Become a Business Mentee

Who can apply to be a mentee?

Mentees are business owners looking to take their enterprise to the next level, benefiting from the guidance and insights of an experienced business professional.

To apply for our Business Mentor Program, you must:

• own a business based in the City of Glen Eira
• not operate under a franchise agreement
• be willing to allocate time in your day to work on your business with a mentor.

If you’re in a partnership, both partners must commit to the Program.

We welcome existing businesses and business intenders in our Program. Existing businesses must have been in business for at least two years. Business intenders have not yet started a business or have operated for less than two years and have an annual turnover of less than $100,000.

Matching with a mentor

We will match you with a mentor based on your needs and goals, as identified in your application. Take the time to think about what you need to succeed, so we can find a mentor best suited to guide you.

In your application, you can nominate up to three preferred mentors based on their business goals, industry interest or professional alignment. While we make every effort to accommodate your preferences, a preferred match isn’t guaranteed.

Final matches will be based on compatibility, availability and the overall needs of the Program so everyone can get the most out of the mentoring relationship.

Who are our mentors?

Meet the mentors who make our Business Mentor Program such a success! Read their profiles and find out what skills, experiences and qualifications they have to offer.

Barry Spanger

Barry is a business veteran with a proven track record, having built and grown several successful ventures, including one of the largest air conditioning component suppliers overseas and a leading vending machine business in Victoria.

With over 20 years of mentoring experience, Barry has supported a wide range of business owners and managers across industries. His MBA and business qualifications, combined with decades of hands-on leadership, enable him to offer practical, honest and objective guidance.

Danny Shafar

Danny has been a business mentor for over 10 years now with three local Councils, following a 40-year career in business. His small business experience has covered a wide range of businesses with revenues from $100,000 to $5M.

His overall approach to mentoring is to review each business across four main perspectives: financial health; marketing and sales, operational management and people, culture and compliance. He works with people across different cultures and backgrounds in a supportive and empathetic way.

David Dean

David is an accomplished senior business executive with extensive experience in small business development and operations. David is known for his visionary thinking, market insight, and ability to drive operational and financial performance.

With over 15 years as a mentor, he has guided startups, NFPs, importers, students, and businesses in retail, property, and health services. His mentoring style is flexible and tailored, drawing on collaborative, coaching, facilitative, technical, and role-modelling approaches.

Garry Warren

Garry is an experienced former CEO and owner of a high-tech manufacturing and software company, with a strong track record in building international businesses. He has served as managing director and held extensive board roles at both Director and Chairman levels.

With deep expertise in strategic planning, growth management, and international expansion, he has consistently led and scaled high-performing technology businesses. Known for his straightforward and practical mentoring style, Garry has supported startups, established businesses, employees, students, and athletes.

Grant Gifford

Grant has owned a range of successful businesses across manufacturing, commercial fishing, and the building industry. For the past 20 years, he has been active in commercial property, focusing on ownership and lease negotiations.

Grant also co-owned Australian Business Relocations, managing corporate relocations involving both transport and logistics. His mentoring style is casual, preferring to let mentee speak and focusing on helping time-poor and financially struggling business owners turn their businesses around.

Dr Mervyn Cass

Mervyn is a retired doctor and former GP with over 50 years of experience in medical practice. He built and expanded a general practice in Port Melbourne, which became a significant local employer. He served as an advisor to the Victorian Government on workers’ compensation medical matters and held various board and management roles.

Mervyn was also a Medical Director of Plastic Surgery Centre and Director and advisor to State Government, trade unions , insurers, and employers on medical aspects of workers compensation. For the past five years, he has mentored allied health practitioners, providing professional guidance informed by his extensive clinical and leadership background.

Lester Sacks

Lester is a successful entrepreneur with a strong background in the automotive and hospitality industries. He founded and grew South Africa’s largest motorcycle retail and motor spares businesses before moving to Australia and launching Nando’s Australia in 1990. Under his leadership, Nando’s expanded to 311 restaurants across Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji by 2012.

After selling his interests, he remained with the company until 2014, then led a major property development project in East Bentleigh. Now retired, Lester offers mentoring with empathy and practical insight to support entrepreneurs through the challenges of business growth.

Louis Klein

Louis bring a commercial degree and over 40 years of business experience in the furniture and appliances sector. This includes growing and exiting a successful furniture franchise and leading a second-generation family business.

Louis also established a highly successful commercial fit-out business, scaling it to be among the top five office furniture businesses in Australia. He has passion for connecting with leaders and understanding their business problems, with his ability to apply his experience.

Megan Spackman

Megan is a senior facilitator with over 30 years of experience delivering sales, leadership, coaching, and customer service training across a wide range of industries in Australia and internationally. She holds a Bachelor of Adult Learning & Development from Monash University.

Megan works effectively with individuals at all levels, from frontline staff to senior executives. Her mentoring style is open, friendly, and encouraging, creating a supportive environment through warmth, compassion, and a sense of humour.

Sid Davidoff

Sid has over 50 years of experience in property development, management, and consulting across South Africa and Australia. He has led complex developments from site acquisition to construction, sales, and leasing. He has advised retail clients on lease negotiations, market positioning, and strategic business decisions.

He has been at the coalface of both small and large businesses, and he feels confident to be able to assist a mentee to solve problems. His mentoring style is consultative – he listens first, then guides mentees through challenges with a focus on growth, strategy, and problem-solving.

Steps to success

Apply now

Fill out the simple online application form to join our Program as a mentee.

Meet your mentor

Connect with the mentor that we have matched you with. Together, you’ll discuss your business aspirations and chart a course for your mentoring journey. The mentoring relationship is facilitated by Council’s Business Mentor Program Coordinator, who will introduce you and monitor the mentoring relationship. The mentor and mentee will both be required to sign a Confidentiality and Indemnity Deed, as well as the Program Agreement and Code of Conduct.

Three follow-on sessions

You'll meet with your mentor three times after the initial session — meaning you get four free one-on-one sessions over 12 months to help reach your goals. Each session is an opportunity to gain insights, address challenges and work towards your objectives. Be prepared for each meeting, take a proactive role and ask lots of questions. This is your time!

Succeed

With your mentor’s guidance and support, you’ll have the tools and knowledge you need to navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship.