C12. Mentorship: a powerful tool for effective and inclusive leaders
Tracks
Leadership, Wellness & Resilience
| Thursday, June 5, 2025 |
| 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM |
| C2.4 |
Chair & Speakers
Melina Georgousakis
Franklin Women
C12. Mentorship: a powerful tool for effective and inclusive leadership
Abstract
Mentorship is often only thought about in context of the value it provides to mentees, but it is an important tool for effective and inclusive leaders. In this session, we will cover the theory behind what mentorship is (and what it isn’t), some practical tips on how to do it well and evidence for why it matters. We will also deliver a practical case study highlighting a framework for adaptive leadership and how mentoring is a key enabler of this.
Biography
Melina is a research scientist, a social entrepreneur and champion for an inclusive health and medical research sector. After a career in the lab researching vaccines for group a streptococcus, she transitioned into a health policy career providing technical support to the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation. Melina later joined the Bupa Health Foundation as their Research and Policy Manager responsible for building and investing in partnerships to improve health outcomes of the Australian population. She is the founder of Franklin Women, a social enterprise with a mission to create a science sector where women thrive and is currently leading the organisation as its director. Under Melina’s leadership Franklin Women has grown to become a credible and impactful organisation within the Australian health and medical research ecosystem representing thousands of women and their allies, as well as 24 diverse workplaces who have joined their growing Partner Alliance.
Melina has been recognised through awards such as Eureka Prize for Outstanding Mentor of Young Researchers, ProBono Australia’s 25 People of Impact, Edna Awards and Women’s Agenda Leadership Award. She has judged the Australian Technology Competition and the Australian Museum Eureka Awards. In 2019 she shared her story on the TEDx stage
Kay Robinson
Head of Mentoring and Development
Franklin Women
C12. Mentorship: a powerful tool for effective and inclusive leaders
Abstract
Mentorship is often only thought about in context of the value it provides to mentees, but it is an important tool for effective and inclusive leaders. In this session, we will cover the theory behind what mentorship is (and what it isn’t), some practical tips on how to do it well and evidence for why it matters. We will also deliver a practical case study highlighting a framework for adaptive leadership and how mentoring is a key enabler of this.
Biography
