Join us for The Gathering:The Sequel, our second annual gathering of Executive, Personal and Administrative professionals working within education.

Have you seen the 1996 Stawell Gift Women’s 400m Final? If not, I highly recommend it. Much like Cathy Freeman’s unforgettable Olympic journey, your path is uniquely yours.

The other day I spotted a book on my boss’s bookshelf and immediately recognised the author, Millikan, whose work I had recently referenced in a literature review. It reminded me just how expansive the literature is on educational leadership is, however very few studies explore the leadership of non-teaching staff.

Sometimes, as an EA, it feels like my day is nothing but calendars - moving meetings, rescheduling appointments, protecting small blocks of time. It could be easy to think it’s just administration. But I’ve come to realise it’s much more than that..

Ever felt caught between what was and what’s next? That in-between space has a name: Liminality. It’s the moment when one chapter is closing, but the next hasn’t yet begun. It can be a strange and challenging place to stand.

As Founder of EAs in Education, through both my community experience and literature research, I’ve come to realise that many Executive Assistants working in education face ambiguous role descriptions.

The Contagian Effect is witnessing others experience belonging can positively influence our own sense of connection and wellbeing.

As Executive Assistants in education, our words carry weight - not just in what we say, but in how we say it. In the busiest moments, when tension runs high and decisions are made quickly, kindness isn’t a luxury - it’s a leadership choice.

'The Story of Us' was introduced to our attendees at the Elevating EAs in Education National Gathering, inspired by the book ‘Belonging’ by Owen Eastwood.
This narrative reminded us that shared purpose, values, and storytelling created a strong collective identity.

I was asked a question on the panel at The Gathering by an attendee for my advice on building school culture. It’s a powerful question and one that goes to the heart of why we do what we do.

The word "assistant" is derived from the Latin word "assistentem" - describing an action in progress, referring to the act of standing by or attending, ready to help or provide support. The Latin word assistentem evolved into the French word assistant, eventually finding its way into English with the same core implication: one who supports, attends, and empowers.

At The National Gathering held at The Scots College, Bellevue Hill on Friday 6 June 2025, we came together not just as Executive Assistants - but as cathedral builders. Each of us contributing to something greater than ourselves.

In this episode which, the management consultant suggests that due to a “lack of synergy and alignment” the Boss and Krystal complete a DISC profile to better understand each other.

After writing my initial article about email To Email or Not to Email - That is the question! I received a great deal of feedback from network members. So in modelling curiosity as a key character trait and one of our strategic learning aims, I decided to explore further, putting various questions to our network.

In education, our work moves in cycles - structured by a curriculum mapped out over four terms, each spanning roughly eight to ten weeks. Much like the seasons, each term carries its own energy, its own demands, and its own atmosphere.

The Boss comes back from his retreat and latest professional learning leadership seminar and is acting strangely. Krystal is confused and needs some guidance.

Email has become an essential part of modern life, with 2.7 million emails sent every second. Ray Tomlinson, the inventor of email in 1971, revolutionized communication, with the average person sending 71 emails daily. However, access to an Executive's inbox is a debated topic.

Our erstwhile EA Krystal returns to work after a refreshing break, fresh challenges arise, and the Boss delivers a surprise.

Today, I’d like to share some insights and learnings as an Executive Assistant to an Associate Principal. These leadership learnings come from my journey in this role close now to four years. While shaped by my experiences, these learnings may resonate with others in a similar role.

In our last instalment, our erstwhile EA was confronting the cancellation of Christmas due to budget cuts, risk management policy and a strange delivery of 12 Christmas trees.