NZCS launch ICT mentoring programme

The New Zealand Computer Society have launched a year long mentoring programme for their members in the ICT community.

The programme was launched in Wellington on 29 July with a training day for mentors in the region.

Wendy Baker, NZCMC director, trained 25 Mentors for the programme and focused on ways they could support their Mentee in finding their own way to achieve their career goals. Following the training, Mentees were invited to join the session and meet their Mentor for the first time, over a glass of wine.

The programme will be rolled out to Auckland and Christchurch later this year.

The feedback from the programme has been fantastic. Paul Ramsay, Director of Equinox NZ and NZCS Mentor, said "I think this is an excellent initiative NZCS has taken and it will be hugely beneficial to our IT community".

Francois Marier, from Catalyst IT joined the programme as a Mentee and was surprised at how helpful his first mentoring session was, "I got on very well with my Mentor and believe meeting with her regularly over the next year is going to be a very rewarding experience".

The NZCS Mentoring programme runs for 12 months and each Mentor taking part in the programme receives training. Mentors are paired with Mentees working in a similar field and wanting guidance to progress their career. Mentors will be awarded "Accredited NZCS Mentor" status after taking part in the programme for 12 months and receiving positive feedback from their Mentee(s).