Mentoring for Diversity FAQs
Applications for the 2026-2027 cohort will open on 2 March 2026 and close on 23 March 2026
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.
Yes. We have mentors based across New Zealand. Mentees will be asked whether they prefer a mentor in their own location or are prepared to travel to meet with their mentor.
Mentees may be matched with a mentor outside their region if a mentor is not available in their location.
You need to be a Member or Chartered Member of the IoD.
We recommend mentees meet with their mentors 6-8 times per year.
Mentors provide guidance based on their experiences on high-performing boards, including networking, positioning, conduct and presentation. The form of mentoring will vary from mentee to mentee and mentor to mentor.
Whilst the programme provides exceptional support and may open new doors for our mentees, we do not guarantee that you will obtain a board position after completing the programme.
There is no application fee to apply for the programme. Mentees will need to cover the cost of travel and/or accommodation to attend mentoring sessions and mentee events.
We aim to select up to 20 mentees for the programme per year.
Mentees are shortlisted by internal IoD staff based on programme criteria. The final selection will be made by a Selection Panel, consisting of the IoD’s CEO, GM People and Culture, Network Manager Branches, Diversity Programmes Manager and key members of the IoD Council.
It is not a pre-requisite to have completed CDC or other governance courses, although a commitment to training and upskilling in governance will be considered favourably during the selection process.
All applicants will be notified by late May as to whether they have been successful or not. Selections will be final and no review will be undertaken.
The first in-person session will be held in Auckland on 25 June 2026 starting at midday and finishing at 6pm. As part of this session, mentees will receive an introduction to the programme outlining how the programme will work in greater detail. Expectations of mentees and mentors will be covered, along with advice on how to get the most out of the programme. Each mentee will receive an electronic copy of a mentee guide. Mentees are invited to stay on for dinner at their own cost to get to know each other in a more informal setting.
The programme runs for a 12-month period. We suggest that mentors and mentees meet for at least an hour every two months.
The mentee and mentor will each bear any expenses incurred in participating in the programme. Where mentees have indicated that they are prepared to travel to meet with their mentor, the mentee will meet these travel costs.
The mentor and mentee are free to withdraw from the programme at any time by contacting the programme manager. If a mentor withdraws from the programme within the first six months, the IoD will attempt to find a suitable replacement.
The IoD reserves the right to use your information for marketing and publicity purposes as outlined in the terms and conditions within the application form.
We would expect to publish a list of mentees on the IoD website and through our social media channels.
Applicants who are not selected for the Mentoring for Diversity programme in 2026 will be able to apply to join the programme in future years.