PA Forum was established 7 years ago, a professional network for those working across a variety of roles within executive and business support across the Midlands. Dedicated to celebrating excellence, championing the importance of the role and highlighting the outstanding contributions PAs, EAs, VAs, Office Managers, Secretaries, Business Support Managers, Office Assistants, Administrative Assistants and many others across the profession who continue to add value to their businesses and support their Executives every day.

The West Midlands PA Awards and East Midlands PA Awards are pleased to announce the individuals and teams that have made it through to the finals. After a record year for nominations in the West Midlands and the launch year for East Midlands there are SO many colleagues and peers who have been celebrated by their businesses, we cannot wait to welcome you all to what we hope will be a celebration to remember when we bring together both communities.

Both awards ceremonies will showcase the Midlands’ thriving talent and vibrant business community, bringing together business leaders, colleagues and communities from across various sectors.

West Midlands PA Awards – Friday 14^th July 2023 at
The Grand Hotel, Birmingham

East Midlands PA Awards – Friday 8^th September 2023 at
Radisson Blu, East Midlands

All nominees have now met our panellists and have demonstrated dedication, innovation and excellence in their respective fields and sectors.  Their achievements serve as a testament to the Midlands’ thriving business landscape.

A HUGE thank you to our panellists, a variety of industry figure heads, valued sponsors, organising committee members, previous finalists and previous category winners, all of whom gave feedback that it was an absolute pleasure to meet you all and they are all looking forward to continuing the celebrations with the finalists at the Awards ceremonies.

There can only be one winner per category but we hope that all the finalists and anyone who was nominated feel appreciated, supported, championed and recognised for everything you do. We hope that the process might have helped you build confidence and feel reassured that you really do an excellent job and that this has been noticed.

PA Forum created this community around our core values to deliver inspirational, aspirational, educational and social events that celebrate and recognise the Business Support community across the Midlands.

 We hope by bringing together Executive & Business Support Professionals that these awards have made an impact to you personally in what ever small way and that you all have made some fantastic connections along the way.

ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR AWARD

Josh Oakes – University of Warwick

Helen Porter – Cheslyn Hay Academy, Windsor Academy Trust

Lydia Parfitt – Eversheds Sutherland LLP

Claire Fordham – University of Warwick

Suki Kaur – Eversheds Sutherland LLP

Stuart Somerville – Eversheds Sutherland LLP

Nicole Lane – RBC Brewin Dolphin

BUSINESS SUPPORT MANAGER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Hannah Connor – EY

Helen Morning – EY

Charlotte Edwards – KPMG

Aaron Parekh – Birmingham City Council

Jenny Robinson – Eversheds Sutherland LLP

Shell Warren – EY

Laura Pyatt – Birmingham City Council

Jodie Newson – Birmingham City Council

Louise O’Neill – Birmingham City Council

Michelle Jamieson – Higgs LLP

Lisa Cutler – BDO LLP

Donna Howells – DRPG

Rachel Nash – Deloitte LLP

Emma Green – Birmingham City Council

Olivia Mallett – PwC

CSR CHAMPION OF THE YEAR AWARD

Jessica Wilkes-Ball – Mills & Reeve

Bethan Hulbert – Alvarez & Marsal

Monique Williams – Jumar Solutions Limited

Sarah Munday – Britvic

Lydia Peake – Arup

INDEPENDENT VA OF THE YEAR AWARD

Tom Lingard – The Remote Assistant

Hayley Hudson – Hudson Admin Support

Paddy White – Virtual Diamond

Katie Peggs – Bloom VA

Kelly Snelling – The VA Circle

Catherine Harrison – Bee Assisted Limited

Yolanda Earl – Earl VA Services

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Tracey Paton – Aston Martin

Clare Swinford – Birmingham City Council

Louise McCone – Higgs LLP

Vicky Shayler – Eversheds Sutherland

Emma Over – University of Warwick

Cathy Taylor – Deloitte

Marie-Claire Churchill – Warwick Students’ Union

Lindsay Millington – BDO LLP

Catherine Harrison – Bee Assisted Limited

Claire Fordham – University of Warwick

Amanda Edwards – EY

Kam Kaur – Coventry University

MENTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD

Anita Southall – EY

Maria Tiscornia – TelXL Limited

Linda Hunter – University of Birmingham

Julia Adly – KPMG

Amanda Edwards – EY

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Daniella Matragrano – PwC

Suhail Shahid – KPMG

Sarah Dodd – Colley Lane Primary Academy, Windsor Academy Trust

Liam Lowe – Jumar Solutions Limited

Daniel Woodcock – Higgs LLP

Charlotte Behan – Birmingham City Council

Sarah Munday – Britvic

Shannon Haddlington – KPMG

Hannah Rodwell – Eversheds Sutherland LLP

Samantha Grover – Aston University

Harvi Dhingra – University of Birmingham

Helen Fleming – HS2

OFFICE MANAGER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Jackie Corbett – Shoosmiths LLP

Hannah Connor – EY

Javiera Squadritto – University of Birmingham

Jeannette O’Connell – Hollis Global

Lisa Cutler – BDO LLP

Jayne Price – Orbit Homes

Rachel Nash – Deloitte

Zoe Austin – RBC Brewin Dolphin

Kay Caldwell – Galliford Try

PROJECT CHAMPION OF THE YEAR AWARD

Dipesh Mistry – KPMG

Rachel Addis – PwC

Amy Kissack – PwC

Cheryl Smylie – Birmingham City Council

Michelle Duberry – Galliford Try

Abbie Gibson – EY

Suki Kaur – Eversheds Sutherland LLP

Jeannette O’Connell – Hollis Global

TEAM OF THE YEAR AWARD

Jumar Solutions Limited

Coventry City Council – ESO Cohort

Coventry University Group – Business Administration Support Team

KPMG – ASK Team

Alvarez & Marsal – EA OpCo

Birmingham City Council – Directorate Support Team – Adults

DPD UK

EY – BSC Recruitment team

Birmingham City Council – Personal Assistant & Executive Support, supporting Place, Prosperity & Sustainability Directorate

DRPG – Group Admin Services

EY – Business Support Services Induction Team

Birmingham City Council – The Children and Families Business Support Management Team

PA OF THE YEAR AWARD

Angela Croad – Higgs LLP

Kate Pallister – Coventry University

Tracy Peddle – Intercity Technology Ltd

Tanya Penny – BHSF

Julie Wade – University of Birmingham

Charlotte Behan – Birmingham City Council

Amy Malin – DPD UK

Lydia Peake – Arup

Rhiannon Hopcroft – Windsor Academy Trust

Aimee Stewart – University of Oxford

Laura Nelson – NFP

Deborah Hodgkiss – EY

Marie Aldridge – Deloitte

Harinder Heer – Coventry University

Amanda Naan – Aston University Engineering Academy

Emma Brannigan – BDO LLP

Tina Cullen – Anthony Collins Solicitors

ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR AWARD

Clark Summers – De Montfort University

Daniel Barton – Eversheds Sutherland LLP

Emma Keen – De Montfort University

Michele Griffiths – DHL Global Forwarding (UK) Limited

Millie Wilkinson – Eversheds Sutherland LLP

INDEPENDENT VA OF THE YEAR AWARD

Danielle Thompson – Spinning Plates VA Service

Katie Peggs – Bloom VA

Jess Warr – The Virtual Colleagues

Lucy Hicks – Lucy Hicks – Virtual Assistant

Sarah Vincent – Admin Guru

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Amrit Chaggar – Eversheds Sutherland LLP

Kerry Elkins – North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College

Linda Allsop – University of Nottingham

Liz Kozlowski – De Montfort University

Lou Moore – De Montfort University

Louise Scott – Competitive Edge Training & Consultancy

Louise Smith – University of Leicester

Sue Page – University of Leicester

Suzanne Hucknall – University of Leicester

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AWARD

Amy Fisher – Michael Smith Switchgear Limited

Elizabeth McKenzie – Leicester City Council

Fleur Adshead – University of Nottingham

Heather Allison – KPMG LLP

Stacey Whyte – Holland & Barrett

Sue Page – University of Leicester

RISING STAR OF THE YEAR AWARD

Amy Fisher – Michael Smith Switchgear Limited

Courtney Brindley – Express Recruitment

Michela Villano – University of Nottingham

Samantha Cloves – University of Leicester

TEAM OF THE YEAR AWARD

Programme Co-ordination Team – Competitive Edge

Graduation Team – De Montfort University

Facilities Team – Eversheds Sutherland LLP

JSP Virtual

Research & Innovation Administration Team – Loughborough University

Global Business Operations Team – University of Leicester

External Relations Department – University of Nottingham

Business Services Team – Arup

PA OF THE YEAR AWARD

Amelia Bone – Eversheds Sutherland LLP

Carly Baugh – Loughborough University

Danielle Murray – KPMG LLP

Jaede Todner – University of Leicester

Julie Fessey – Leicester College

Kelly Barton – Eversheds Sutherland LLP

Laura Matthews – University of Leicester

Laura Nevay – University of Leicester

Lorraine Marsh – Shakespeare Martineau LLP

Samantha Hayes – KPMG LLP

Susan Ward – KPMG LLP

Zoe Skidmore – University of Leicester

For more information about the awards and to find out how you and your business can get involved, please email Daniel Skermer at [email protected]