GWPR Australia has announced Maya Ivanovic, Associate Director - Client Services at Palin Communications, as the recipient of its inaugural 2025 GWPR Mentoring Scholarship.
Delivered in partnership with Beaumont People, the fully funded scholarship provides Maya with access to Beaumont People's 6-month LEAD Program, designed to improve leadership capabilities, executive presence, and career development. The program includes personalised mentoring, strengths-based coaching, interactive masterclasses, and strategic networking opportunities.
The pilot scholarship initiative was launched to address what the organisation described as a critical gap in professional development, supporting early to mid-career women in PR and corporate affairs, a cohort it says is often overlooked by existing coaching and mentoring programs.
GWPR Australia launched the local mentoring program with CPRA and Beaumont People as a pilot program in early 2025, with an aim to make mentoring accessible, practical, and tailored to real-world challenges faced by women in the communications industry.
Chair of the GWPR Australia Mentoring program, Carden Calder, said: "The response from the women who applied, and who took our offer of feedback up, was shocking. Every single participant we spoke to cited a lack of mentors in the profession, the difficulty of accessing quality mentorship, and the gaping absence of programs that go beyond role-specific skills development."
Reflecting on her selection, Maya said, "The LEAD program is an opportunity for me to step out of my everyday and invest in my development with intent. I'm looking forward to learning and mentorship that challenges my thinking, explores different leadership styles, and exposes me to important feedback to help me build executive-level confidence and clarity."