Originally hailing from Canada, the land of Bieber, Celine and Schitt’s Creek (STILL need to watch that!), Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Health Edith Bennett has been involved in our Wāhine Connect programme as both a mentee and mentor. We caught up with her and discovered how engaging in both aspects of mentorship has boosted, benefited and made her a WC belieber - sorry - believer.
KŌRERO with Edith Bennett
Public Health Dietician and Senior Advisor at Ministry of Health NZ
Hello Edith. Can you briefly tell us a bit about yourself?
I’m a Canadian living in Whangarei ( soon Wellington!) with my Kiwi husband. I started my career in health as a public health dietitian. An interest in the broader population health and health systems led me to do my Masters of Public Health. I have had a fantastic opportunity to work in Northland for 6 years before recently taking a new role with the Ministry of Health as a Senior Advisor working in Planned Care.
How did you first hear about Wāhine Connect?
A co-worker, who unbeknownst to her I already saw as a mentor, introduced me to Wāhine Connect. I started in the first cohort as a mentee and now I am also a mentor.
What made you apply for a women only mentorship programme?
I knew it would be a safe community and that the challenges in the workforce, specific to women, could be discussed openly.
What would a meeting with your mentor/ mentee mostly look like?
Meetings with both my mentees and mentors have really been an open conversation. My mentors would often start the first meeting as a getting-to-know-each-other-better, usually by the mentor openly sharing some of their work/life experience.
What has been the greatest benefit to being a mentee/mentor in the programme so far?
This is a hard one, because I feel like there have been so many benefits from this programme. Wāhine Connect has boosted my confidence in so many ways. I would be lying if I didn’t attribute the boost in my confidence, growing and taking career opportunities, to the programme. Knowing I have the support of a community like WC to turn to has also meant I am willing to try new things and take more risks.
As well as being a mentee, what personal learning have you experienced from being a Wāhine Connect mentor?
I didn’t feel like I had much to offer when I was encouraged to be a mentor but something that I appreciated from my mentors, as a mentee, was just how honest and open they were about their journey (the ups, the downs, and the zigzag pathway). This has given me an appreciation for my own journey and how sharing it could be a positive part of another wahine’s journey. I really enjoy seeing others grow.
What would be your top tip for getting the most out of the process?
Prepare for the session and be open. I loved getting to interact with women who have different roles and backgrounds to mine. I found that by being open I was able to see how similar we actually were!
What would you like the rest of 2021 to have in store for you?
If it is safe to travel, I would LOVE to spend Christmas 2021 in Canada with my family.
Netflix or no? Yes, just finished Schitt’s Creek. Go and watch it for some Canadian humour!
Favourite read? One Day by David Nicholls.
Dream vacay? Morocco or Jordan to visit my uni roommate.
