Big first year for women in national security mentoring programme

Intake One of the Women in National Security Mentoring programme has proven an overwhelming success, with Intake Two to come, writes Navlene Singh, National Security Workforce Senior Advisor at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

The first intake of the Women in National Security Mentoring programme has proved its worth, with mentees saying some of the key benefits of the programme were job promotions, growing confidence, recognising their value in the work environment and tapping into new support networks.

Programme lead, Navlene Singh of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC), said the programme has achieved its objectives for participants, which were to reduce women’s isolation in the sector, boost confidence and increase the visibility of female role models in leadership positions within the security sector.

Building on the success of the programme, the DPMC is now planning a new intake for the 2019- 2020 year.

The 12-month programme is a pilot initiative developed by the National Security Workforce (NSW) team within the DPMC. It was launched in February 2018 by Prime Minister, and the Minister for National Security and Intelligence, Rt Hon Jacinda Adern, at the NSW Showcase. (Line of Defence’s Summer 2018 issue describes the programme in detail).

The mid-point survey results highlighted a strong desire for the programme: the Wellington programme received an outstanding Net Promotor Score of 87 and the Auckland programme a very respectable score of 47.

Rebecca Kitteridge, Director- General of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service.

The Wellington mentees and mentors completed the 12-month structured programme in May, with a closing event held at Parliament. Rebecca Kitteridge, Director- General of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service and one of the 11 Security and Intelligence Board Chief Executives that sponsor the programme, addressed mentees and mentors.

Rebecca is also the programme’s matron, which for her meant that she had a vested interest in ensuring the programme met the needs of the participants. She emphasised how the dividends the programme has kickstarted will have benefits beyond the formal end of the programme.

“You may not see it now, but when you reflect back on your career journey, those of you who have actively participated in the programme, whether you’re a mentee or mentor, will remember key, pivotal moments that either changed your perspective or pushed you in the direction you were searching for,” she told mentees.

The closing event also featured a mentee-mentor panel discussion where mentees and mentors shared some of their key take outs: you are never too old to learn; everyone has something to give and can learn from one another; everybody has a sense of worth and value to add – you just need to tap into it.

The Auckland mentees and mentors will completed their 12-month programme in June.

Navlene Singh recently spoke about the programme at the Women in Public Sector Summit on 25 June, and an end of programme survey is underway, which will draw out further successes the programme has delivered.

The mentoring programme is one of many initiatives the National Security Workforce team has been working on to help attract and retain the right mix of knowledge, skills and capabilities for current and future priorities and demands.

The next iteration of the mentoring programme is currently on hold. Plans are underway for Intake Two, but no dates have been confirmed just yet.

Expressions of interest for those interested in participating in the programme are welcome and can be sent to: nsw@dpmc.govt.nz