possible and build your business literacy; it's a learning process that lasts your whole life.

"It's particularly important to build on your skills and expertise in a specific area and focus on a niche market."

The Business Centre Pilbara chief executive Paul Jagger said there were record numbers of attendees at the Pilbara Women's Network Luncheon to celebrate the female business leaders of the Pilbara.

"We also had a record number of Aboriginal ladies and small businesses represented and I think the delegates will take a lot out of today's events … at our next Pilbara Women's Network Luncheon later this year, men will also be invited to join our business women of the Pilbara to network and share ideas," he said.