Applications Now Open!

Applications for the 2025 WITH Insights Mentor Circle program are closing soon - don't miss out! Make sure you sign up as a Member of WITH WA in order to apply.

What is the WITH Insights Mentor Circle Program?

DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

APPLY NOW

Proudly sponsored by:

The WITH Insights Mentor Circle is a mentoring program for women with career aspirations in leadership roles within the tourism and hospitality industries. WITH WA offers this 6-month program exclusively to WITH WA members only.

The WITH Insights Mentor Circle brings together accomplished leaders and women to develop their confidence, build their network and gain new skills. This is an incredible opportunity for Mentors to give back to the industry and pass on their knowledge and skills to the next generation of leaders.

Mentees are carefully matched with a Mentor who can support, upskill and empower them in their career progression into leadership roles.

WITH WA’s mission is to support the career progression of women in tourism and hospitality, which is the key motivator for the program. In addition to being matched with a suitable Mentor, Mentees are given access to WITH WA members via networking events. These events feature industry leaders sharing knowledge as well as an opportunity to meet and connect with industry peers. The program offers an opportunity to learn invaluable skills designed to assist with career progression into leadership roles in the industry.

The WITH Insights Mentor Circle program is proudly sponsored by Tourism WA, Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre, and AV Partners.

WHY WITH WA is delivering this program?

To address challenges and mitigate barriers to career progression for women with leadership aspirations.
To assist women to advance their skills and bolster the industry with empathetic, skilled, and understanding leaders.
To help women be confident and successful in their careers.
To equip our future female leaders with the key leadership and life skills they need to thrive.

Through discussion and surveys, WITH WA identified that women are confronted with roadblocks to career advancement that are specific to women in the workplace. This program enables us to help women in the industry to have support and guidance when taking their next step into leadership.

What is a Mentor Circle?

A Mentor Circle brings together a Mentor with a group of Mentees to work together through the program. The Mentor is an industry professional who will guide the small group of Mentees through the 6-month program. Mentees benefit from the Mentor’s experience and guidance as well as through connections with fellow Mentees and the creation of a peer support network.

Who can be a Mentee?

APPLY NOW

Mentees must be financial members of WITH WA with three (3) years industry experience and have demonstrated aspirations to advance into a leadership role.

Participants should be able to demonstrate that they have the drive and desire to make a difference by advancing themselves into a leadership role.

Mentees must have the capacity and availability to commit to six sessions that will be delivered each month in a circle session with Mentors and other Mentees.

Participants are encouraged to provide a letter of support from an employer or colleague. Applications for the 2025 program will open at the end of October 2024.

Who are the Mentors?

This program brings together forward-thinking, progressive, and visionary leaders from the industry, in and around Western Australia.

The WITH WA management committee has invited Industry Mentors that will guide and support successful Mentees into the next phase of their careers over the course of the program. Our Mentors have demonstrated their knowledge and commitment first-hand in a variety of senior leadership roles. During their career, they have been confronted with the challenges that face the next generation and understand personally how to overcome career challenges to advance themselves to industry leaders. These individuals are driving industry change and leading others.

We're excited to announce our 2025 Mentors!

Meet The Mentors

Paige Myles

After 10 years abroad managing Superyachts throughout many international destinations, including the Caribbean, United States and Europe, Paige returned to her hometown of Perth after realising how lucky she was to come from such a beautiful place in the world. This was the driving force towards a career tourism.

Paige's journey commenced at Crown Perth running VIP events for 4 years on Superyacht Infinity, before bringing her background in hospitality and operations to the world of television production, on travel program Destination WA.

Wanting to progress into the tourism sector Paige joined experiential travel specialist Walk in Luxury. But the salt water still flowed through Paige's veins, and in 2022 Paige joined the team at SeaLink Marine and Tourism Western Australia, to promote their portfolio of brilliant experiences as WA Sales and Marketing Manager.

Paige holds a postgraduate Master of International Tourism and Hotel Management degree and a Bachelor of Business degree in Marketing and Public Relations.

Ali Banks

Passionate, experienced, and eager to explore the world, Ali is an inspiring force in the travel industry. With an initial career in education, her adventures as an Exchange Student and a European Tour Director ignited her passion for travel. She is now in her 30th year in the travel industry, and her current role is Regional Sales Manager SA/WA/NT for the Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group.

Ali's diverse career spans roles from Teacher, Consultant and Manager to Sales & Coaching. Having visited all 7 continents, Ali excels at sharing her first-hand destination knowledge via training and coaching travel consultants and through her involvement with Skål International (Past President of Skål International Perth 2017-2019).

During the pandemic, Ali's passion for cycling led her to advocate as Membership Manager at WestCycle.

Beyond travel, she's raised over $620,000 for cancer research with her team for Perth's Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research.

Emma Fraser

Emma Fraser, founder of Fraser Marketing International, launched the agency in 2016 after a 20-year career in hotel marketing across the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. She has worked with top brands such as Jumeirah, IHG, Marriott, Armani Hotels, and TFE Hotels.

Emma is a strategic marketer and PR advocate, specialising in interpreting guest behaviour, driving brand growth, and embracing innovation. Her guest-centric approach ensures impactful brand and marketing strategies that go beyond traditional models.

Fraser Marketing International offers comprehensive services, from brand creation to market campaign rollouts, helping businesses grow through multi-channel strategies.

Emma is passionate about building meaningful connections in tourism and hospitality, and works with clients globally.

Carol McCracken

Carol is a travel & tourism professional who is extremely passionate about our industry. She has a wealth of knowledge and expertise with over 35 years’ experience in a variety of roles including CEO, Airport Manager and Head of Marketing & Communications in sectors including aviation, hotels, business events and corporate travel in the UK, Australia and Spain.

She is committed to influencing positive outcomes and advancing our industry. With a proven track record of strong leadership and driving excellence, she provides a blend of strategic direction, vision and capability.

Carol is a Board Director for TCWA and Visit Mandurah.

Nic Chirico

Nic, the General Manager of Surfpoint Resort since 2019, has a diverse background in HR, industrial relations, and change management, previously working at Pullman Bunker Bay Resort and QANTAS Airways.

Her career spans retail banking, aviation, construction, and tourism. With a strategic focus, she aims to foster business growth by utilising talent.

Nic advocates for collaboration, creativity, and sustainable practices, emphasising local culture and employee engagement. She identifies talent and is able to encourage people to succeed by tapping into their talent and skills.

Her commitment to community, adaptability, accessibility and vision for responsible tourism demonstrates her leadership in the industry.

Jai McNaughton

Jai McNaughton is a dynamic Talent & Culture Manager based at Novotel Perth Murray Street, Accor's newest and largest hotel in Western Australia.

Her professional journey spans diverse sectors, including disability services and the food and agribusiness industry, crafting a narrative of versatile expertise. A specialist in culture transformation, strategic business planning, leadership development, employee engagement, and organizational behaviour, Jai is the sought-after architect for fostering excellence in these domains.

Jai's passion, commitment, and unwavering drive are not only evident in her professional pursuits but also in her role as a mentor and developer of others. Her experience has seen her in leadership positions with Fraser Suites, Mirvac and Accor.

Anna Edie

Anna Edie is the General Manager of the InterContinental Perth City Centre. Anna’s extensive hotel career spans the globe across operational aspects of both Rooms an Food & Beverage disciplines, in new and established hotels, and across a variety of brands, predominately in the luxury realm.

Anna has called IHG Hotels & Resorts home for the past 15 years and is passionate about people being the heart and soul of delivering hospitality and contributing to the industry as a whole.

Anna sits on the board of Western Australia’s own industry led hospitality mental health charity, Healthy Mind Menu, and in 2023 was inducted into the AHA Hall of fame for her advocacy for the colleagues in our industry during some of the most difficult years in living memory.

Emma Brown

Emma has over two decades of experience in the luxury hospitality industry. With a background in business events, revenue and hotel management, she has a deep understanding of the industry's challenges and opportunities.

As the Tourism Engagement Manager at Australia's South West, Emma has extensive experience in stakeholder management. She frequently collaborates with the tourism industry in the south west to drive regional growth and development. Her role also involves representing Australia's South West at interstate and international trade shows, where she has forged valuable connections with trade distribution partners.

Emma is passionate about sharing her knowledge and encouraging women in tourism and hospitality to dream big and achieve their career goals.

Belinda Hill

Belinda Hill, Treasurer of Women in Tourism and Hospitality WA and an exceptional professional in the tourism industry!

With a strong focus on delivering outstanding experiences, Belinda has made a significant impact throughout her career. Not only is she a respected leader in the industry, but she is also the owner and operator of Segway WA, offering unique and thrilling experiences to visitors.

Belinda's expertise in tourism has led to remarkable achievements, including the establishment and growth of Segway WA, where she has created memorable experiences for countless guests.

Her dedication to delivering exceptional customer service, innovative marketing strategies, and strong financial management has earned her recognition and success.

Wendy O'Shaughnessy

Wendy is an award-winning strategic marketing and communications professional who, over an eighteen-year career in Local Government, has delivered stellar outcomes in tourism and destination development for the City of Fremantle and Walyalup.

Under the category of Excellence in Local Government she has won the national Qantas Australia Tourism Award, and in 2023, with three consecutive gold awards and only the second Local Government to do so, saw the City inducted into the Tourism Council of Western Australia’s Hall of Fame.

Between 2009 and 2023 Wendy achieved significant industry and international recognition for the City including Fremantle being announced as a Top Ten City in the Lonely Planet Best In Travel guide and one of the world’s greatest places by TIME Magazine.

TESTIMONIALS

'An inspiring and enlightening opportunity to learn from some industry icons and fellow aspiring female leaders. From personal branding, overcoming hurdles, financial acumen and much more, the knowledge gained from this experience is unparalleled and certain to catapult any leader forward in their career. Women supporting women is a truly special thing and it is a joy to be part of such a fantastic community. Thank you WITH WA!'

Kayla Flemming, Mentee Alumni

'To have an opportunity to be guided and connected with some amazing leaders in our industry was too great to pass up. And it didn't disappoint! Learning how career pathways can develop, the fears and doubts we all have and the strength in a network was priceless. I have walked away with a re found passion for my industry, a pathway for my next steps and a great support network.'

Catherine Isaacs, Mentee Alumni

What's involved?

The WITH Insights Mentor Circle program will be structured and delivered to participants in a small group environment, and at special networking events. Participants will learn first-hand about approaches that can remove barriers for women as they progress through their careers and into leadership roles. With access to their Mentor, special guest speakers and other participants, each Mentee will graduate from the program with a career path, skills, knowledge and an established network of support and contacts to help them grow.

The themes of the program will include:

Career Path Guidance and Goal Setting
Overcoming Career Hurdles
Presenting with Courage and Influence
Networking and Personal Branding
Financial Awareness for Professional Growth
Leadership and Graduation.

The program offers access to a network of skilled professional women who can offer career path guidance, through the sharing of personal experience and practical tips to succeed. Successful participants will join as a small group, once a month over six sessions. Delivery of the program will be via shared storytelling, and in collaboration with other industry leaders. Guest speakers will join sessions to present on some of the key business and life skills invaluable for a successful career journey.

Mentors will facilitate the sessions with Mentees in a group circle over the series to engage with other fellow Mentees and establish long-term professional connections with peers. Each participant is encouraged to grow and become empowered to advance their career.

Participants will be provided access to links and resources and opportunities to share learnings over the course of the program.

Once the registration and selection process has been completed and participants announced, the program commences in February 2025.

Available to a limited number of mentees through an application process with a fee payment towards professional development.

The WITH Insights Mentor Circle program sessions are held at the Perth Conference & Exhibition Centre (PCEC) once a month for the duration of the program. We also have a South West group with sessions held in Busselton.

For a commitment of up to two hours per month for six months, a per person fee is charged. You could be part of the next intake of mentees to have direct access to skilled senior professionals who can open doors and help kick start your career as a leader.

Mentee program $395 fee will include:
- One-on-one time with your Mentor.
- Mentor Circle sessions featuring special guest speakers to cover key business and life skills for leaders.
- Comprehensive workbook and reading materials.
- Refreshments for each session.
- Networking with industry professionals and access to WITH WA member events.

Key Dates

The Program Schedule and themes are outlined below. Please note, any of the dates below may be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, however we commit to providing as much notification of this as possible.

A program Briefing Session will be scheduled to occur in late February 2025.

12th March 2025 - Career Path Guidance and Goal setting
16th April 2025 - Overcoming Career Hurdles
14th May 2025 - Presenting with Courage and Influence
18th June 2025 - Networking and Personal Branding
16th July 2025 - Financial Awareness for Professional Growth
13th August 2025 – Final Session and Graduation

Why should I register?

I want to become a future leader in our industry and I’m ready to take the next step in my career.
I want to develop my skills around career progression and advancement.
I am looking for support for the challenges I face in stepping up in your industry.
I am keen to increase my financial literacy to help me gain that next promotion.
I would like to learn how to become influential through public speaking and presenting.
I want to gain tips on self-branding.

Applications for the 2025 Program launching soon!

APPLY NOW

Applications for the 2025 program will open at the end of October.

If you're interested in applying, become a member or join our newsletter to stay up to date.

Join to stay up to date with news and future networkings events.

Become a member