Applications for Assisterhood, the communications industry’s mentorship program, have opened for 2024 as the program expands across Australia and New Zealand.
Aspiring mentees from outside New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland can now apply for the online program. Now in its seventh year, the initiative provides the opportunity for mentees to learn from industry leaders in a six-month mentorship that values quality over quantity.
Linh Diep, founder of Assisterhood, said that expanding the program “makes so much sense.”
“No matter where you live, everyone deserves to be able to access Assisterhood, and we’ll continue to build on this year on year. The calibre of mentors this year is second to none.”
Past mentees include Colleen Gao – head of Askable UK, Anais Read – copywriter, Ogilvy Australia, Tish Jenkins – assistant accountant at Focus Features, Kayla Malss – head of agency at Allies Management and Clare Farrugia – performance director at Hatched.
Assisterhood’s recent Info Night welcomed more than 200 attendees and special guests, including mentor-and-mentee pairings Souad Saied and Vicky Stewardson in NSW, and Jessamy Ross and Claire Bass in QLD, who spoke about their experience in the program.
Assisterhood COO Polina Shilenina and NSW State Lead Charlotte Goodsir also shared insights into the application process.
Shilenina said the program’s online mentors are all exceptional. “I’m so excited about making Assisterhood accessible to people all over Australia and Aotearoa,” she added.
Assisterhood strongly encourages people of all backgrounds and identities to apply for the 2024 program. The application process takes approximately 20 minutes.
Applications close at 11:59pm AEST Tuesday 16 April 2024.
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ASSISTERHOOD 2024
Online Mentors:
(NEW)
Haylie Craig – Creative Director, Colenso NZ
Elena del Villar – Senior UX designer, The Brand Agency, WA
Katie Moon – Creative Director and Founder, Moonhaus
Chelsea Sietses – Senior Art Director, Ogilvy NZ
Jenny Travers – Group Account Director, Ogilvy NZ
VIC Mentors:
(NEW)
Amber Bonney – Founder, Executive Director, Edison Agency
Dan Chapman – Managing Partner, Ogilvy Melbourne
Rebecca Den Braber – General Manager, Hatched Media
Shyaire Ganglani – Associate Creative Director, Ogilvy
Olivia Gatt – Associate Creative Director, Scooter
Katrina Khao – Head Brand Thinker, Thinkerbell
Nomfundo Msomi – Executive Strategy Director, CHEP Network
Jasmine Parisram – Design Superwoman, Pricing Queen
Jordan Smith – Group Business Director, PHD
(RETURNING)
Mirella Arapian – Founder & Creative Director, MEK STUDIO
Nancy Bugeja – Managing Director of HM Group
Yasha Chandra – Client Partner, iProspect
Sheridan Devereux – General Manager, HBK Agency
Stefanie DiGianvincenzo – Creative Strategist, Meta
Ella Keddie – Senior Client Partner (Retail, Finance & Government), Snapchat
Michila Macleod – National Sales and Partnerships Director, Broadsheet Media
Naomi Mulholland – Producer, Cloudberry Films
Dr Marion Piper – Creativity Coach & Copywriter, Marion Piper Creative
Virginia Sculley – Head of People & Culture, Hatched
NSW Mentors:
(NEW)
Mehnaaz Ahmed – Senior Brand Strategist, Uberbrand
Lisa Aitken – Brand and Growth Consultant
Rebecca Chan – Marketing Manager, Arnotts
Alicia Doumanis – Industry Lead, TikTok
Samantha Heckendorf – Head of Brand, Tourism Australia
(RETURNING)
Penny Brown – Head of Production, The Monkeys part of Accenture Song
Olivia Chen – Creative Director, Studio Chenchen
Carolyn Cho – Client Partner, INNOCEAN Australia
Niall Hughes – Group Account Director, Icon Agency
Feryx Hui Ming Lim – Creative Copywriter, Paper Moose
Maddie Marsh – Client Services, Meta
Tamara McCann – Head of Traditional Media Agencies, Google
Souad Saied – Managing Director, HERO
Hannah Sturrock – National Head of Engagement, Advertising Council Australia
Bronwyn van der Merwe – VP of Design, Culture Amp
Lea Walker – Founder, Mrs Walker Talent Consultancy
Renata Yannoulis – Senior Strategist, TBWA/Australia
Trang Young – Digital Marketing Expert and Change Leader
QLD Mentors:
(NEW)
Liz Ballantyne –Director of Strategy & Growth, Media Mortar
Kell Darling – General Manager, Flip Isabelle Debnam – Head of Marketing (AU, NZ & US), Tes
Jennifer Garner – Senior Vice President, Sales Operations (APJ), CitrusAd
Carissa Jackson – Associate Creative Director, Publicis Worldwide
Belinda Lloyd – WID Award Winner, Founder Marketing Consultancy, SheCodes Mentor
Natalie Mitchell – Senior Broadcast & Content Producer, Publicis
Samantha Shah – CMO, Raging Bull Consulting
Hannah Statham – CEO & Founder, Media Mortar
Alicent Wong – Account Director, Excite Media
(RETURNING)
Georgia Ball – Director, SoPost
Kelly Brightwell – Strategy Director, Khemistry
Clare Dlugosz – Group Director Tech and Transformation EssenceMediaCom
Christine Gannon – Managing Partner, CHE Proximity
Megan Henderson – Global Brand Experience Leader, Flight Centre
Keisha Leon – Director, Cause/Affect
Kate Lippett – Chief Client Officer, Publicis Groupe
Ash Ivory – Chief Product Officer, Ivory Common
Laura Jiew – Marketing and Events Advisor, CSIRO
Camilla (Gautam) Marshall – General Manager, Marketing, Endeavour Foundation
Pamela Okada – Marketing & Fundraising, Royal Flying Doctors Service (RFDS)
Kylee Ratz – Group General Manager, Cutting Edge
Jessamy Ross – Senior Copywriter at VML & QLD AWARD School Head
Emmagness Ruzvidzo – Marketing Strategist, Coach and Trainer | Podcaster
Amber Snow – Managing Director, Rehaula
Caroline Starecky – Founder, Caroline Starecky
Lisa Summer-Hayes – Director, Audiences and Visitor Experience, Queensland Ballet
Lieve Torbeyns – Founder/Creative Director, Sgt Purple
Ashton Tuckerman – CMO | Marketing Leader | UQ MBA Candidate
Sara Tweedly – Chief Marketing Officer, Canstar
2024 Assisterhood Squad:
Founder + CEO + VIC Lead – Linh Diep, Account Director at Ogilvy
COO + Online Lead – Polina Shilenina, Digital Director at Publicis Worldwide
NSW Lead – Charlotte Goodsir, Marketing Strategist at TikTok
QLD Lead + Creative Lead (Art) – Elle Whittaker, Art Director at Publicis Worldwide
Creative Lead (Copy) – Anais Read, Copywriter at Ogilvy
VIC Squad:
Caitlin Alcock
Isabelle Beaupré
Tyler Cicerale
Anoushka Praveen
Anais Read
Sarah Vanderschoot
NSW Squad:
Rebecca Chan
Rosalinde Czysnok
Charlotte Goodsir
Sophie Gallager
Vicky Stewardson
QLD Squad:
Molly Atkinson
Liz Ballantyne
Claire Bass
Maddie Cristaldi
Isabelle Debnam
Bryony Hardy
Peatrice Koutsis
Elle Whittaker
Online Squad:
Elise Le-Galloudec
Polina Shilenina