The Evolving EA - Innovative and Adaptive

Being responsive and resourceful with change - why EAs MUST look to the future
to see what they need to do today

Australia's Leading Conference Series for EAs & PAs - July 30th & 31st, QT Canberra

About the Conference

Our keynote speakers

Catriona Pollard

Internationally Renowned Keynote Speaker and Founder & Chief Executive Officer, CP Communications

Catriona Pollard is one of Australia's most dynamic and inspiring presenters Her insights into marketing, communications and social media never fail to enlighten, entertain and inspire audiences. As a highly regarded expert, author, speaker and CEO, Catriona has helped thousands of people use PR and social media to grow their business, and inspire them to take action.

Craig Rispin

Internationally Renowned Futurist and Keynote Speaker, The Future Trends Group

Craig Rispin is a Business Futurist and Innovation Expert with expertise in emerging business, people and technology trends - and how companies can profit from them. Craig has over 20 years experience working where the future has been created, with some of the most innovative companies in the world in the IT, consumer electronics, internet and broadcasting industries. He is an award-winning speaker and has addressed audiences as large as 16,000 people on 5 continents and has consulted with CEOs of leading companies worldwide. He is also the World's Highest Rated Keynote Speaker on LinkedIn with over 500 recommendations.

Heidi Dening

Keynote Speaker and Global Advisor

Heidi Dening, CEO of Workable Wellness is a sought-after keynote speaker, award-winning business owner, and author of a self-leadership book Her Middle Name Is Courage. She is the only Australian to be selected for a global advisory position with IWBI; about how our workplaces impact our mental health, and the influence this has on our cognitive ability and performance.

Steuart Snooks

Chief Executive Officer, Solutions for Success

Steuart Snooks is an E-mail & Workplace Productivity Expert who works with senior executives and their assistants who are seeking practical, effective and affordable solutions to the relentless demands of email and the workload it delivers. He has over 20 years' experience in researching and developing best practices for managing email and restoring it to its rightful place as a powerful tool to facilitate improved workplace and personal productivity. What he teaches can change the way you work . . . forever!

Jonathan McIlroy

Executive Director, Education and Learning, Executive Assistant Academy

Jonathan has over 20 years' experience in senior management and executive positions and has worked in industries as diverse as banking and finance, education and training, events management and even politics before co-founding Executive Assistant Network.

Robert Taylor

Senior Consultant, Executive Assistant Academy

Robert has over 25 years of experience in sales, marketing, business management & training combined with owning & operating own business in the exhibition events sector and holds tertiary qualifications in Economics, Marketing & Training. He has worked in a variety of roles for global corporations, SME's & training organizations in both Australia & overseas.

David Thomson

Manager, Education & Training, Executive Assistant Academy

David has a unique mix of training, facilitation, instructional design and coaching skills at all levels combined with over 18 years of strategic business and sales experience. Throughout his career he has worked across a wide range of industry sectors with large corporates, small to medium businesses and within the public sector.

Sally Dooley

Professional Facilitator, Speaker, Executive Coach

Over twenty years, Sally has worked with thousands of leaders and individuals in government, private and community sectors, specialising in a wide range of leadership, people management and personal development areas. Sally has a Masters in Training and Development, is an international best selling author and TEDx speaker and speaker coach.

Andrew Matthews

International Speaker & Bestselling Author

Andrew Matthews is an international speaker on happiness and enjoying work. He has addressed over a thousand international corporations. Andrewâ??s books, including "Being Happy" and "Follow Your Heart" have sold over 7 million copies in 43 languages in 70 countries. Andrew has made over 5,000 radio and TV appearances on 5 continents.

Phillip A. Jones

Director, Two Degrees Group

Phillip Jones has over 20 years as a consultant specialising in strategy ,culture and stakeholder engagement, with highly developed facilitator skills. He has also been contracted to provide strategic advice and support to SES in the role of Executive Officer in a large Commonwealth Department. His clients have included the Department of Social Services, the Australian National Botanic Gardens, the Department of Finance, Canberra Institute of Technology and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.

Federico Re

Entrepreneurship Coach / Startup Consultant / Business Journalist

For over two decades, Federico Re has built his reputation as an entrepreneurship coach, motivational speaker, journalist, and business writer. He is the founder of ‘Creative Entrepreneur’, a Melbourne coaching practice tailored for aspiring entrepreneurs, SME business owners and CEO’s. He is also the host of ‘InspireTalk’ – a disruptive TV show showcasing the success stories of world-class business leaders. Federico was trained at the 'Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship' in South Africa, and is featured on a number of high profile magazines, on subjects relating to entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation, technology, and education.

Senior Corporate Speakers

Adrian King

Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers

Adrian King is a Partner within the Assurance business of PwC and has worked with the Firm since 2002. He is married to Clare, a public health physician and they have two kids who keep their diaries well and truly full. Adrian is also a Board Member and Treasurer of Havelock Housing Association. Adrian also wouldn't be where he is today (probably literally) if it were not for the work and support of a number of amazing EA's over the years.

Barnie van Wyk

Chief Executive Officer, St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra/Goulburn

Barnie van Wyk has 22 years of Board and professional experience in governance, strategic change management, business, risk management, sales and financial management in the Private, Public and Not for Profit Sectors as Managing Director of CEO. He holds qualifications in law, finance and accounting and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Jonathan Smithers

Chief Executive Officer, Law Council of Australia

Jonathan Smithers is the Chief Executive Officer of the Law Council of Australia. The Law Council is the peak national body representing over 65,000 lawyers across all the State and Territories. He joined in September 2016, directly after completing his term as President of the Law Society of England & Wales.

Suzanne Schultz

ACT Manager, Australian Institute of Company Directors

As an organisational leader Suzanne has worked in the state and Australian public sector, not for profit community sector, medium and large private businesses. She is an Organisational Psychologist, Board Director and mentor with a keen interest in supporting learning and development in the workplace.

Monica Penders

Chief Executive Officer, Screen Canberra

Monica is currently the CEO of Screen Canberra the office of film TV and digital media. She has had a varied career from film producing, pr, advertising and project management in a variety of industries and worked around the world - New York, London and Hungary.

Dr Raechel Johns

Head of School of Management, University of Canberra

Dr Raechel Johns is an Associate Professor in Marketing and the Head of the School of Business at the University of Canberra. Her research interests relate to service management - technology use, customer wellbeing and value. Raechel is widely published and consults in all service management areas.

Sarah Lowe

Director of Recruiting Services, Defence Force Recruiting, ManpowerGroup Australia

Sarah is a professional recruiter specialising in complex, high volume recruitment contracts across both public and private sectors. In 2012, Sarah joined ManpowerGroup Australia as a National Recruiting Manager for Defence Force Recruiting (DFR) - a collaborative partnership between ManpowerGroup Australia and the Australian Defence Force (ADF). In 2019 Sarah was promoted to the role of Director of Recruiting Services, Defence Force Recruiting. In this role Sarah is responsible for leading all aspects of the DFR contract on behalf of ManpowerGroup.

Lucy Poole

Head of APS MyGov and Government Digital Experience, Digital Transformation Agency

Lucy Poole is the Head of myGov and government digital experience at the Digital Transformation Agency. In this role, Lucy is responsible for improving digital service delivery. Prior to joining the DTA, Lucy held senior roles at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Australian Public Service Commission where she led business transformation to support a high performing, productive and innovative APS. Lucy has experience across a range of sectors including the private sector, Australian federal and state governments, and UK civil service.

Trent Rawlings

Chief Operating Officer, Geoscience Australia

Trent Rawlings is responsible for Finance and Human Resources, Governance and Risk, Communications, Building Services, Business Engagement and Improvement, commodity ICT Services and Security. Prior to joining Geoscience Australia Trent was a General Manager of the Entrepreneurs' Infrastructure Programm at the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science. Previously Trent led the department's facilities management, security, business continuity, parliamentary and ministerial services, the programme management office and information management.

Senior EA & PA Speakers

Riitta Palasrinne

Senior Executive Assistant, Minerals Council of Australia

Ms Riitta Palasrinne is a highly accomplished Senior Executive Assistant and Project Coordinator with a career spanning a number of years in the resources sector, medical device industry and international aid in diverse roles such as operations, supply chain and corporate development and management. She has participated as an international aid volunteer in Russia and Thailand.

Kristy Semple

Executive Assistant, PricewaterhouseCoopers

With a career spanning 25 years, Kristy started at the ground level as a filing clerk and has been supporting senior executives for over 15 years. She has worked in a variety of industries including construction and property, not for profit, telecommunications and local government. As a career EA, Kristy believes there is opportunity in everything and values the importance of building a strong relationship with her Executives by having a high trust relationship built on open, honest and respectful conversations.

Alexas Mcleod

Executive Assistant to Deputy Secretary, Indo-Pacific Group, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Alexas McLeod is the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Secretary for the Indo-Pacific Group at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She joined the Department in 2010 and has over 15 years' experience in administrative roles. Alexas has Diplomas in Administration, Event and Hospitality Management and is currently studying with Curtin University, doing a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Design.

Casi Weber

Executive Assistant to Deputy Ombudsman and Executive Assistant to Principal Advisor, Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman

Casi Weber works as an Executive Assistant at the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, assisting two senior executives. Casi has 20 years' experience working in areas including hospitality, health, administration and finance and prior to her Executive Assistant role she was a self-employed massage therapist for 13 years.

Hannie Bott

Executive Assistant to Director, Recruiting Services Defence Force Recruiting

Hannie has been an EA for over 20 years. Hannie has worked across multiple industries including manufacturing and insurance. Her current role with ManpowerGroup is with Defence Force Recruiting, a Public/Private partnership with the ADF and complex multi stakeholder environment. Her career has encompassed the huge technology changes we face every day.

Andrea Stewart

Executive Assistant to Executive Director Shared Services, Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate, ACT Government

Andrea has had experience in both the public and private sector working in a variety of administration, event planning and sales and marketing roles. Beginning her Public Service career in the Department of Health working with various Executives across the organisation, and more recently commencing a role as the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director of Shared Services, within the Chief Minister Treasury and Economic Development Directorate.

Alyssa Broomby

Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer, Digital Transformation Agency, Australian Government

Alyssa is a passionate and motivated Executive Assistant with experience across the Australian Government. As well as keeping her executives organised and prioritised, Alyssa achieves outcomes by fostering collaboration with key stakeholders, and providing leadership in times of uncertainty and change. These attributes are key to Alyssa's success in a fast paced, highly autonomous role.

Jamie Isaacson

Executive Assistant to the Chief Information Officer, ACT Health Directorate

Jamie has been an EA for approximately 3 years, previously supporting a small air-conditioning company with their scheduling and administration. Jamie is currently working for Peter O'Halloran, Chief Information Officer for ACT Health Directorate. She enjoys organising the chaotic lives of others and that her day is never the same.

Robbie Eason

Executive Assistant to the Assistant Secretary, People Policy and Employment Conditions, Department of Defence

Robbie is an Executive Assistant at the Department of Defence supporting one Senior Executive responsible for most people policy across the department. In addition to his EA role Robbie is a Champion for the Defence Executive Assistant Network.

Cathryn Rodriguez

Executive Assistant, Office of the Director, Dr Brendan Nelson, Australian War Memorial

Cathryn has had an interesting and diverse professional working life. Enlisting in the Royal Australian Air Force at 18 as a Clerk and serving 12 years. After leaving the RAAF she tried her hand at hospitality and retail before returning to Administrative work. Cathryn has been the EA to Dr Brendan Nelson, Director of the Australian War Memorial for over two years.