Assisterhood has welcomed new sponsors and a record 98 mentor and mentee partnerships.
Following more than 420 global applications, Assisterhood has officially welcomed its largest-ever cohort, pairing 98 mentors and mentees across advertising, design, media, strategy, tech, business, and marketing.
Founded to close the representation gap across the industry, Assisterhood connects underrepresented talent with the mentors, networks and opportunities that can help shape their careers.
Now entering its ninth year, it brings together emerging and established voices, united by a shared commitment to learning, leadership and a more equal future.
This year’s cohort drew applications from Australia and Aotearoa, plus Ecuador, France, India, Ireland, Malaysia, New York, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sweden and the UK – proof that the appetite for genuine and one-on-one mentorship reaches far beyond our backyard.
Assisterhood wouldn’t be possible without its 2026 sponsors – with its biggest lineup yet. Its Partner Sponsor: Streamtime, and Ally Sponsors: no sunday blues, Kerfuffle and TwentyTwo Digital play a vital role in Asisterhood’s mission to help equalise opportunities across the industry.
“We’re so grateful to our sponsors who share our values – their support allows us to keep growing the program and creating opportunities for people who may not otherwise have access to mentorship. Together, we’re helping build a more inclusive and representative industry,” Linh Diep, founder of Assisterhood and senior account director at Droga5 London.
Assisterhood extends its thanks to every mentor stepping up this year – whether it’s their first time or fifth. The program runs on their time, honesty and willingness to open doors to those who are underrepresented in the industry.”
NSW Mentors
Alex Gough
Andie Crawford
Anita Zanesco
Anna Fawcett
Ash Myburgh
Bronwyn van der Merwe
Caroline Hugall
Danica Bellchambers
Eb Yusuf
Feryx Lim
Fiona Lenahan
Hannah Sturrock
Jessica Roberts
Joanna Robinson
Lea Walker
Lisa Aitken
Louise Rathbone
Maddie Marovino
Maddie Marsh
Marine Turner
Maya Mausli
Mikhaila Warburton
Millie Menage
Renata Yannoulis
Rhian Mason
Roma Singhal
Sabrina Douglas
Samantha Heckendorf
Tamara McCann
Tenita Campton
Theresa Lord
Victoria Fruean
Zoe Keck
NSW Mentees
Adelle Chang
Ali MacKellar
Aniya Sahdeva
Anna Lane
Audrey Davis
Brooke Tunbridge
Christine Nefodova
Daisy Conroy-Botica
Emma Lawlor
Evelyn Tran
Hannah Bartch
Holly Dyroff
Inge Marsetio
Izzy White
Jess Galley
Jessica-Lee De Vries
Joanne Been
Kaidi Xu
Kate Breytenbach
Kira Holden
Kitty Lloyd
Lana O’Brien
Maya Chapman
Milly Guo
Olya Vanzidler
Patrese Beasley
Paula Prendergast
Phoebe Rathbone
Sandra Jawad
Sarah Melit
Sarah Wardle
Sogol Sarlak
Sophie Baird
QLD Mentors
Alana Mahony
Alicent Wong
Amber Snow
Amri Theron
Ashton Tuckerman
Brittanie English
Camilla Marshall
Christine Gannon
Deborah Woodford
Dilara Ulkutas
Gemma Lipovski
Isabelle Debnam
Jaishri Johnstone
Kirsty Visman
Lisa Cameron
Liz Ballantyne
Marnie Vaughan
Natalie Mitchell
Olivia Muir
Priscilla Jeha
Robyn Butler
Rachael Hockaday
Sally Bagshaw
Sandra Hind
Sofie Spelta
Samantha Shah
QLD Mentees
Alysha Addicott
Amanda Harris
Amanda Ruck
Aymee Tye-Anderson
Becky Dickenson
Carolina Jorge
Casey Watts
Chelsea Hicks
Chloe Barter
Ellie Feng
Elvira Pan
Emma Joslin
Erin Grevell
Hannah Dreghorn
Harriet Kendrick
Holly Grindrod
Laura Aguayo
Madeline Van Den Berg
Marisa Bedwell
Marriam Nasoori
Morgana Venturieri
Nathalia Soares Ribeiro
Sarah de Valence
Shanice Thomas
Tara Montgomery
Tia Evans
VIC Mentors
Alison Rentoul
Anastasia Simone
Deborah Tran
Ella Keddie
Jes Egan
Jess Lilley
Jordan Smith
Leoni Hess
Liz Lonsdale
Lyndelle O’Keefe
Michila Macleod
Mirella Arapian
Olivia Altavilla
Olivia Gatt
Rebecca Den Braber
Sam Lee
Seamus Fagan
Shannon Towell
Shyaire Ganglani
Sophie Truter
Stephanie Graham
Tiffany Simon
Virginia Scully
Yasha Chandra
VIC Mentees
Abby Hawkins
Alannah Baker
Amellia Knowles
Ana Bellico
Angela Simon
Aradhana Dixit
Brittany Fiddes
Caroline De Nato
Cassandra Deegan
Charlie Borracci
Clare Armstrong
Elizabeth Webber
Georgie Favaloro
Hannah Torregosa
Jamielle McKinnon
Katherine Lee
Lathishya Kalam
Laura Kerr
Leah Morris
Minuki Satharasinghe
Molly O’Sullivan
Ruby Murphy
Seyda Yilmaz
Tessa Jackson
Online Mentors
Elena del Villar
Janath Gamage
Jeni Wong
Laura Jiew
Maike Moritz
Maree Taylor
Nicole Flinton-Ferraro
Souad Saied
Valerie Madon
Online Mentees
Anastasia Comelli
Cloe Jakel
Elizabeth Preston
Jaimi-lee Tatur
Julia Bonato
Karen Hinds
Katie Scott
Lauren Pattemore
Nate Tessari
