A serendipitous chance encounter at a conference between a fourth party and the lead author sparked a discussion that ultimately introduced all three participants in this narrative via email and a realisation that something professionally exciting was about to emerge.

We created a meeting in Papua New Guinea (PNG) in February 2020, on the eve of COVID-19, to explore the possibility of forming a Critical Care Nursing Society and a series of activities and learning opportunities. We have never met since due to COVID-19, but the work has continued. We describe a three-way mentoring relationship that has a reciprocal effect whereby all three influence one another in our thoughts, decision-making and learning process, acknowledging we all have unique expertise in various aspects of our shared learning relationship. Despite position and status difference that are obvious between us and our roles, the ability to be influenced and to learn and grow from one another’s input feels equal because of the unique and powerful skill sets of all three participants in an informal yet very deliberate and beneficial mentoring arrangement. The inspiration to develop a new nursing society in PNG and the drive to want to see this idea grow and flourish, nurtures our desire to stay connected and to work together throughout the COVID-19 years despite only ever having met (in person) once, such is the power of technology in the modern era.