RNZAF takeoff with mentoring programme

The Royal New Zealand Air Force have celebrated the first year of their in-house mentoring programme with a formal ‘Dining In’ held at Whenuapai Air Force Base and was attended by The Chief of Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Graham Lintott.

The pilot mentoring programme was launched on ANZAC Day, 25 April 2008 as a result of an idea put forward to the RNZAF Innovation Scheme. It has since been rolled out nationwide to all RNZAF Bases and Wellington Headquarters.

The mentoring programme is a voluntary scheme which cuts across rank and service areas to develop leadership and tap into the innovation and talent within Air Force personnel.

The New Zealand Coaching and Mentoring Centre worked with the Whenuapai based Mentoring Advisory Team to design guidelines, and implement the programme and review progress. In the last month Aly McNicoll and Wendy Baker have worked with the RNZAF Advisory Teams and run training sessions for Mentors and Mentees around the country.

The success of the programme has been well supported by senior ranks, particularly being championed by The Warrant Officer of the Air Force, Keith Gell, and strongly supported by Air Vice Marshal Graham Lintott, who attended the mentor training as a participant.

“The RNZAF senior personnel are impressive in the way they have lead by example” says Wendy Baker, “the energy senior officers have put into the programme, and the active interest by Chief Graham Lintott has generated an extraordinarily successful mentoring programme.”

To reflect the spirit of the mentoring programme, and in a rare break with tradition, the dinner was held in "Civvies" - unusual for the officers' mess where dress uniforms are the norm.

The New Zealand Coaching and Mentoring Centre was represented at the formal ‘Dining In” by Wendy Baker who said “It was a privilege and a thrill to participate in the traditional protocols of the Mess – such as passing the port”.

Photo from left to right: The Chief of Air Force, Air Vice Marshall Graham Lintott; The Warrant Officer of the Air Force, W/O Keith Gell; W/O Robyn Gell; Wendy Baker; W/O Paul Bates.