We are very excited to introduce our four facilitators who will each be leading a discussion group around the four topics chosen from input from our survey: Lucy Brazier, Karen Nanninga and Juanita Mort were with us for the 2020 Business Meeting, and we are delighted to welcome Heather Baker to the team for the first time.
After over 20 years working as a secretary and then PA, I pioneered the training of Office Professionals when I established Baker Thompson Associates in 2000. I now enable PAs, EAs and administrators of all levels around the world to achieve their potential for their career development and the success of their organisation.
I am the author of four Amazon top ten selling books and the creator of the BakerWrite speedwriting system. I am also an NLP Practitioner, TAP.cert trainer and three years winner of the North West Enterprise Awards Best Administrative Staff Training Provider. I am nominated for a National Business Women’s Lifetime Achievement Award and extremely proud to be a Prince’s Trust Business Mentor and a supporter of Isipho Admin in South Africa.
I am honoured to be invited to be a Facilitator at the WA-Summit and I can’t wait to connect with delegates from across the globe and be part of this very impressive community.
I am looking forward to my fourth Summit! Having been European Delegate myself twice, and a Facilitator at the WA-Summit in 2018 and the 2020 Business Meeting, I will once again contribute in my role as Facilitator. My whole working life has been around management support. I started my career as a management assistant in international companies in my home country The Netherlands and France. Then I took on voluntary positions within EUMA (European Management Assistants), now IMA, also as Executive Chairman (European Chairman). As an experienced trainer and consultant in the field of management support, as well as a business and life coach for professionals, I am passionate about accompanying people on their personal development paths. My objective is always to develop and mobilize personal potential and inner wisdom, to encourage people to take steps, to empower them to set and reach goals, to inspire them to live the life they want. Each person’s role goes beyond the job description, as we all bring unique personal competence, talents and interests to the workplace.
As Administrative professionals from all over the world, you are facing the challenges of defining your added value and proactively shaping your own roles, especially in view of the current state of the world that has directly impacted your organisations and your jobs. Let’s join forces during our sessions for a shared and profound message to our colleagues all over the world.
With over 25 years of experience as an executive assistant supporting senior executives and CEO’s, I have built a record of accomplishments through strong performance in high volume, high pressure environments. I skillfully manage administrative duties and am a staff trainer and mentor to new executive assistants.
Advocacy for the administrative profession is one of my great passions. My core belief is that admins and the vital roles they play in the success of their companies should be understood, recognized, and appreciated. Their voices should be heard and regarded as valuable. Passion drives success and success drives passion. Through my membership of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), I have grown my network and enhanced my leadership skills through leadership roles at the local, regional, and international levels of the association. I am very excited to be asked to return to the WA-Summit as a Facilitator and look forward to inspiring and stimulating discussions and positive, practical outcomes.
As CEO of Marcham Publishing, publishers of Executive Support Magazine, my passion is for the Assistant role to be truly recognised as a career and not just a job. I am so grateful to have had great opportunities to train, present and chair in over 45 countries at over 400 events.
Working with the most forward-thinking, passionate and knowledgeable trainers in the world as well as personally meeting and speaking to thousands of people over the last six years, I have come to understand the issues that Admin Professionals all over the world are facing on a day-to-day basis. Speaking to literally thousands of Assistants over the last seven years has allowed me a unique overview of the role and where it’s heading. It’s a delight to be invited back to the WA-Summit as a Facilitator and I can’t wait to hear all your opinions, challenges and ideas.
Looking very much to meeting up with you on-line.