By Tia Priest-Willimott

For the past seven years, nearly 900 Canberra women have been walking and talking with a mentor, thanks to Mentor Walks – a not-for-profit group connecting locals with inspiring female leaders.

“It was set up in Canberra seven years ago by Nadine White, and I joined Nadine in 2019,” says Jenet Connell.

Jenet’s one of the co-leads of Canberra’s Mentor Walks, as well as being a mentor herself, with more than 21 years in senior roles within the APS, including as a Deputy Australian Statistician and chief operating officer at the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

“We help organise it – it’s a national program and we co-ordinate the local chapter,” Jenet says. 

Mentor Walks was established in Australia by Bobbi Mahlab and Adina Jacobs, after they attended one of the walks in China.

“I love hearing the stories from the mentees and then reflecting on those periods in my own career and being able to relate,” Jenet says.

“I get so many mentees that come along so stressed and wound up and I love being able to provide something of real value. That’s what keeps me coming back each time.

“Most of our mentees come looking at career progression and making the next step. That’s a common theme, but every conversation is different because everybody’s different.

“It’s a little secret gem of all these different women who don’t know each other but get together to support women,” Jenet says. 

“It’s just this wow factor because then when you’re listening to all these women – both mentors and mentees – you can’t help but go: ‘Wow, all these women I wouldn’t have met before are just so impressive’.”

Phillipa Leggo is also a mentor, coming with experience from her role as the co-founder and commercial director of Canberra-based Australian landscape photography business, Scott Leggo Gallery. 

​Phillipa says Mentor Walks are a no-strings-attached situation, with participants signing up for one walk at a time. 

“I find lots of women are busy, from full-time jobs to kids to puppies to other different commitments, so lots of people have said to me: ‘I don’t think I can commit’, and I’m like: ‘It’s literally come for an hour and walk and then you can go’,” she says.

“It’s not an ongoing thing, the mums in particular are a bit worried about overcommitting and even some of the senior execs because they’re already busy, but they need that space.”

For just $33 a ticket, the team at Mentor Walks help take away the awkward challenge of finding a mentor, by working away in the background before the event. 

“We ask mentees when they sign up, what’s on your mind, what sort of thing would you like to talk about? And they’re not committed to that, but it gives us a sense,” Jenet says.

“So, we then try to pull little groups together per mentor that have a similar vibe or a similar question. If you’re walking for a second time, we won’t match you with the same person.”

Phillipa thinks this is part of the appeal for mentees who come along.

“It’s really quite tailored… so the mentors can really have an impact in the hour they have with mentees,” Phillipa says.

Jenet stresses that Mentor Walks is not competing with pre-existing support programs, instead it’s complementary.

“It’s a complex message to get across – it’s a not-for-profit, complementary way of tapping into networks you wouldn’t otherwise have access to,” Jenet says. 

“Particularly in the public sector, which can be such a closed shop and so formal and structured that for young women trying to navigate it, particularly those coming from outside, it’s pretty tricky.” 

The Canberra team take into account the territory’s climate, and pause the walks over winter and start up again in spring. 

At the heart of it all, both Jenet and Phillipa agree that the chance for women to come together and help each other grow is what makes the Mentor Walks so special.

The next Mentor Walk is on Friday, May 22, book at mentorwalks.org