MiF at the 34th INCITE Awards

Carrying Stories, Not Just Business Cards

 Last week, the Mentor it Forward team in Perth gathered in a room that pulsed with celebration and hearts abeam with quiet ambition. We gathered to attend the 34th INCITE Awards, Western Australia's premier technology awards program, recognising and celebrating innovation and excellence in the state's ICT sector (organised by the Western Australian Information Technology and Talent Alliance (WAITTA)).

The energy in the room was palpable. The high of being surrounded by people who are shaping the future through tech, education, health, policy, and purpose, we couldn’t help but feel like we belonged. Interestingly, last year there were two of us representing the organisation, and this year the dedicated MiF table was brimming with twelve. It is baffling how the journey that began less than two years ago has scaled these frontiers so fast.

MiF 2024

MiF Team 2025

Back then (2024) and Now (2025)

What were we doing there? MiF, a non-profit organisation, has partnered with WAITTA, where MiF offers access to its mentorship program to all INCITE entrants, so they continue to receive the support they need to carry out their dreams and goals. This offer is especially in place for those who have not received an award.

From the start, Mentor it Forward has been about opening doors, especially for those who are ready to step into their next opportunity, and for mentors who want to give back with purpose. That’s why being at the 34th INCITE Awards mattered.

We saw startups born from nothing but persistence, government teams devising policy with relevant input, and students standing shoulder-to-shoulder with industry leaders. It echoed something we’ve believed all along which is that community matters.

What our team could see was a tango- between mentees who’ve landed jobs they didn’t dare dream of, and mentors who’ve reignited their own passions while making sure all under-represented groups have a seat at the table.

What’s Next?

At MiF we are not only chasing the dream but also helping others chase theirs. The INCITE Awards reinforced our belief that no man is an island and we all move forward with greater momentum together as a community.

See you next year, INCITE. We’ll be back with more stories, more impact, and more reason to believe in what’s possible when people show up for each other.

~ From all of us at Mentor it Forward