Conference for Heads' PAs - Thursday 14 May 2026 (Cavendish Venues, 44 Hallam St, London)

This conference aims to: Provide the opportunity for Heads’ PAs to meet and share ideas about best practice and be updated by listening to presentations from leading figures in the field.

Description

This conference aims to:

Provide the opportunity for Heads’ PAs to meet and share ideas about best practice and be updated by listening to presentations from leading figures in the field.

This conference is specifically for:

Heads’ PAs and EAs.

 Conference theme: Power and Change

 Steering Group: In independent education, change is constant — from shifts in the sector to the arrival of new Heads — and the EA becomes the quiet power holding everything together. While leadership styles, priorities and school pressures evolve, the EA provides continuity, stability and cultural memory. You influence priorities, protect the Head’s time, manage relationships, guide communication and maintain calm behind the scenes. Your role is a blend of strategic support, emotional intelligence and organisational authority, making you the steady anchor in a fast‑moving, high‑expectation environment.

Time

Session

09.30 - 10.00

Registration and coffee

10.00 - 10.20

Welcome and introduction

Mark Brotherton, Director of Professional Learning, HMC

Conversation starter: led by Conference steering group: Catherine Davies, Helen Thompson, Lisa-Ann Williams, Nyree Wilkie and Lucy Brazier OBE

 

10.20 -11.20

 

Keynote 1: The leader alongside the leader: How the assistant role is evolving to protect time, judgement, and impact in the age of AI

Lucy Brazier OBE explores how the assistant role has evolved from task-based support into a high-value professional partnership, and how it will become even more influential in the age of AI. She reframes the PA and EA role as a profession in its own right—one that applies judgement, insight, and foresight to create capacity at the top of organisations.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  1. Create leadership capacity, by proactively protecting time, attention, and decision flow for Heads and senior leaders.
  2. Operate as an administrative partner, applying professional judgement to prioritisation, information flow, and organisational coordination.
  3. Enable greater leadership impact, by supporting Heads to focus on collaboration, people, culture, and outcomes.

Speaker: Lucy Brazier OBE

11.20 - 11.40

Refreshment break

 

11.40 - 13.00

Keynote 2:

Part 1: Nurturing Your Resilience: Keeping your energy up and your head clear (even when the pressure's on)

This session is about building the kind of resilience that doesn't just help you cope – it helps you do your best work.

What you'll learn:

  • Why resilience matters more than ever in today's workplace
  • How to set boundaries that actually stick
  • The connection between your mind and body (and how to use it to your advantage)
  • Three proven, practical strategies to nurture your resilience every day

You will leave this reflective and interactive session with the tools to handle whatever comes your way with confidence and clarity.

Part Two: Unlocking Your Potential – how to feel as confident as you are capable

Did you know three in five people at work deal with imposter syndrome, yet 94% of us never talk about it. Sound familiar?

You're brilliant at what you do. You keep everything running smoothly, anticipate needs before they arise, and make the impossible happen daily. So why does that little voice still whisper "you're not good enough"?

Whether you're new to the role or a seasoned pro, this session is for Heads' PAs who are ready to calm their inner critic and step into their full potential.

What you'll learn:

  • The truth about imposter syndrome (and why your brain does this to you)
  • How to spot your inner critic in action (and what to do about it)
  • Three practical, proven techniques to boost your confidence and amplify your impact

This isn't about adding more to your already full plate. It's about feeling as confident on the inside as you appear on the outside.


Speaker: Jo Beckett, Psychologist and Executive Coach

13.00 - 13.45

Lunch

 

 


13.45 - 15.00


Keynote 3: Critical Incident Session followed by Q&A


The role of the PA, how to be prepared, resources, and shared experiences

 

Speakers:
Nyree Wilkie (EA to Jesse Elzinga, Headmaster of Sevenoaks School)

Helen Thompson (EA to Karen Laurie, Head of Guildford High School)

Catherine Davies (PA to Jaideep Barot, Head of Bristol Grammar School)


15.00 - 15.15


Refreshment break

 

15.15 -16.15

PAs empowering PAs: best practice sharing and networking session, led by the Conference Steering Group with input from Lucy Brazier OBE and Jo Beckett

16.15 -16.20

Closing remarks and depart