Privacy Policy

This policy explains how the SKIWA Mentoring Program website and members platform (the “Platform”), operated for the SKIWA Mentoring Program (“SKIWA”, “we”, “us”), collects, uses, and protects your personal information. We handle personal information consistently with the Australian Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

What we collect

• Account details — your email address and authentication record (via Google Firebase), or a program access code if you sign in with one.
• Profile information — what you choose to share in your member profile: name, contact preference, industries of interest, goals, strengths and growth areas, skills, personality-type selections, career stage, and meeting preferences. This information exists to match mentees with mentors well.
• Program activity — task answers and reflections, progress and completion data, attendance check-ins at events, and feedback you submit through the Platform.
• AI conversations — messages you type into AI features (such as the Atlas coach and roleplay tools) are processed to generate responses.
• Technical data — anonymous page analytics and performance metrics (via Vercel Analytics and Speed Insights), and standard server logs.

How we use it

• To run the mentoring program: creating mentor–mentee matches, tracking session progress, recording event attendance, and communicating with you about the program.
• Mentor and committee visibility: your task reflections and progress are visible to your matched mentor and to program committee members so they can support you. Profile information is visible to committee members for matching, and relevant parts are shared with your matched mentor.
• To improve the Platform, using aggregate, non-identifying analytics.
• We do not sell personal information or use it for third-party advertising.

AI features

AI features send the text you enter (plus relevant program context, such as which cultures you’re comparing) to third-party AI providers — Google (Gemini API) and Groq — to generate responses. Don’t enter sensitive personal information (yours or anyone else’s) into AI chat. AI responses are generated for educational purposes within the program and may be rate-limited and logged for abuse prevention.

Where your data lives

The Platform is hosted on Vercel, and member data is stored in Google Firebase (Authentication and Cloud Firestore). These providers may process data on servers located outside Australia (including the United States). Some progress and preference data is also stored locally in your browser (localStorage) so the Platform works smoothly between visits.

Cookies and local storage

We use authentication cookies/tokens to keep you signed in, signed access cookies for regional and speaker access, and browser localStorage for your progress, theme, and preference settings. We don’t use third-party advertising cookies.

Security

Member data access is gated server-side by role (mentee, mentor, committee, admin), direct database access from browsers is locked down, sensitive routes are rate-limited, and access codes are validated server-side. No system is perfectly secure, but we take reasonable steps to protect your information.

Retention and deletion

We keep program data for the duration of your cohort and a reasonable period afterwards for program reporting to our funding partners, then de-identify or delete it. You can ask us to access, correct, or delete your personal information at any time — email hello@jacksherrell.com.

Changes and contact

We may update this policy as the Platform evolves; the date above reflects the latest revision. Questions, requests, or complaints: hello@jacksherrell.com. If you’re not satisfied with our response, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (oaic.gov.au).