About Us
Kia Ora. Get to know us.
Mentoring Foundation of New Zealand
Who are we?
Mentoring Foundation is a non-profit organisation committed to fostering and supporting community leadership and communities via mentoring. We believe in the power of genuine relationships and our programmes are designed to make real connections between real people aimed at getting results for programme participants, their organisations, our community partners and the communities our partners and participants serve.
Our approach has been developed by people working directly in the community sector; is designed specifically for community sector; is focused on intentional and authentic person-to-person engagement; and is tailored to meet the needs of each participant, community partner and community, with the aim of building effective, confident, capable and connected leaders.
Working throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, Mentoring Foundation has been partnering with community to bring mentoring support to community leaders - organisation, governance, senior, project and programme - since 2018.
What do we do?
Our vision is Aotearoa New Zealand thriving through effective community leadership. Our purpose is to support and enable community sector leaders across Aotearoa via mentoring.
We do this by working with communities and community partners across Aotearoa, supporting community-led positive-change aspirations around capability, connection, empowerment and impact, where that includes a desire to support community sector and not-for-profit leaders (paid and volunteer) with mentoring.
Our partnerships and collaborations with communities to provide mentoring programmes create greater community cohesion, inclusivity and unity, while enabling community sector leaders to be more effective, confident, capable and connected.
Meet Our Board
Andrew Brock
Board Chair
The Chair of Mentoring Foundation's board, Andrew has a wealth of experience in senior management and governance roles within the health, sport and community sectors, and additional experience in education. He has extensive knowledge of community development and sustainability with a particular focus on the wider determinants of wellbeing. Andrew is Manager Projects and Innovation with Bishop's Action Foundation. As a mentor, Andrew enjoys the two-way learning and sharing of knowledge and experience that supports real leadership development, both professional and personal.
Melanie Wilson
Trustee
Melanie (Mel) is a founding trustee and was part of the team who created Mentoring Foundation and its first mentoring programmes. Mel has a fantastic understanding of the community sector, and has dedicated her time to all things community for many years. Mel is Kaitātara Kaupapa Here Matua - Senior Policy Advisor with NZ Council of Christian Social Services.
Herman Visagie
Trustee
Herman is an experienced executive level General Counsel, Company Secretary, and seasoned governor. He is passionate about the power of good governance and effective relationships between boards and management teams to help organisations achieve their desired outcomes more effectively. Herman is currently General Counsel at the Real Estate Authority.
Susan Ansell
Trustee
Susan is the Manager for Volunteer Kāpiti – where their mahi is to support the capability of the Kāpiti community sector. This includes the delivery of Mentoring Foundation programmes in Kāpiti. She has a degree in sociology and an extensive work background in community development. Susan is passionate about building strong collaborative relationships across the for-purpose sector.
Arron Perriam
Trustee
Arron is a family man with three grown children and six mokopuna all happily residing in Otautahi Christchurch. As the national Executive Director for Community Foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand, and of Rongowhakaata whakapapa, Arron values more connected and equitable communities for all, and seeks to enable and serve this through his leadership and governance roles. Arron is an independent board member with The Salvation Army, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa, with Kidsfirst South Island Kindergartens, and The Burwood Academy Trust, a neurological health research entity. Arron is a past Winston Churchill Fellowship recipient and was awarded the Institute of Directors emerging director of the year in 2017.