MFA expands NGEN program with new mentor push

The Media Federation of Australia (MFA) is expanding its investment in early-career talent, launching a new management training initiative alongside an expanded mentoring program under its NGEN platform.

The new NGEN Management Collective Essentials program is an eight-week course designed to build practical management capability for media professionals with three to five years’ experience, a stage where many are stepping into leadership roles for the first time.

The program combines coaching, workshops and formal study, with participants receiving recognised certification on completion. Places will be limited and offered by invitation.

It will run alongside the returning NGEN Mentor Program, which has been significantly expanded in 2026 following its pilot last year. The program will now include 55 mentor-mentee pairs, up from 35, connecting emerging talent with senior industry leaders.

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NGEN remains the MFA’s core development platform for professionals with less than five years’ experience, with the organisation claiming more than 80% of the current media agency workforce has participated in the program.

The new initiatives are informed by recent MFA research highlighting shifts in workforce expectations, particularly among younger professionals seeking structured development, practical skills and clearer career progression pathways.

MFA head of NGEN and foundations Melanie Aslanidis said the programs are designed to support talent at a key inflection point.

“Professionals at the three- to five-year mark are at a crucial point in their careers – taking on more responsibility, refining their craft, and mapping out their next career steps,” she said.

“Together, these programs reflect the MFA’s commitment to building a stronger, future-ready workforce by giving emerging talent the capability, credentials and support to advance.”