The club had previously stressed that the work to identify a new coaching set up would only commence once the team's playing season had come to an end, despite media reports over the weekend incorrectly suggesting interviews had already taken place.
With the game at London Irish last Saturday the final fixture of the 2011-12 season, the quest is now genuinely underway as Walkinshaw stressed to the Gloucester Citizen.
"We've had more than 30 CVs now, and we have a shortlist of 12. The standard of applicants has been very high, and in terms of those we have not shortlisted, that has nothing to do with their credentials.
"It is just that they are not the right people for the job, or the right people to coach at Gloucester.
"I think it is important to reiterate we have made no decisions whatsoever.
"The interviews are only just starting - we made a point of waiting until the end of the season, but also, we had a lot of research to do on all the potential candidates.
"We have spoken to as many people as we can and gained as much information as possible, and now we feel in a position to move forward into a rigorous interview process."
The applications have come in from various time zones, and from both hemisphere, which has afforded Walkinshaw the opportunity to combine a pre planned business trip to Australia with a chance to talk to several candidates face to face.
"Initially I had feared I would be away during the two most vital weeks of the process, but in fact it has worked out very well, because it means I can meet and interview several of the candidates while I am over there."
