The 11th instalment of the initiative recently launched in Auckland, New Zealand.

“Thanks to our sponsor, New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC), 17 mentees will be joining us from around the country this year,” says BEIA chief executive Lisa Hopkins.

“We can’t thank our mentors enough for the time and energy they give to the BE Mentored Programme, giving back to the industry and supporting our emerging leaders.”

The initiative’s mentees come from event management, tourism and hospitality backgrounds, and are seeking to develop their careers, build valuable relationships and broaden their experience within the business events industry.

Mentors, who all volunteer their time, are experienced practitioners within their fields and hold senior management positions.

The BE Mentored Programme will run through until BEIA’s Annual Conference and AGM in Auckland in November 2025, when mentees and mentors will be recognised.

Mentoring pairs will meet monthly between March and November.

“The response from mentors and mentees who took part in previous programmes has been outstanding,” says Hopkins. 

“We give mentees a personal support system to help professionally and personally, while mentors have the chance to nurture early-career professionals and share the wisdom of their experience.

“We are excited to follow the journey of our mentoring pairs and will be checking in during the course of the programme to see how they are progressing and provide any support required.”

Photo at top: From left: Prue Daly, general manager, NZICC, mentee Loric Wang from BEIA, and her mentor, Shelley Cunningham, director, CD Event Management.