PA Forum is PROUD to be celebrating our 10th year as a community together and we are delighted to deliver the biggest, full day, dedicated learning event specifically for PAs, EAs, VAs, Office Managers and Business Support Professionals across the Midlands.

There will be plenty of opportunity to meet and network with your fellow peers and colleagues throughout the day as well as further building your connections across a whole range of suppliers we have joining us for the day, all of whom are really looking forward to meeting you!

We open the day all together at the main stage with our a whole host of inspirational, motivational, educational and aspirational keynote speakers, there will be plenty of breaks, time to top up with unlimited tea, coffee and refreshments included throughout the day and lunch is included for you.

During YOUR time at conference you can select 3 sessions you would like to attend as part of YOUR day across 3 different theatres and learning zones, each full of great speakers that hopefully match the direction of learning and what is important for where you feel you are right now in your personal and professional career journey. These sessions are designed to offer some real, tangible take aways to be able to bring back to your office and implement immediately or as part of your long term strategic plan!

These stages include:

• AI and Tech Theatre
• Strategic Influence
• Skills of the Future

If there are multiple colleague attending from your company we recommend that at this stage of the day you split up, attend the various stages and use this as an opportunity to share your learning with each other when you come back to the office

Our Speakers

We have a packed schedule of speakers who will be appearing throughout the day including keynote speakers on the main stage to specialised stages with speakers on our selected topics.

On the main stage, our keynote speakers will be Helen Seymour and Rosie Stevenson, Helen was world’s first female Eurofighter Typhoon pilot who spent over two decades serving in the RAF and Rosie is a former RAF Tornado F3 navigator.  Our other keynote speaker will be Dr Naeema Pasha, a leading voice in AI.

Helen Seymour & Rosie Stevenson

Helen and Rosie are pioneering former RAF fast-jet aircrew and one of the world’s first all-female fighter jet crews, navigating the high-stakes environment of supersonic aviation where trust, rapid decision-making and teamwork were essential for mission success. In a traditionally male-dominated field, they proved that excellence depends on mindset, preparation and resilience – not gender. Their shared experiences of operating under extreme pressure forged a bond that has shaped their unique approach to leadership and performance.

Drawing on decades of operational expertise, they co-founded On A Mission to bring the hard-won lessons of the cockpit directly to organisations worldwide. Their dynamic, dual-perspective keynotes – pilot and navigator – provide practical, memorable insights on leadership, collaboration, psychological safety, communication and performing at your absolute best when the stakes are high.

Trusted by global corporates, public sector leaders and major conferences, Helen and Rosie captivate audiences with warmth, authenticity and humour. Their message is bold and empowering: challenge limitations, rewrite the rules, and discover what becomes possible when you dare to back yourself. By sharing their story, they inspire teams to trust, focus, and thrive under pressure, turning high-performance theory into real-world impact.

Dr. Naeema Pasha – AI & Tech

Naeema is a renowned expert and leading voice in AI, diversity, careers and skilling, shaping the future of work with a focus on ethical and inclusive practices.

She established and led the World of Work (WOW) Institute at Henley, spearheading groundbreaking research such as The Equity Effect, a report which illuminated racial disparities in UK businesses, and Privacy Ltd, a short film critically examining the ethical implications of facial recognition technology.

She has also researched generational differences in workplaces, looking at trends such as ‘lazy-girl jobs’ and ‘anti-work’.

Plus, has researched and taught on the topics of change, resilience and caring in the workplace.

As an independent consultant, Naeema collaborates with organisations and institutions, providing strategic guidance on AI, diversity, resilience and skills development projects.

Notably, she contributed to a United Nations paper addressing the potential risks of generative AI.

She co-authored the book “Futureproof Your Career”, empowering individuals to navigate the evolving work landscape, and her latest book chapter delves into AI coachbots and the impact of a dehumanised work environment.

Naeema is a Visiting Fellow at Henley Business School and was named by the Institute of Internal Communication as one of the top 50 worldwide influencers on AI ethics.

Naeema is also Principal Practitioner with the Association of Business Psychologists.

Nick Elston

Nick Elston is an award-winning keynote speaker, writer and Founder of Forging People, known for delivering transformational sessions around mental health, resilience, communication and lived experience. Following his own journey through breakdown, anxiety disorders and recovery, Nick has become one of the UK’s leading voices in helping people navigate adversity and create meaningful change in life and work. He has delivered talks for organisations including Deloitte, American Express, NHS, Tesco, BBC and Virgin Media O2, and is widely recognised for his ability to reach resistant audiences through humour, honesty and emotional connection. Alongside speaking, Nick is a respected writer and contributor across the professional development and wellbeing space, regularly featured by industry publications and leadership platforms for his practical, human approach to mental health and personal growth.

Find Your Voice: Forging Ahead Through Change, Confidence & Conversation

In a world where PA, EA, VA and administrative professionals are expected to hold everything together for everyone else, it can become easy to lose confidence in our own voice, value and wellbeing. In this powerful, high-energy and deeply relatable keynote, award-winning speaker Nick Elston shares his lived experience of burnout, breakdown and rebuilding, alongside practical tools to help professionals navigate pressure, change and expectation without losing themselves in the process. Blending humour, honesty and actionable insight, this session explores resilience, emotional leadership, boundaries, communication and confidence in a way that feels human, practical and immediately usable. Delegates will leave feeling re-energised, empowered and reminded that their role is not just operational, but transformational.

Seven Learning Points

• How to navigate change and uncertainty without losing confidence or clarity
• The difference between mental health and mental illness and why understanding both matters at work
• How boundaries protect energy, performance and long-term wellbeing
• Why conditioning and people-pleasing can lead to burnout and overwhelm
• Practical strategies to build resilience during pressure, challenge and constant change
• The power of emotional connection, communication and courageous conversations
• How to “forge ahead” by changing your narrative, recognising your value and finding your voice

Kevin Hall

Kevin is a Master Coach, Facilitator and Trainer. Following a successful corporate career in L&D,  Kevin has been working with Entrepreneurs and Business Owners for the last 15 years. Kevin has a passion for Leadership, Management and how to create peak performance in the workplace

Session Synopsis

If your one-to-ones get cancelled, drift into admin, or become a rushed “what’s on fire?” chat — you’re not alone. But that meeting is often the difference between being reactive all week… and being genuinely effective.

In this practical session you’ll learn how to run one-to-ones that create clarity, prevent miscommunication, and protect both of your time. You’ll leave with a simple structure, how to set expectations, and how to keep the meeting on track — even when your exec is busy, distracted, or entrepreneurial.

Learning Outcomes:

• Create a one-to-one structure that balances priorities, decisions, risks, and forward planning

• Prepare efficiently so you bring clarity (not a messy list of problems)

• Reduce cancellations by positioning one-to-ones as a business-critical habit

• Manage boundaries and expectations without sounding difficult

• Use one-to-ones to improve trust, alignment, and decision-making speed

Audrie Woodhouse

Audrie is an international speaking and communications trainer, executive coach and
founder/director of Honestly Speaking.  Audrie partners with prestigious organisations including the NHS, MET Police, The Home Office, Network Rail, IGWealth, Canada and Ecole Nationale de la Magistrature, Paris; designing and delivering dynamic speaking and communication training and executive coaching with impressive results.

As a keynote speaker, she has headlined at events in the UK and abroad for organisations such as HSBC and at locations including The Kings Fund and the American Embassy.  As well as her leadership experience in business, Audrie has spent more than thirty years in media, theatre, film and television with credits including BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Audrie also works behind the scenes as a secret weapon to an exhaustive range of leaders with an end-to-end service, ensuring peak performance as well as sophisticated, authentic, and faultless performances

Session Synopsis

Getting in the room is one thing. Knowing what to do once you’re there — and how to use your voice confidently in a senior environment — is another. This session is for experienced PAs/EAs who are ready to step up: contribute ideas, influence outcomes, and lead with confidence without feeling like an imposter.

We’ll explore how to communicate with impact, how to offer views without overstepping, and how to move from “supporting leadership” to being part of it. We’ll also touch on coaching-style leadership: how to help others think, take ownership, and raise the standard around you.

Learning Outcomes

• Contribute confidently in senior spaces without second-guessing yourself

• Communicate ideas clearly and succinctly to gain buy-in

• Build executive presence through preparation, framing, and timing

• Use basic coaching techniques to develop others and reduce dependency

• Move from “reactive support” to “strategic partnership” behaviours

Julie Philips and Emma KIng, The Power Of Two

Emma and I form an amazing duo who have honed the business owner and second-in-command relationship over the years. We understand the pitfalls, frustrations, and challenges that come with running a business as well as the incredible impact a well-aligned team can bring. Our hands-on coaching and proven strategies have empowered countless business owners and their operators to enjoy more time, increased revenue, and reduced stress while achieving sustainable, profitable growth.

With our expertise and commitment to values and integrity, we’re ready to help you unlock your business’s full potential. At It Takes Two, we’re dedicated to helping business owners and their second-in-commands collaborate effectively, ensuring your business thrives in today’s competitive landscape.

Session Synopsis

A high-performing executive partnership isn’t about being “helpful”. It’s about becoming a strategic force-multiplier. In this conversational session, Emma and Julie share what they’ve learned from seven years in a CEO/COO partnership — including the friction, the breakthroughs, and the practical behaviours that build trust fast.

You’ll explore how different working styles collide (big-picture vs detail, speed vs certainty), how to stop “mind-reading” what your exec wants, and how to create the habits that keep you aligned. We’ll also tackle the AI conversation head-on: how to embrace it ethically, confidently, and without falling into “good girl syndrome” — because the assistants who learn to use AI well won’t be replaced; they’ll be promoted.

Learning Outcomes 

• Recognise the “superpower” you bring to your executive partnership — and how to position it

• Understand common exec/operator working-style clashes and how to meet in the middle

• Build trust through simple partnership habits (cadence, clarity, and expectations)

• Learn how to talk about AI confidently (even if your organisation is cautious)

• Spot mindset traps that hold assistants back from using AI and modern tools

Delicious Orie

Delicious Orie is a former British heavyweight boxer who rose quickly through the ranks.

Starting boxing at 18, he went to win major titles including the Commonwealth and European gold medals and becoming an Olympian for Team GB before briefly turning professional. After a short pro career, he chose to step away from boxing to pursue a future in financial services, drawing on his academic background and love for economics.

Born in Russia and moving to the UK at age seven, Delicious Orie has drawn on his personal journey to speak openly about mental health, resilience and the pursuit of fulfilment. He has been open about the pressures of elite sport and the importance of finding purpose beyond competition, aiming to inspire others to prioritise well-being and long-term fulfilment over external expectations.

Owen Piddock, Realise Training

Hi, I’m Owen, Head of Learning Technology and Product at Realise. With more than a decade of experience in education and training, I’ve built my career around helping people, programmes, and organisations succeed in complex, fast-paced environments. My focus has always been on bringing clarity, structure and direction to work that can often feel overwhelming — whether that’s designing impactful programmes, leading high-performing teams, or helping organisations make better use of digital tools and technology.

I’m particularly passionate about helping people move beyond reactive ways of working and create space for more thoughtful planning and decision-making. In my experience, the biggest challenge is rarely the execution itself — it’s making sense of the complexity at the outset.

Here, you can expect practical ideas, honest insights, and occasional humour along the way.

Session Synopsis

Bringing Clarity to the Chaos: Practical planning for even better outcomes.

Most of us don’t think of ourselves as project managers – but if your work involves organising, coordinating or bringing something new into existence, you’re already doing the job.

In this interactive session, we’ll challenge the idea that project management is all about tasks and timelines. Instead, we’ll explore why the real work happens before any action beings – and how better planning can reduce stress, improve clarity and make everything else easier; and by the end, you’ll have a simple tool that will help you move from reactive, task driven work to structured and confident planning you can use straight away in your role!

Session outcomes:

• Re-define the concept of a ‘project manager’
• Define the role and importance of effective planning
• Apply a simple planning framework to real work
• Create a practical framework for your own work
• Find out how you can explore these concepts in more depth

Faye Brecknock and Vicki Fox

Faye Brecknock, Head of Operations

Faye has over 15 years experience working in housing, education, health and social care. Faye has the knowledge and experience to manage operations and develop innovative services, while remaining focused on supporting the mental health and wellbeing of the people in our communities.

Vicki Fox, Training and Engagement Manager

I have 35 years of experience of working in the care profession with 25 of those in mental health. Alongside this I have delivered a wide range of training courses for 16 years. I have supported people who experience poor/ill mental health in a variety of settings and have used my knowledge to bolster my training delivery. I truly believe that awareness reduces stigma, breaks down barriers, encourages recovery and gives people hope.

Session Synopsis

Confidence in Every Conversation: Effective Communication and Assertiveness

In today’s fast-paced professional and personal environments, the ability to express yourself with clarity and conviction is a defining factor for success. This interactive session is designed to equip participants with the essential life skills of effective communication and assertiveness. Attendees will explore the core dynamics of human interaction, learning how to master both verbal and non-verbal cues to build stronger, more collaborative relationships.

Key Takeaways:

• The Anatomy of Communication: Decode different communication styles through real-world scenarios and understand their distinct impacts.
• The Power of Body Language: Signals of positive body language and eliminate habits that undermine your presence.
• The Assertiveness Advantage: Discover the tangible benefits of assertive communication and how it differs from passive or aggressive behaviours.
• What ‘Effective’ Looks Like: Define the anatomy of a successful conversation and how to apply these frameworks daily.
• Positive Assertiveness: Acquire practical tools to stand your ground, set boundaries, and speak up with confidence and respect.

Chris Hufton

Lizebeth Koloko-Green

Lizebeth Koloko-Green is the Founder and CEO of ANWOW, Microsoft MVP for Microsoft 365 & Copilot, Microsoft Office Specialist Expert, and an experienced Executive Assistant with over 20 years of experience in international corporate environments.

She specializes in helping Executive Assistants, administrative professionals, and business teams adopt Microsoft 365, Copilot, and AI tools in a practical and accessible way. Through her training sessions, keynotes, and workshops, Lizebeth focuses on real-life use cases, productivity habits, and repeatable workflows that help professionals save time, work smarter, and build confidence with technology.

As both an Executive Assistant and a technology trainer, she brings a unique, hands-on perspective to the future of work, combining practical business experience with a passion for digital productivity and AI adoption.

Session Synopsis

Discover how Microsoft Copilot can help assistants save time, reduce overwhelm, and work more confidently in their day-to-day roles. In this practical 45-minute session, Lizebeth Koloko-Green will share quick demonstrations, real assistant scenarios, and repeatable prompts that attendees can use straight away.

From drafting and refining emails to preparing meetings, summarizing information, creating action-focused outputs, and improving prompt results, this session will provide practical AI tips designed for immediate impact.

The session will be accessible to attendees at different stages of their AI journey, with examples that can be applied using both the free version of Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot, where available.

Traci Williams

Traci Williams is a self-confessed spreadsheet geek who has spent over half her life mastering Excel. Known for her infectious enthusiasm, she has a rare talent for making Excel feel simple, powerful (and even fun) while showing people how to save serious time by using it properly.  In 2008, Traci founded Excel Ace, leaving her accountancy career behind after one frustration too many: not having the time to show colleagues just how ACE Excel could be.  In 2025, her impact was recognised by Microsoft when she was awarded Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) status, placing her among a global community of Excel experts.  Through Excel Ace, Traci’s mission is simple: help people love Excel as much as she does, or at the very least, stop being afraid of it.

Session Synopsis

Excel & AI: Your New Spreadsheet Superpower

Artificial Intelligence is revolutionising the way we use Excel, helping us work faster, smarter, and with far less frustration.  In this exciting and practical session, discover how tools such as ChatGPT & Microsoft Copilot can become your personal spreadsheet assistants, helping you create formulas, analyse data, automate tasks, troubleshoot problems, and generate insights in seconds.

Packed with live demonstrations, real-world examples, and plenty of “wow” moments, this session will show how AI can boost productivity and confidence for Excel users of all levels.  We’ll also explore the limitations of AI, how to write effective prompts, and why human expertise still matters.  Whether you’re completely new to AI or already experimenting with it, you’ll leave inspired with practical ideas you can start using immediately.

*Of course, AI helped me write this synopsis. 😉

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