NGEN Management Collective.
The Media Federation of Australia has launched a management capability program and expanded its mentoring initiative for mid-career media professionals, targeting those with three to five years' experience.
The NGEN Management Collective Essentials is an eight-week program combining coaching, workshops and study, focused on practical management skills.
Participants who complete it earn a recognised certification. Places are limited and offered by invitation to selected NGEN members. The program is led by Lucy Allen from The Graceful Collective.
The MFA has also expanded its NGEN Mentor Program, which pairs media professionals with senior industry leaders, to 55 mentor-mentee pairs in 2026, up from 35 in last year's pilot.
Both initiatives sit within NGEN, the MFA's flagship development program for media professionals with less than five years' experience. More than 80% of today's media agency workforce has participated in NGEN.
Melanie Aslanidis, the MFA's head of NGEN and MFA Foundations, said the three-to-five year career mark was a critical transition 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 and development priorities," Aslanidis said.
"NGEN Management Collective Essentials accelerates the practical skills and confidence needed to thrive as responsibilities grow, while the Mentor Program provides trusted guidance and perspective from experienced industry leaders.
“Together, they reflect the MFA's commitment to building a stronger, future-ready workforce by giving emerging talent the capability, credentials and support to advance."
The programs were developed in response to findings from two MFA whitepapers — The Gen Z Effect and The Workforce of the Future — which identified growing demand among early-career professionals for structured development and recognised credentials, and the need for leaders who can manage change and lead in an AI-enabled environment.
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