NZEA’s Mentorship Programme

Mā te kimi ka kite, Mā te kite ka mōhio, Mā te mōhio ka mārama
Seek and discover. Discover and know. Know and become enlightened.

Applications for the April 2025 intake are now open!

After six highly successful cohorts, the feedback from over 200 participants has been overwhelmingly positive - from both mentors and mentees. If you're looking to give back or for one-on-one professional development - get in touch! The programme is free for NZEA members. 

Why become a Mentor?

Mentoring is a rewarding experience that benefits both you and your mentee:

• Enhance your own professional development while supporting others

• Gain fresh insights from a mentee’s perspective

• Play a vital role in shaping the future of the events industry

• Share your knowledge, skills, and experience to give back

• Strengthen your coaching and leadership abilities

• Make a meaningful impact by helping others achieve their goals

• Receive recognition for your contribution

• Included as part of your NZEA membership

If you’re an experienced event professional—across any part of the sector—and have the time, energy, and insights to support up-and-coming peers, we’d love for you to get involved.

Feedback from Mentors:

"The programme structure and guidance provided by NZEA was great, it gave me the confidence to get stuck in and I have thoroughly enjoyed it." 

“It’s such a great initiative. It’s so easy to get stuck in your own space and simply focus on the next event or deadline. Connecting with someone else that was wanting to challenge themselves and grow has created a broader vision for me, to slow down and take more notice of those on the team or around me. Stopping to listen to other people’s aspirations is a great reminder of how efficient and passionate people can be when they are operating in a lane that interests them.”

Why become a Mentee?

Being a mentee offers valuable professional growth opportunities:

• Develop your skills and knowledge

• Gain fresh perspectives and expand your network

• Identify and address gaps in your experience

• Learn leadership skills from experienced professionals

• Receive impartial feedback and advice tailored to your goals

• Get a trusted sounding board for ideas and career moves

• Build confidence with encouragement and support

• Included as part of your NZEA membership

If you’re new to the events industry or in the early/mid stages of your career and would benefit from a mentor’s guidance, we’d love to hear from you!

Feedback from Mentees

“A good way of developing your skills. As a mentee, meeting the right people, who are doing what you want to do, and knowing that you can get there too. Overall, just a fantastic opportunity to connect.”

"[My mentor] had great complementary experiences and was great to learn from...the programme was easy to join, easy to plan and simple to undertake."

What is the purpose of mentorship?

A mentor may share with a mentee information about his or her own career path, as well as provide guidance, motivation, emotional support, and role modelling. A mentor may help with exploring careers, setting goals, developing contacts, and identifying resources.

Fundamental expectations

Mentors and mentees are responsible for gaining each other’s trust and confidence by

• interacting morally, ethically, and collegially; and valuing each other’s time, professional and personal commitments.

The role of the mentor

• Commit to a minimum 6 x 1hr sessions over the programme duration

• Proactively maintain contact and encourage open communication

• Build confidence

• Coach and help problem-solve

• Share experiences as learning tools

• Encourage professionalism

• Admit when something is out of your area of expertise

• Offer constructive feedback

• Maintain privacy / confidentiality

• Provide feedback to NZEA on your mentor experience to help refine the programme

The role of the mentee

• Commit to a minimum 6 x 1hr sessions over the programme duration

• Take responsibility for scheduling the sessions at mutually convenient times

• Be clear on your goal/s for this mentor programme and communicate them openly

• Actively contribute to discussions

• Seek and accept constructive feedback

• Maintain privacy / confidentiality

• Provide feedback to NZEA on your mentee experience to help refine the programme

Feedback on the Mentorship Programme

As this programme grows, your feedback through debrief meetings and/or questionnaires will be crucial to the on-going success and improvement of the offering.

Timeline

Programme duration: 5 months

31 March to 13 April 2025 – Recruitment of mentors & mentees for cohort 8

Mid-April 2025 – Matching and pre-briefing of each group (Zoom call plus supporting docs)

Late April 2025 – Cohort 8 starts

28 September 2025 – Cohort 7 concludes

October 2025 – Debrief participants and refine programme

Please note this programme is open to NZEA members only.