GWPR Australia expands mentoring scholarships, names 2026 recipients 

GWPR Australia (GWPRAus) has announced Anastasiia Nazarenko (left) of Palin Communications and Sophie Budzevski (right) of DEC PR as the recipients of the 2026 GWPRAus Mentoring Scholarships, marking the program’s expansion following strong interest across the communications industry.

Delivered in partnership with Beaumont People and BlueChip Communication, the fully funded scholarships provide access to Beaumont People’s acclaimed six‑month LEAD Program, a personalised, strengths‑based leadership initiative combining one‑to‑one mentoring, strengths assessments, coaching, masterclasses and peer connection.

Launched in 2025, the GWPRAus Mentoring Scholarship was created to address a critical gap in leadership development for early to mid‑career women in PR and communications, a cohort increasingly responsible for leading teams and client outcomes, yet often overlooked by traditional mentoring programs.

“The strength and volume of applications made it clear there is significant demand for leadership development at this career stage, which is why we decided to expand the scholarships to support two emerging leaders this year,” said Carden Calder, Chair of the GWPR Australia Mentoring Program.

Anastasiia Nazarenko, Account Director – Head of Innovation and Efficiencies at Palin Communications, was selected for her demonstrated leadership in high‑pressure environments and her commitment to continuous improvement and team development.

Sophie Budzevski, Group Communications Director at DEC PR, was recognised for her strategic leadership, rigorous project management and role in driving organisational growth, with a clear focus on building sustainable leadership capability within her team.

The 2026 scholarships build on the success of the program’s pilot year, which demonstrated the impact of structured, strengths‑based mentoring in developing confident, values‑driven leaders and strengthening leadership pipelines across the sector.

“We congratulate the 2026 scholarship recipients and thank all applicants. The calibre of applications and level of engagement are a clear signal of how strongly this program resonates across the industry,” said Calder.

GWPRAus, Beaumont People, and BlueChip Communication are proud to ensure continued support for women across the PR and communications industry.

Hosted by Communication and Public Relations Australia (CPRA), GWPR Australia leverages CPRA’s expertise, industry networks and infrastructure.

For further information about GWPR Australia and the Beaumont People LEAD Program, please visit www.beaumontpeople.com.au and https://www.cpra.org.au/communities/gwpr/

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