EventsNewsProfessional Development
Empathy and objectivity: must public servants choose?
07 Jul 2026
On Wednesday 15 July, IPAA Victoria welcomed mentors and mentees to celebrate the completion of our mentor program pilot, marking an important milestone in our commitment to supporting leadership development across Victoria’s public purpose sector. The graduation event brought together 30 of the 40 participants who dedicated their time over the past three months to building connections, sharing experiences and learning from one another through structured mentoring relationships.
The event provided an opportunity for participants to reflect on their mentoring journey, celebrate their achievements and share insights that will help shape the future of the mentoring program.
Welcoming participants, our CEO, Amanda Stevens, thanked mentors and mentees for their commitment to the pilot program and recognised the important role mentoring plays in supporting leadership in our sector. She noted that mentoring provides a valuable opportunity for professionals to build connections beyond their own organisations and create space for trusted conversations, reflection and professional growth. Acknowledging that participating in mentoring requires a significant commitment alongside already busy professional and personal responsibilities, Amanda thanked participants for their involvement.
Leading the program, Kathy Xu, IPAA Victoria’s Thought Leadership Program Lead, reflected on the positive feedback received throughout the pilot where participants highlighted the value of having a trusted sounding board, engaging in purposeful conversations and connecting with professionals outside their immediate team or organisation. Many described the experience as an opportunity to build confidence, test their thinking and gain fresh perspectives from across the sector.
During the event, mentees and mentors took part in discussions exploring their mentoring experience, from matching and program structure to outcomes and opportunities for improvement. Feedback reinforced the strength of the matching process, with participants valuing connections with mentors who could relate to their professional challenges while offering new perspectives. Participants spoke positively about the program’s flexible structure, which supported meaningful conversations focused on individual goals and development needs. There was strong interest in creating more opportunities for mentors and mentees to connect and continue building relationships across the public purpose sector.
Feedback received signals participants see mentoring not only as a professional development opportunity, but also as a powerful way to build confidence, share knowledge and strengthen leadership capability.
Participants came together for a group photo, celebrating their achievements, contributions and the meaningful connections formed throughout the program to close out the event.
As we continue to review the outcomes of the pilot, we look forward to sharing further program insights and future opportunities to get involved in mentoring through IPAA Victoria.
