A 2003 Catalyst Research study found that having a mentor is a significant factor in assisting women achieve leadership roles, and that the barriers to women's employment and advancement include a lack of both mentoring and of effective female role models.

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Nonprofit Australia Executive Mentoring Service providing support to Australia's non-profit leaders


Orijen in partnership with Nonprofit Australia developed the Nonprofit Australia’s Executive Mentoring Service to enable nonprofit leaders and senior executives to access executive mentoring. The service is designed to provide support Non- profit organisations through providing their executives with a mentor with extensive experience in business. Orijen matches the non-profit leaders with some of Australia’s top past and current executives and Executive Directors who share their knowledge and experience over 12 month mentoring period.

Following from the success of the pilot program launched in Sydney in February 2007, programs for non-profit executives have begun in Melbourne and Canberra in addition to a second Sydney program.

Non-profit organisations represented include Red Cross NSW, Ted Noffs Foundation, Musica Viva and Australian Business Arts Foundation. Mentors include current and past senior executives of some of Australia's best known and well respected companies, including Hewlett Packard, Sunbeam, Dimension Data, LAN Systems and Zurich Financial Services.

“Mentoring is increasingly the executive development program of choice for Australia’s leading companies. In my experience it delivers results because it provides executives with peers who can appreciate their professional challenges, and provide them with an opportunity to hone and extend their skills and performance in a supportive environment. For me it’s a chance to support a program I believe in.”

John Hannelly, former Human Resources Director, Hewlett Packard
Program Mentor

“It is extremely difficult for executives in all sectors to make the time for their own learning and development. This program provides enormous benefit by matching nonprofit executives with someone independent to their organisations who can act as an experienced sounding board on ideas and strategies.”

Lewis Kaplan, Executive Director for Red Cross NSW
Program Mentee