Mentor Walks start at the North Wollongong Surf Club at 7.30 in the morning and involves prominent women in leadership being paired with other local women for a one hour 'walk and talk' mentoring session.

SMART Infrastructure Facility's Tania Brown said it is a great opportunity for women to learn and seek advice.

"Mentor Walks provides Illawarra women with the opportunity to workshop ideas, gain insight and discuss challenges with some of the regions' most successful female leaders.These conversations are an important part of helping women take the next step in their career and ultimately developing the next generation of female leaders. I encourage anyone who is seeking an opportunity to spend time with a mentor, register now to be a mentee".

The walks are casual, personal and purposeful, with groups of mentees kept to just two or three women per mentor.Each mentee is asked to come armed with a "challenge" or "career question" to be discussed on the walk.

Bobbi Mahlab and Adina Jacobs started the walks.

Ms Mahlab said career women have issues big and small but often it is hard to find impartial people for advice. Mentor Walks gives women access to experienced people that can help them workshop issues and move forward.

"Our mentors provide these aspiring female leaders with advice on challenges they're facing now, such as getting a promotion, asking for a pay rise, influencing executive teams, managing up or getting buy-in from investors".

"It is fantastic to see the impact the program is having".

Applications for mentees to attend walks in the Illawarra are open at http://mentorwalks.com.au/become-a-mentee-wollongong

Presently there are 45 mentors from Bluescope Steel, Mercer, KPMG, Kells and other Illawarra businesses and organisations.

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