Conference Program
The Corporate PA Summit program is designed to deliver content that is cutting-edge, highly beneficial, easily transferable, empowering and inspirational. It’s designed specifically to help you fulfil your potential and be the best you can be.
The full 2025 program can be found below:
8:30 – ATTENDEE REGISTRATION
9:00 – OPENING REMARKS FROM THE CHAIR, DANI FENNESSY
Navigating high-pressure situations and challenges is a daily reality for EAs. How can you maintain your confidence, transform setbacks into opportunities and emerge stronger from each experience? This session, led by renowned clinical and organisational psychologist Rajna Bogdanovic, will equip you with the mindset, tools, and strategies to not only thrive under pressure but to harness challenges as catalysts for growth.
Rajna draws on her extensive experience working in high-stress environments—from frontline mental health support for war crime victims to her role as a police and fire service psychologist. This session will help you develop the mental resilience to approach obstacles with a positive, solutions-oriented mindset and will empower you to lead with confidence, even in the most difficult of circumstances.
- Gain a deeper understanding of how pressure impacts your mind and body, and learn how to use this knowledge to your advantage
- Discover practical techniques to build resilience and stay calm, focused, and confident when faced with challenging situations
- Learn how to reframe obstacles as opportunities for growth and innovation, and develop a problem-solving mindset
- Explore strategies for projecting confidence in high-stress situations, even when you may not feel fully confident inside
- Understand the importance of self-care in maintaining long-term resilience, and discover simple practices to support your mental health
In the world of elite sports, achieving peak performance requires more than just talent. It takes mindset, dedication, teamwork, and the drive to be the best version of yourself every day. As a World Champion, dual Olympian, and one of New Zealand’s most decorated athletes, Alicia Hoskin knows what it takes to perform at the highest level and achieve greatness.
In this powerful session, Alicia will share insights from her journey to Olympic gold and what it means to contribute to a high-performance team. She’ll explore how the principles of athletic success can be applied to your career as an EA, empowering you to reach your full potential, perform at your best, and celebrate your achievements. Alicia will inspire you to bring your best self to work every day, embrace a winning mindset, and harness the power of teamwork to achieve remarkable results.
- Discover the mindset techniques used by elite athletes to stay focused, driven, and committed to excellence
- Learn practical strategies to unlock your peak performance as an EA
- Explore how to foster a culture of teamwork, collaboration, and mutual support, inspired by Alicia’s experience in the ‘black boat.’
- Understand how the principles of goal-setting, consistency, and resilience used by Olympians can help you achieve success in your professional life.
- Embrace the importance of celebrating achievements and acknowledging progress on your journey to excellence
- Gain practical advice on how to bring your unique qualities and strengths to your role, every single day
10:45 – MORNING COFFEE
Success isn’t defined by titles, awards, or external recognition—it’s about creating a life and career that aligns with your values, passions, and sense of purpose. As an EA or PA, you have the power to shape your career, making it a role that brings you joy, meaning, and fulfillment. In this inspiring session, entrepreneur, storyteller, and thought leader Cassie Roma will share her insights on how to become the master of your own destiny, ensuring your career is something you love.
Cassie will challenge you to break free from conventional ideas of success and embrace the power of curiosity, creativity, and connection. She’ll explore how to build a career that leverages your strengths, aligns with your passions, and empowers you to do more of what you love while doing less of what you don’t. By tapping into your purpose and redefining your approach to work, you’ll be equipped to bring more energy, impact, and joy into your role as an EA or PA.
- Learn how to define success on your own terms and create a career that aligns with your personal values and passions
- Discover how embracing curiosity and creativity can unlock new opportunities and help you add value in your role
- Identify and leverage your unique strengths to design a career that allows you to do more of what you love.
- Understand how to foster meaningful connections with your executive, team, and colleagues to drive positive culture and collaboration
- Gain practical strategies for taking control of your career trajectory and creating a future you’re excited about
- Embrace the importance of celebrating achievements, both big and small, as a key component of long-term happiness and success
In an era defined by rapid technological advancement and constant change, the role of the EA has evolved far beyond traditional tasks. Today, EAs are being called to be strategic thinkers, value-driven partners, and catalysts for success within their organisations. In this empowering session, Becky Kaapuni, Senior EA at Salesforce, CEO and Founder of The EA Social Club, and author of The Unstoppable EA, will guide you on a journey to unlock your true potential and redefine what it means to truly be an unstoppable EA.
Drawing on her experience navigating the C-suite at powerhouse companies like Salesforce, Twitter, and Goldman Sachs, Becky will share insights from her book and her career on how to embrace your strengths, step into a strategic role, and find a true sense of purpose. You’ll discover how to transform chaos into opportunity, rise above challenges, and claim your worth as a vital partner in your organisation’s success.
- Learn how to harness your unique strengths and unlock the untapped potential within yourself as an EA
- Discover how to elevate your role beyond traditional tasks, becoming a value-driven, strategic partner to your executive and organisation
- Understand how to find a sense of purpose in your work, driving greater impact and fulfillment in an age of constant change
- Gain the confidence to claim your worth, advocate for yourself, and become the boss of your own life and career
- Discover the value of building genuine relationships within the EA community, and how to leverage this support network for ongoing growth and success
12:45 – LUNCH BREAK
The future of work is about more than just technology—it’s about people, connection, and how we adapt to new ways of working. As an EA or PA, you play a vital role in helping your organisation and its leaders navigate the complexities of a rapidly evolving workplace. In this thought-provoking session, futurist and organisational designer Victoria Mulligan will explore the human side of the future of work and how EAs and PAs can continue to add value as essential partners to their executives.
Drawing on her extensive experience advising CEOs, strategists, and executive teams, Victoria will provide insights into the trends shaping the future of work. You’ll learn how to embrace adaptability, foster collaboration, and apply forward-thinking strategies to thrive in an environment that values human-centered approaches, creativity, and innovation.
- Discover how to remain a critical and irreplaceable partner by embracing human-centered design principles in your approach to work
- Identify the key skills and mindsets EAs and PAs need to stay relevant and add value in the workplace of tomorrow
- Learn how to navigate uncertainty and lead with confidence in an environment of constant change and transformation
- Explore strategies for deepening your partnership with your executive and team, ensuring you’re seen as a trusted advisor and essential part of the leadership process
- Gain practical tools to think like a futurist, applying foresight to anticipate challenges and opportunities for your role and organisation
- Understand how to foster a culture of innovation, creativity, and collaboration to support your team’s success in a rapidly changing world
In an era of rapid technological advancement, the role of the Executive Assistant is transforming like never before. The rise of artificial intelligence and sophisticated software solutions presents both challenges and opportunities for professionals in these roles. Technology is empowering EAs to expand their skill sets, increase productivity, and transition into more strategic, value-driven roles within their organisations.
Futurist Dave Wild, author of Futurework – A Guidebook for The Future of Work, will guide you through an exploration of how to harness the evolving power of technology to stay ahead of the curve. With a focus on AI’s three evolving meanings—Artificial Intelligence, Assisted Intelligence, and Adaptive Intelligence—Dave will help you understand how to leverage your own AI to become a more strategic, indispensable partner within your organisation.
This interactive session will include opportunities for you to share your own experiences with technology in your role and learn from other attendees, creating a dynamic exchange of ideas on how best to navigate this technological shift.
- Understand how to use Artificial Intelligence tools to free up your time for higher-level responsibilities and contribute more strategically to your organisation
- Discover how to leverage Assisted Intelligence to enhance your effectiveness, making you an even more critical contributor to your colleagues and organisation.
- Develop Adaptive Intelligence skills to navigate complex, rapidly changing environments with confidence and creativity
- Learn strategies for staying up-to-date with the latest technological advancements and integrating them into your daily workflow effectively
- Explore how continuous learning and adaptability to technological change can open new career paths and opportunities for advancement within your role
- Engage in an interactive discussion where you’ll share your experiences with technology, gain insights from others, and discover practical ways to overcome challenges and maximise the benefits of tech tools in your work environment
15:30 – AFTERNOON BREAK
16:00
CLOSING KEYNOTE: CONNECT WITH CONFIDENCE, AND BUILD STRONG PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
In today’s fast-paced digital world, EAs face constant pressure to connect quickly. This keynote equips you with practical tools to understand diverse communication styles and cultivate meaningful professional relationships crucial to your role.
Amy’s engaging approach provides actionable insights to boost confidence in navigating conversations with precision. Hone your communication skills to connect authentically and effectively across various corporate settings.
This presentation delivers concrete strategies for impactful communication and fostering enduring connections vital for success in today’s corporate landscape.
- Understand your natural communication, negotiation and operating style
- What does it take to communicate with courage?
- How to connect with diverse personalities and deal with potential conflict
- Create strong and long-lasting relationships with colleagues and clients
- Overcome feelings of self-doubt and anxiety and master courageous conversations
- Managing emotions at work
- Find your voice – in a group, meeting, when public speaking or in one-on-one situations
- Building your personal brand, and how to best present yourself when communicating online
17:00 – SPONSOR PRIZE DRAWS
17:10 – CLOSING REMARKS FROM THE CHAIR, FOLLOWED BY NETWORKING DRINKS
An absolutely inspiring day that has provided me with valuable tools to use on a daily basis. Great insightful presentations delivered with passion. Very grateful to have participated in this conference.
Bunnings