The Queensland Tourism Futures Mentoring Program, delivered by QTIC, is quietly shaping the next wave of leaders in the state’s tourism industry. While the program continues to grow, its real impact is best seen through the people involved, those who step forward to mentor and those willing to learn.

For Liz Ward, CEO of Tourism Tribe and a longstanding mentor, getting involved came down to one simple observation. She could see the potential in emerging leaders, but also how easily that potential could stall without the right support.

“Potential is everywhere,” she says, “but without confidence, encouragement, and the right connections, it can go nowhere.”

That belief is what led her to the program. For Liz, mentoring was a chance to step in at the right moment and help guide someone’s trajectory. As she puts it, one good mentoring experience can change the course of a career entirely.

Over the six-month program, mentees are given opportunities to connect with industry leaders, build networks and gain practical insight into how the tourism industry really operates. But for Liz, one of the most important outcomes is less tangible.

Confidence.

She is clear that confidence does not always come first. In fact, Liz believes it usually follows action. 

Emerging leaders do not need to feel completely ready before saying yes to an opportunity. Instead, growth often comes from stepping forward, asking questions and figuring things out along the way.

Reflecting on her own early career, Liz is open about what she would tell others starting out.

“Be more curious and less concerned about perfection. The people who progress are the ones who put their hand up, ask questions and keep learning, not the ones who wait to be invited. And this is particularly true in the new AI world that we are working in.” 

That same sense of growth is reflected in the experiences of mentees.

O’Keeffe Chan, who recently completed the program, said her mentoring experience offered something she had not found elsewhere. While studying can provide a strong foundation, O’Keeffe found the program brought the industry to life in a way the classroom could not.

One moment stood out. Through the mentoring program, QTIC connected mentees with the Hon. Andrew Powell, Minister for the Environment and Tourism and Minister for Science and Innovation, for an online Q and A session. The opportunity gave O’Keeffe a broader view of how tourism operates beyond day-to-day roles, particularly how strategy and planning are shaped at both state and federal levels.

For O’Keeffe, that experience helped bridge the gap between theory and practice.

“For me, it was an experience that truly bridged the gap between study and industry,” she says.

She now encourages others, whether they are studying, already working in tourism, or considering entering the industry, to take part.

Catherine Leckenby, another mentee, came to the program from a different place. After nearly 20 years working in the arts, she was ready to take the next step and pursue her goal of running her own company.

What she found in the mentoring program was not just guidance, but a new way of thinking.

Catherine’s mentor challenged her to step back and look at things differently, helping her build the skills and confidence needed to move forward. The advice itself was not complex, but the shift in perspective made a lasting impact.

“It was a small perspective change, a slight zoom out,” she says, “but it wasn’t how I had ever considered things before.”

Stories like these highlight what makes the program work. It is not just about formal learning or structured sessions. It is about conversations, perspective and the moments that help people see what they are capable of.

“The people who progress are the ones who put their hand up, ask questions and keep learning, not the ones who wait to be invited.” – Liz Ward

For mentors like Liz, the reward comes from seeing that shift happen. For mentees, it often marks the beginning of something bigger.

As the QTIC mentoring program continues to connect people across the industry, its impact is becoming clearer. It is building confidence, creating opportunities and strengthening the future of tourism in Queensland by investing in the people who will lead it.

And for those involved, it is a reminder that sometimes all it takes is the right conversation, at the right time, to change what comes next.