Executive Assistant Congress agenda

Sir Stamford Circular Quay, Sydney, 15-16 November 2017

	Conference day one – Wednesday 15 November
08.30	Registration
09.00	Opening remarks from the chair
09.10	Celebrating the imperative role of executive assistants and understanding how it is evolving in organisations
	Assessing the pivotal roles of EAs and the impact they have in an organisation The changing and demanding role of today’s executive assistant Addressing the expectations of an ideal EA and going beyond your job description Differentiating your core responsibilities and the responsibilities of other colleagues
	Gayle Edwards, EA to CEO, Zurich Financial Services
09.50	Partnering with your executive in business operations
	Enabling your Executive to function at their highest levels of productivity Fulfilling your role as the Executive’s most trusted strategic business partner Facilitating and protecting your Executive by directing the flow of information to their office Teaming up with your Executive and training them to achieve higher performance levels together
	Cathryn Chawla, Service Operations Administrator, Dimension Data
10.30	Morning Tea
11.00	Applying powerful negotiation skills and strategies as an executive assistant
	Understanding key strategies utilised by effective negotiators Improving your negotiation skills and applying them to your work as an EA Building your credibility and confidence by asking for what you want
	Liz Van Vliet, Coach and Trainer, Being Indispensable
11.55	Panel discussion: Creating a dynamic work culture that promotes team work and minimising complications
	Cultivating an interactive workplace that encourages support and eliminates competition Increasing productivity through lifting people up and making a better workplace culture Creating a strong foundation with a sense of belonging, contribution and value
	Michelle Buckmaster, EA to CEO, APAC, Middle East & Africa, Aon Hewitt Jen Sharrock, EA to the Managing Director, Alcohol & Coffee, Coca- Cola Amatil Michelle Galjaardt, EA to Assistant Secretary Enterprise Governance, Department of Defence Sarah Gonzales, Program Coordinator, Business Change and Solution Delivery, Transport for NSW
12.30	Lunch
13.30	Developing your emotional intelligence as an executive assistant
	Understanding how emotional intelligence works in assisting you to build positive relationships Managing energy and emotion to influence more broadly Increasing positivity through strengthening emotional intelligence
	Anthony Bonnici, Speaker, Trainer & Coach
14.15	Applying effective diary and email management techniques in a paperless environment
	Efficiently dealing with a world of distractions, competing priorities and interests Directing activities and handling pressing issues Keeping up with what’s happening in the office with minimal disturbance
	Yasmin Noakes, EA to CEO, ANSTO
15.00	Afternoon Tea
15.40	Panel discussion: Discovering new challenges in your career path and furthering your professional and personal development
	Enhancing your professional career through crafting your professional identity Finding the next advancement in your career through setting up career aspirations and performance goals Leveraging your strengths and progressing from your current role with exciting new challenges
	Sarah Gonzales, Program Coordinator, Business Change and Solution Delivery, Transport for NSW Michelle Buckmaster, EA to CEO, APAC, Middle East & Africa, Aon Hewitt Gayle Edwards, EA to CEO, Zurich Financial Services Tania Rizoski, Manager, Business & Membership Services, The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia
16.20	Networking: how to make genuine and useful connections without feeling intimidated or overwhelmed
	Recognise networking opportunities Stop networking dread and start enjoying it (Really!) Techniques and tips to develop networking skills How to avoid the three traps of trying to influence without authority Meet other EAs in and out of your department
	Zoë Routh, Leadership Speaker, Trainer and Adventurist, Author of COMPOSURE and MOMENTS
17.00	Networking drinks reception – take advantage of this exciting opportunity to put your newly learned networking skills to practice

	Conference day two – Thursday 16 November 2017
9.00	Opening remarks from the chair
09.10	Navigating diverse personalities and thinking styles in the workplace
	Building your interpersonal skills to enhance your self-awareness Recognising and adapting to personality types and working styles in others Responding to difficult personalities and uncomfortable situations
	Abby Rees, Executive Coach and Director, PUNK PD
09.55	The 100 hats of a successful Executive Assistant
	Being your authentic self Maximising your influence and making an impact Stepping up – creating opportunities and responsibilities without exerting positional authority Engaging in a meaningful way with your Executive team Painting your way as a great EA
	Anthony Carthew, EA to CEO, Sydney Opera House
10.40	Morning Tea
11.10	Panel discussion: Realising the role of a mentor and the benefits of mentorship
	Understanding what a mentor can provide and the significant personal and professional benefits What’s better than learning from your own mistakes? Leaning from other people’s mistakes Seizing career mentoring opportunities for senior EAs and assessing the mutual benefits of the relationship
	Anthony Carthew, EA to CEO, Sydney Opera House Tessa Curtain, EA to Chief Customer Officer, NAB Sam Leckie, EA to CEO, The Australian Linda Viskovic, EA to Deputy Secretary, Growth, Design and Programs, NSW Department of Planning and Environment
11.50	Panel Discussion: Tips from the top – what are your executives expecting?
	Building mutual respect between EAs and their executives What do executives require from their EAs? Supporting EAs in their role to support you as an executive Assisting the boss with key performance indicators
	Gilly Neeley, National Manager, People and Integrity, Austrac Fatima Abas, Director People and Culture, Sydney Opera House David Coyne, Regional Manager, NSW Sydney Region, National Disability Insurance Agency
12.50	Lunch
13.50	Interactive roundtables for personal growth and development
	These inspiring roundtable discussions will enable you to discuss and exchange ideas with other fellow EAs from different government departments. Make a difference from today on: Crafting Your Professional Identity: How to create a professional identity that enhances your career, reputation and wellbeing – Abby Rees, Director, PUNK PD Effective Minute taking in Meetings: Explore topics and techniques to capture effective minutes for all the different types of meetings you attend – Mario Halouvas, National Learning & Development Manager, Priority Management Australia Influencing: taking ownership and exerting influence in your workplace – Anthony Bonnici, Speaker, Trainer & Coach Managing Up: managing your manager – Liz Van Vliet, Coach and Trainer, Being Indispensable
14.30	Your Time Matters: Creating the freedom to focus on what matters most
	At a point in Australia’s history when productivity is becoming so critical and new technology is rapidly emerging, we invite you to this presentation to hear the latest research on how information overload affects your productivity and you can use technology to simplify your duties as an Assistant. Increase your productivity through 5 core Time Management principles Achieve your goals through greater focus and energy Focus on the important whilst better managing distractions Discover new technology and program applications that can support you as an EA Don’t live your life in the default mode Mater the technical skills and overcome the challenges of new technology with your senior executive
	Mario Halouvas, National Learning & Development Manager, Priority Management Australia
15.30	Closing remarks from the chair and end of conference