When you try to think of the woman who is most inspiring to you most people say their mother and I am certain Leah Umbagai’s son would say exactly the same. But for good reason, in fact she should be an inspiration to all of us, especially during this International Women’s Week.

Leah, 37, is truly a shining example of what a person can do if they put their mind to it. Or in her case, body, heart, soul and sweat too. She not only has her young son named Folau to take care of, she also has hundreds of indigenous youth from the Kimberley region under her care

Leah is the Executive Councillor for Mowanjum and the Larinyuroar outstation as well as the Project Coordinator of the Ilerla project, a youth focused project developed by several brilliant indigenous women and managed by this wonderful one. Ilerla targets youth in the remote Kimberley region where there is a high level of violence and alcohol and drug abuse which are the key contributors to the breakdown of families.

Under her guidance the project aims to bring together both indigenous and non-indigenous healthcare, education and service providers to run programs in order to boost the capability for families to be safe and healthy. She then implements these programs to build healthy and strong families and communities.

She doesn’t stop there. Leah is also a renowned artist who even won the Marlene Bruce Art Award for Kimberley Aboriginal Art at the mere age of 20. Leah paints Wandjina images and depictions of the constellations Seven Sisters and Wallungunder. Her artwork is highly sought after and represented in many collections.

Clearly not worried by being perpetually busy she juggles all of these huge commitments with her love of basketball. She is reportedly one of the Kimberley’s top players.

In a world that is so chaotic it is hard to find someone as selfless and determined and Leah Umbagai. She demonstrates exactly what a person can achieve no matter how busy they think they are.