I thoroughly enjoyed reading Patrick Durkin’s article in the AFR last week on David Gonski.

We ‘know’ David from his various roles: he was the former Chairman of the ASX, is currently the Chancellor of University of NSW and was the former Chairman of the committee commissioned by Julia Gillard in 2010 to look at education funding in Australia (known as the “Gonski Review”), amongst many other executive and board appointments.

What you may not know about David Gonski is that he is, and has been for many years, an active supporter of diversity within the corporate world.  He also acts as a mentor for a number of individuals at the senior executive and Board levels, many of whom are women, and many of whom have gone on to hold top, influential roles within a range of organisations.  He is indeed a very able, interesting and multi-faceted individual, an invaluable mentor to his people and interestingly someone who has recently found himself a younger mentor to help him navigate all things social-media!  All goes to show that the influence of the right mentor at the appropriate stage, can be invaluable!