Army veteran Peter Whitelaw first joined the Soldier On Mentoring Program in 2024 to help others recognise their post-service potential. With more than 40 years of leadership experience and a personal understanding of the challenges that veterans can face in defining their career goals, he’s had an undeniable impact.
Peter’s connection to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) runs deep.
‘My interest in the military comes from both my grandfather’s having fought in WWI, my father having served in WWII, our eldest son served recently with Special Forces in the Middle East, and our eldest grandson is now an Army Reservist,’ he said.
Given his background of lived experience as both a family member and veteran, whose personal journey of service and leadership began as a 20-year-old when he was conscripted into the Army in 1966, Peter recognises the uniqueness of the Soldier On Mentoring Program — in the way it adapts to the individual needs of veterans, current service members and their families at every stage of their journey.
Stronger Together
Mentoring creates a dynamic exchange where both the mentor and mentee benefit.
‘It takes a brave person to ask for help, particularly if they have been struggling in their career. The most rewarding aspect for me is observing a mentee learn about themselves, gain more confidence, acquire new skills and develop the next stages in their career,’ Peter said.
Michael Dagger, who was paired with Peter as a mentee in Cohort 1 of 2024, experienced this transformation firsthand.
‘Every week, Peter comes back at me and throws out different ideas for development…we’ve done spreadsheets, worksheets, questionnaires, skill-building exercises, and Peter even sent relevant literature by mail; it’s all been incredibly beneficial to me.’
This dedication led Michael to a life-changing achievement — securing the role of Defence Contract Manager at CHC Helicopters in May 2024. It’s a role that enables him to apply his Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) experience and newfound leadership skills.
Peter’s philosophy on mentorship is one of personal empowerment and growth.
‘I feel the real value of a mentoring relationship is tailoring the program to suit the individual and that means being rigorous about goal setting, making tangible progress, and being able to adapt to changing needs,’ he said. ‘My satisfaction is watching them grow.’
Make an Impact, Become a Mentor
For Peter, effective mentoring is built on trust and emotional intelligence.
‘A strong leader is one who develops their people. I have been fortunate to have worked with some inspiring leaders, and I have always sought to grow the capabilities of the people around me.
‘Mentoring is really about being a trusted adviser. If you can appreciate and apply emotional intelligence, you will be an effective mentor. The rest is all about sharing your knowledge and experience in a way that helps the mentee learn new skills that will assist them in their career transitions.’
In March 2025, Peter shared his knowledge through four mentoring coaching sessions, helping aspiring and current mentors strengthen their leadership skills to make a meaningful difference.
With mentors like Peter leading the way, Soldier On is excited to see the success of Cohort 1 2025, running from 3 March – to 4 July. We’re proud to have mentors like Peter, whose passion for coaching and guiding others continues to create genuine lasting, and transformative change.
Interested in becoming a mentor for the Soldier On Mentoring program? Contact our team: education@soldieron.org.au
