Over 900 strong:
Driving engagement with mentoring as a key member benefit

with Jenny Nguyen
Member Services Officer,
Australian Institute of Architects

What the Australian Institute of Architects loves most about Mentorloop:

'Always-on' asynchronous mentoring

Asynchronous Mentoring Supporting Every Member

Mentorloop Milestones and the Participant Dashboard ensures that mentoring participants can join a program at any time, begin a mentoring relationship at any time and have multiple mentoring relationships on-the-go, with each of those experiences fully supported and guided.

93% Participant Satisfaction

Positive feedback from mentors/mentees

93% of mentoring participants are enjoying their mentoring relationship and feel they are a perfect match.

Mentorloop Impact Award Winner 2023 & 2024

"Our members frequently highlight the benefits of cross-generational knowledge transfer, with mentees gaining a wealth of experience from those who have walked similar paths. This has not only helped mentees build confidence but has also fostered a stronger sense of community within the institute."

The engagement was well prepared and interesting. Our discussion ventured carefully and confidently into the unknown territory with an open mind for discovery and with the expectation of finding new professional experience.

Ruth is a great mentor, she genuinely wanted to help and guide younger architects like myself and her advice was valuable and encouraging

Communicating with my mentee has helped me appreciate the issues and needs of the people working in my own practice, and has helped me understand their ambitions and challenges better, and communicate with them better too.

Very good. We talked about a path to achieve my goals and the overall energy was great.

Rob was very generous and accomodating. He was happy to share valiable information and hard earned wisdom. I highly recommend his mentorship.

Raising the Bar for Architects: The Australian Institute of Architects' Mentoring Program

At the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA), we are committed to raising the bar of architectural standards and building a community of architects dedicated to creating better communities.

By supporting the professional growth of our members, we provide them access to a wide range of practical resources, a voice on both local and national policy-setting, and continuous learning opportunities. Our mentoring program has become a significant member benefit and plays a key role in achieving these goals.

Challenges Before Engaging Mentorloop

Before Mentorloop, our mentoring efforts were informal and inconsistent, leaving newly graduated members with minimal support. Surveys revealed that students and graduates often struggled to find experienced architects to connect with, which left them feeling isolated and unsupported as they entered the industry.

Additionally, mentoring was traditionally done face-to-face, which posed geographical barriers and made it difficult for members to engage in meaningful mentoring relationships, especially for those living outside of major cities or overseas. We also faced difficulties in fostering a sense of community where experienced architects could consistently share their knowledge and expertise with the younger generation.

Furthermore, without a centralised system, managing the mentoring program was cumbersome. Tracking matches, gathering feedback, and measuring program success were manual tasks, often reliant on individual coordinators’ knowledge. This lack of structure limited our ability to scale the program and deliver real-time improvements.

Our Game-Changer: Mentorloop

Introducing Mentorloop in 2020 transformed the way we approached mentoring at AIA. The platform has provided an inclusive, accessible space for members to connect and share knowledge. By facilitating virtual connections, Mentorloop has bridged the geographical gaps, allowing students and emerging graduates to engage with experienced architects from all over the world.

Since the launch of the program, over 1000+ participants have joined, benefiting members at every career stage—from students to seasoned professionals. Mentorloop has allowed us to scale the program, providing a structured and efficient approach to matching mentors and mentees, tracking progress, and gathering feedback. This has enabled us to ensure that our mentoring relationships are meaningful, beneficial, and ongoing.

Program Impact: Empowering Members Across the Industry

The impact of the mentoring program has been profound. Emerging architects, particularly students and graduates, have gained valuable guidance and industry insights from seasoned professionals, which has accelerated their career development. Mentors, in turn, have found great fulfillment in sharing their expertise, refining their leadership skills, and helping shape the next generation of architects.

Our members frequently highlight the benefits of cross-generational knowledge transfer, with mentees gaining a wealth of experience from those who have walked similar paths. This has not only helped mentees build confidence but has also fostered a stronger sense of community within the institute. The program has also proven to be a valuable tool for graduates seeking employment, providing a platform for networking and career development.

As of today, the mentoring program continues to be one of the most valued services we offer. It allows for deep connections, professional growth, and knowledge-sharing that supports the architectural profession as a whole.

Future Plans: Expanding Mentorship Across the Institute

While the program currently reaches 7% of our membership base, our vision is to expand its reach to all institute members. We aim to triple the number of participants by 2025, making mentoring an integral part of every architect’s journey with AIA.

One exciting development is our plan to introduce Group Loops, which will allow mentees who may not have a direct match to still benefit from group mentoring sessions. This feature will enable even more members to access the wisdom and insights of experienced professionals, fostering collaboration and support within our diverse community.

We also plan to create an alumni network for former mentees and mentors to stay connected, share their journeys, and continue contributing to the program’s success. We envision mentorship becoming an ongoing process—one that members return to throughout their careers, benefiting from the wealth of knowledge and experience available within the AIA community.

Since partnering with Mentorloop, the Australian Institute of Architects has successfully transformed its mentoring program into a dynamic, inclusive, and impactful experience. Our members, both mentors and mentees, are thriving through these connections, and we are excited to continue growing the program in the years to come. With a focus on inclusivity, community building, and professional growth, we are confident that mentoring will continue to play a crucial role in supporting the next generation of architects and fostering a more connected and empowered architectural community.

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Mentorloop has allowed us to scale the program, providing a structured and efficient approach to matching mentors and mentees, tracking progress, and gathering feedback. This has enabled us to ensure that our mentoring relationships are meaningful, beneficial, and ongoing.

– Member Services Officer, Jenny Nguyen