Dk Najibah Eradah Pengiran Ahmad Mahdi Al-Sufri, born on 20 May 1983,[1] is the first Bruneian to have reached the South Pole.
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Formerly a mathematics teacher in secondary school, Era became a government officer at the Bruneian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.[2] She is married to Mohd Faierony Hazelin Haji Mat Jair.
She and seven other woman, each from a different Commonwealth country, were selected from among over 800 candidates to take part in the Kaspersky Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition, which reached the South Pole on December 29, 2009.[3][4]
Explaining her participation in the expedition, she said: "I am passionate about environmental issues and hope to use my involvement in the expedition to raise awareness in Brunei of global warming and climate change".[5]
Bruneian media described her achievement as "a historic day for Brunei and a momentous day for the Sultanate's women". Saiful Ibrahim, Vice president of the Brunei Adventure Recreation Association, described her as "an icon for all Bruneians, especially for women and our youths".[6] She has become known in Brunei as "the Polar Girl".[7][8]