Dr Melissa Permezel, Ms Angela Schooneman, Ms Melissa Reynolds and Mr Stuart Weir are all young professionals, from different cultural backgrounds working in Melbourne.
Dr Melissa Permezel is a social and community planner consultant with the multi-disciplinary consultancy firm Sinclair, Knight Merz. Angela and Stuart are both partners in two of Melbourne's major law firms. Angela is a partner with Minter Ellison specialising in commercial property, infrastructure and development. Stuart is a partner with Allens Arthur Robinson specialising in banking and finance. Melissa Reynolds is the head of marketing in the large financial institution, Esanda, part of the ANZ bank. Through friends and acquaintances, we have been inspired by the journey young professionals make to leave their homelands and move to Australia to make a new life. Some of us have made a similar journey. We wanted to do something to support professionals in their job hunting efforts and to assist in their settlement process.
In particular, we wanted to provide some support to enable skilled migrants to access the expertise and information of similarly skilled professionals - to help 'open doors' into the business community of Melbourne... and so began our 'Opening Doors' program.
Dr Melissa Permezel, Angela Schooneman, Stuart Weir and Melissa Reynolds form the syndicate, which is managing the 'Opening Doors' pilot program. Throughout the duration of the pilot program, the syndicate will manage the ongoing operation of the pilot, with the assistance of our partner organisations. We will be ensuring that both mentors and mentees are supported throughout the program and each will take direct responsibility for a small group of the mentors and mentees. Some of us will also be taking part in the pilot as mentors to ensure we understand, first hand, the experience of participating in 'Opening Doors'.