Delegate Registration & Coffee

THE EVOLVING EA ROLE: AI, LEADERSHIP & HUMAN CAPABILITY

Day One explores the changing nature of executive support, the opportunities and challenges created by AI, and the increasing importance of judgement, adaptability and leadership

Welcome by Summit Chair

Conference introduction and framing of the evolving EA landscape.

MAGGIE VIDEAN
Conference Chair

The EA role is changing rapidly. This opening conversation sets the scene for the summit, exploring how expectations are shifting, where new opportunities are emerging and what the future of executive support might look like.

We’ll explore:

• How expectations of EAs are changing and where the role may be heading
• Where AI could create greater capacity for more strategic, high-value contribution
• What emerging titles and broader responsibilities reveal about the evolution of the profession
• The growing importance of business understanding, judgement, influence and digital confidence

A forward-looking conversation that opens up the big questions and sets the scene for the practical AI, human capability,
influence and leadership sessions that follow.

MODERATOR:

MAGGIE VIDEAN
Conference Chair

PANEL MEMBERS:

MARNIE GRAHAM-PINCHES
Executive Assistant to the CEO, Team Super

NADINE GRIFFITHS
Executive Assistant to Chief Executive Group Life & Retirement, TAL

BRITT BUCHANAN
Executive Officer to the CEO, ASFA – The Voice of Super

Last year, much of the AI conversation was about writing better prompts. Prompts still matter. But this year, a bigger shift is underway: from asking AI for individual outputs to directing a growing digital workforce. For EAs, this is not simply another opportunity to do the current job faster. It raises a far more interesting question:

What could you become capable of doing because AI exists?

In this practical, interactive session, Simon will explore how this shift could reshape the EA role and why EAs may be uniquely placed to lead it

You’ll leave with:

• A clearer picture of what is changing beyond prompts
• A fresh perspective on the value you already bring
• Practical ideas for expanding your capacity and contribution

You may leave with a different view of AI. More importantly, you may leave with a different view of what you could do next.

SIMON HILLIER
AI Strategist, Educator & Founder, W3 Digital

A fast-paced, practical micro-class sharing six tried-and-tested techniques for communicating more effectively with large language models. Matthew will show delegates how to give clearer instructions, provide the right context, refine their requests and produce more useful, natural and accurate results.

MATTHEW WU
PR Manager, Australia & New Zealand, Amazon Web Services

10:55 MORNING COFFEE AND NETWORKING

As technology powers ahead, so does the need to focus on human capability. In a workplace increasingly shaped by AI and automation, the real advantage for Executive Assistants lies not in competing with technology, but in strengthening the human skills AI cannot replicate.

Discussion areas include:

• Communicating with clarity, confidence and executive presence in rapidly changing environments
• Navigating complex stakeholder dynamics with professionalism, tact and emotional intelligence
• Applying critical thinking, judgement and political awareness in an age of increasingly automated decision-making
• Strengthening influence and helping executives and teams adapt confidently to technological change
• Maintaining authenticity, trust and meaningful human connection in highly digital workplaces

In a world powered by AI, your human skills are your greatest advantage, and the EAs who learn to harness them will lead the change, not simply respond to it.

ELEANOR SHAKIBA
Leadership Communication Consultant | Tutor University of Sydney

How a Non-Technical EA Built an AI Operating System to Support Senior Leaders
High-performing Executive Assistants don’t just manage the daily workflow; they continually look for better ways to get it done. AI
allows us to take that much further.
In this practical session, Trudy shares how she built an AI operating system to support senior leaders, without a coding background. She’ll explore how AI, structured workflows and professional judgement can work together to reduce repetitive work and improve consistency. The result is more capacity for the higher-value support that really matters, from anticipating needs and preparing executives more effectively to keeping work moving behind the scenes.

Discussion areas include:

• Building an AI operating system around the work you already do
• Using AI to support thinking, planning and communication
• Turning recurring work into repeatable workflows
• Managing AI while keeping judgement and oversight firmly human
• Practical ways to get started within your organisation’s guardrails

The opportunity isn’t to replace what makes a great EA valuable; it’s to create more capacity for it

TRUDY EDWARDS
Executive Assistant to Chief Financial Officer & EVP People & Culture, TechnologyOne

12:40 LUNCH BREAK

Drawing on his experience as Executive Assistant to the CEO of the Sydney Opera House, Anthony explores how EAs can step
beyond the traditional boundaries of the role to become trusted and influential contributors.
This session looks at how initiative, curiosity and the confidence to contribute can create greater impact, without simply adding more tasks to an already demanding role.

We’ll explore:

• Recognising opportunities to contribute beyond your job description
• Using your strengths and experience to create organisational impact
• Building trust and influence through judgement, reliability and business understanding
• Moving from responding to requests to anticipating needs and proposing solutions
• Taking ownership of projects and challenges while remaining authentic to your own style

Drawing on his own career journey, Anthony will encourage you to consider where stepping forward could take you next.

ANTHONY CARTHEW
Executive Assistant to CEO and Head of Protocol, Sydney Opera House

As technology accelerates, so does the pressure on the people behind the scenes. Today’s Executive Assistants are navigating
constant change, increasing complexity, emotional labour and the expectation to always be available. In increasingly
ambiguous and demanding workplaces, resilience, communication and emotional awareness have become essential professional skills

Discussion areas include:

• Recognising the signs of burnout, stress and cognitive overload
• Managing emotional overload, invisible responsibility and decision fatigue
• Setting healthy boundaries
• Building practical resilience strategies for fast-paced workplaces
• Maintaining confidence, energy and perspective during periods of change
• Strengthening communication and emotional awareness during difficult situations
• Developing a personal wellbeing toolkit to stay calm, grounded and effective under pressure

The ability to remain resilient, adaptable and emotionally grounded is becoming one of the most important capabilities in modern executive support roles

PATRIZIA RAVALICO
Counsellor & Mental Health Clinician, Private Practice

14:50 AFTERNOON TEA

Executive Assistants sit at the centre of communication, access, information and decision-making, which also makes them one
of the most targeted points of vulnerability within organisations. As AI tools become more embedded in everyday workflows, the
ability to identify risk quickly and respond with sound judgement has never been more important.

Discussion areas include:

• Recognising real-world cyber threats, suspicious requests and pressure tactics
• Identifying unusual communication patterns, fake urgency and phishing attempts
• Verifying sensitive requests, payment changes and confidential information safely
• Using AI tools responsibly without increasing organisational risk
• Understanding what information should, and should not, be entered into AI platforms
• Recognising increasingly convincing AI-generated messages and scams
• Applying practical decision-making frameworks in fast-paced environments

In an increasingly digital workplace, strong judgement, awareness and the ability to pause before reacting are becoming essential professional skills

JERRY YESSAEIAN
Managing Director & Cybersecurity Advisor | DC Encompass President | West Ryde Chamber of Commerce

An honest and practical conversation about navigating relationships, managing competing expectations and communicating effectively across all levels of an organisation with diverse stakeholders.

LUCY GREIG
Stakeholder Relations Specialist

A collaborative closing session bringing together the key themes from Day One and turning insight into practical action. Working in table groups, delegates will consider how the EA role needs to evolve and what they can do to remain relevant, adaptable and valuable in a rapidly changing workplace.

Discussion areas include:

• START – What should EAs start doing to remain relevant and increase their value?
• STRENGTHEN – What existing EA capabilities will become even more important as technology and workplace expectations evolve?
• STRATEGY – What practical strategies can EAs adopt to future-proof their role and increase their contribution?
• Each table will contribute its thinking to a shared digital Future EA Action Board, creating a collective roadmap of ideas and strategies that will carry forward into Day Two.
• The future-ready EA is not simply responding to change; they are actively shaping how they work, where they add value and what comes next.

MAGGIE VIDEAN
Conference Chair

16:50 – 17:00 Day 1 Wrap-up
17:00 – 18:00 Networking Drinks