DAY ONE
9.10 Thriving in the ‘fast lane’: Mastering adaptability in times of change
- Using techniques to bounce back fast and stay positive when the pressure’s on
- Changing gears to pivot quickly and effectively as priorities and strategies evolve
- Turning uncertainty into opportunity by welcoming new challenges with confidence
- Staying ahead of the curve by building habits that keep you agile and ready for whatever comes next.
Dr Jana Pittman, Olympian, Doctor, Mother of Six
10.10 Networking as an Executive Assistant: Acquaint, accommodate, ally
- Leveraging both online platforms and face-to-face events to build a diverse, valuable network and the benefits of each
- Creating beneficial connections, step-by-step, using commonality, clarity, and continuity to deepen relationships
- Understanding the advantages and pitfalls of networking, and striking the right balance for your personality and goals
- Breaking into established circles as a new EA, or deepening your network as experienced EA.
Louise Carter, Leadership, Organisational Design, and Change Specialist
11.20 EA PANEL – Mastering competing demands in high-pressure environments
- Resetting decision-making using next generation AI tools to analyse task importance and urgency
- Mapping impact versus urgency to categorise stakeholder importance and task impact
- Leveraging your resources to delegate beyond ‘traditional’ teams
- Thriving under competing demands by anticipating conflicts before they escalate.
Maryanne DeCruz, EA to Secretary, Attorney-General’s Department
Natalie Hawkes, EA to Assistant Secretary, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communicaions, and the Arts
Rachel Samsa, Diary Manager, Office of the Hon David Littleproud, Commonwealth Parliament of Australia
Lisa Kirkland, EA, Department of Industry, Science and Resources
12.05 Fostering wellness in the modern workplace using inclusive holistic strategies
- Designing personalised wellbeing frameworks to accommodate changing support required to manage changing health dynamics
- Designing policies for the neurodiverse and the gender-diverse and tailoring support for gender specific health issues
- Creating inclusive health action plans for gendered needs and chronic conditions, informed by Australian case studies
- Implementing risk-tracking tools paired with data encryption on a need-to-know basis
Kathleen Harvey, Independent Consultant and Author
13.40 Peak Performance Playbook: Time, Tech, and Energy for EAs
- Decision-making and prioritisation using the 4N’s: Now, next, negotiate, never – a clear framework for handling conflicting requests and managing your tasks list and emails.
- Leveraging the in-built automation tools and incorporating Generative AI into your productivity system
- Creating a personal ‘energy audit’ template to identify your peak performance periods and align high-level tasks with your natural energy cycle
- Incorporating reflection sessions to review progress, recalibrate priorities, and celebrate achievements in how you manage your time.
Mario Halouvas, CEO and Founder, MHPP
14.25 Technical proficiency: Essentials for every EA’s toolbox
- Mastering core digital skills from different platforms as essential competencies for the future
- Taking away practical steps to trial, assess, and integrate tools seamlessly into workflows
- Evaluating tech to balance automation benefits against risks
- Future-proofing tactics for assistants at all levels to stay ahead in technology advancements
Virginia Zander, EA to the CEO, Digital Transformation Agency
15.30 From the sideline to spotlight: Mastering verbal and non-verbal communication for EAs
- Understanding assertive communication in whatever your career phase
- Appreciating where verbal precision and non-verbal cues intersect and what approach is required
- Setting boundaries as an Executive Assistant to avoid the always saying ‘yes’
- Using assertiveness as a tool to elevate strategic influence.
Leona Watson, Speaker, Coach, Motivator, Facilitator, Leona Watson Speaks
16.10 SENIOR EXECUTIVE PANEL – Aligning understanding and direction between Executive/Executive Assistant
- Defining priorities and measuring success from the Executive’s point of view
- Developing the balance between autonomy and collaboration with your Executive Assistant
- Maintaining proactive foresight and diplomacy in stressful circumstances
- Evolving from support roles to strategic advisers.
Tracey Harkness, Senior Practitioner ACT, Office of the Senior Practitioner, Department of Communities ACT
Brad Archer, CEO, Climate Change Authority
Chris Collett, First Assistant Secretary, Children and Families Division, Justice and Communities Group, Attorney-General’s Department
DAY TWO
9.10 EA PANEL – Supportive versus strategic: Reinventing the EA-Executive dynamic
- Growing business acumen and understanding organisational priorities to translate your Executive’s vision into actionable strategies
- Building your strategic toolkit – building trust, setting priorities, anticipating the good and the bad, ‘how are we doing’
- Knowing what partnership success looks like and using partnership elements to maintain that success
- Leveraging emerging technology for predictive scheduling, analysis, and decision-making, whilst keeping your high human value to the forefront
Kara Stevens, Project Support Officer, Landing Craft Branch, Patrol Boats and Specialist Ships Division, Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Group, Department of Defence
Regine Ten Dam, EA, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications
Pippa Gargano, Senior Administration Officer, Western NSW Local Health District
Kyra Breden, EA to Deputy Secretary, Attorney-General’s Department
9.55 Managing your brain for high performance in a challenging environment
- Recognising and managing ‘brain drain’
- Maintaining clarity and focus under pressure
- Implementing brain-friendly habits to support energy and mental agility throughout the workday
Sue Read, Psychologist, Life Unlimited
11.10 Using your ‘high human value’ with Copilot to build synergy and rhythm in your day
- Automating repetitive administrative tasks with Copilot to make time for high-value task focus
- Using Copilot Agents for real-time research, reporting, and data analysis
- Achieving greater efficiency in writing, scheduling, and document creation using Copilot’s features in Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint
- Building a modern digital toolkit to position yourself as a tech-savvy, future-ready Executive Assistant.
Mario Halouvas, CEO and Founder, MHPP
12.10 The growth mindset EA: Building your career in today’s workplace
- Leaping into leadership from the EA role
- Practising skill-stacking to break free from the promotional hierarchy
- Elevating your strategic capabilities with emerging technology while maintaining your ‘high human value’
- Seeking ‘stretch’ opportunities to test leadership capability.
Lydia Milosavljevic, EA to Deputy Secretary, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
13.50 Mastering analytical and critical thinking to unlock your potential
- Breaking down complex problems with confidence and clarity
- Identifying hidden patterns to uncover powerful insights
- Harnessing cutting-edge data visualisation techniques for compelling storytelling
- Proposing data-driven solutions that drive real-world results.
Lachlan McKenzie, Managing Director, White Box Analytics
14.30 EA PANEL – The ‘quiet achiever’ v ‘confidence achiever’: Executive Assistant leadership and influence through delegated authority
- Understanding why influence, not authority, is foundational to effective Executive Assistant leadership
- Using fresh perspectives to create and innovation versus using depth of knowledge to drive change
- Leading without authority’s upside and downside – foster creativity, encourage collaboration, reduce resistance, overcoming limited resources, lack of recognition of success
- Crafting strong relationships and engaging alliances across teams.
Donna Peat, EA to Director-General, National Archives of Australia
Rachael Koorey, EA – Office of the First Assistant Secretary – Infrastructure Division, Department of Defence
Patricia Silvestre, EA, Department of Employment and Workplace Relations