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Mentoring for Diversity eligibility

Board experience

You must have at least five years’ experience of boardroom practice, preferably as a board member or trustee of an entity with a clear governance structure and separation between management and the board, or those who are working closely with, and reporting to such a board.

Knowledge and understanding

You will have an appreciation of the roles and responsibilities of the director under the Companies Act 1993, an excellent understanding of the value-adding role of the board and an appreciation of the distinction between governance and management.

Financial literacy

You will be able to understand the financial position of a company/organisation through the interrogation of financial statements etc.


Other requirements

The following criteria must be met in order to be eligible for the programme.

  • You are a Member or Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors.
  • You are actively looking for, or have a goal to achieve, a non-executive director role on a large private company or public sector entity, an NZX-listed board, or as a trustee for a large not-for-profit organisation.
  • You are able to fully commit time to:
    • meet with your mentor at least bi-monthly
    • prepare for mentoring meetings
    • undertake necessary work recommended by your mentor.
  • You are able to fully commit to cohort programme events including travelling to Auckland or Wellington up to four times during the course of the programme at your own expense (dates, times and locations to be confirmed):
    • once for the launch session – 4 July 2024
    • twice for mentee sharing sessions (October 2024 and March 2025)
    • once for the end of programme celebration (late June 2025).
  • You have the capacity to take on board positions either over the course of the programme or in the year/s following.
  • You are a New Zealand citizen, permanent resident, or have the right to work and/or study here for a period of at least five years.
  • You have not already participated previously in the IoD’s Mentoring for Diversity programme.
  • You do not hold a directorship on more than one large company or not-for-profit board.
  • You are not planning any significant overseas travel (more than two consecutive months) between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025.

What you will need to apply

A governance CV including:

  • your governance and executive experience
  • your record of education and training 
  • a minimum of two referees, one being the chair of a board you serve on, who will be contacted if you are shortlisted.

 A cover letter describing (preferably in the order outlined below):

  1. your motivation for applying for the programme and your governance ambitions
  2. the benefit and value your diverse identity, perspective or experience can bring to a board
  3. highlights of your governance experience including reporting to or advising boards, committees, or executive management
  4. the areas you would most like the programme and your mentor to help you develop in, if successful.

See terms and conditions

Not eligible for this programme?  Find out about our Tuakana Teina Chair Mentoring Programme and Emerging Director Award