Queensland’s Assisterhood mentoring program brings industry together online

Queensland’s Assisterhood mentoring program is shifting gears in its third year, growing its impact in the midst of COVID-19.

In 2020 the program’s impact has doubled with 21 female leaders in Queensland creative, media, production, digital and marketing industries signing up as mentors to make a difference to guide up and coming talent.

The program officially launched with an online panel event on 8 April with mentors representing a variety of agencies and industries in Queensland answering live questions from the pool of potential mentees working in the industry and coming through Universities.

Says Linh Diep, co-founder, Assisterhood: “I think it really is a reflection of our industry that we haven’t lost any mentors – in fact, we have more mentors than ever, proving our leaders’ commitment to helping young women through a challenging time.”

Says Simone Waugh, managing director of Publicis Worldwide, who has sponsored the event since inception three years ago: “During this time it’s more important than ever to help our industry connect and be a guide for people as they have to navigate a different way of working, anxiety over security of work and how they perform at their best.”

Assisterhood was created in 2018 to address the gender imbalance of leadership in the industry and the specific challenges faced. The industry in Queensland has made massive strides in the last three years with this gap closing.

Plans are now in place for 2021 to broaden the program to be inclusive of everyone, regardless of gender.

Assisterhood 2020 will match mentees with 21 mentors.

Applications are open now and potential mentees apply online at www.assisterhood.com.au with updates on facebook.com/assisterhood

The 2021 Mentor list:
Simone Waugh, Managing Director, Publicis Worldwide
Vicki Lee, Head of Broadcast & Content, Publicis Worldwide
Alexandra Sundqvist, Digital Director, Publicis Worldwide
Susan Lyons, Executive Strategy Director, Publicis Worldwide
Kirsten Twigg, Senior Copywriter, Publicis Worldwide
Tia Queen, Co-Founder and Creative Director at Gangplank
Karen (Zippy) Hayward, Senior Producer, Prodigious Productions
Priscilla Jeha, Founder at The Together Society
Megan Elliot, Group Business Director, Zenith Media
Sarah-Jane Peterschlingmann, Managing Director, ATech
Christine Gannon, Managing Partner, Clemenger BBDO
Sarah Kelly, Director of External Engagement and Associate Professor of Law & Marketing for UQ Business School
Nicole Hartley, MBA Director and Senior Lecturer/Researcher at UQ Business School
Georgia Ball, General Manager, VIVO Group
Jessamy Ross, Senior Copywriter, GrowthOps
Caroline Starecky, Head of Strategy & Innovation, GrowthOps
Claire Bartels, Freelance Senior Creative
Kelly Brightwell, Manager, Marketing Operations at Suncorp Group
Kelly Newbery, Head of Marketing, IntelliHR
Erin Core, Head of Marketing – Artistic at Queensland Ballet
Kylee Ratz, Group General Manager, Cutting Edge

Assisterhood organisers:
Polina Shilenina – Digital Project Manager at Publicis Worldwide
Linh Diep – Junior Account Director at GrowthOps.