DATE: Tuesday 17 March 2026
TIME: 4.00 pm
TOPIC: The Power of Proximity: Leading Through Connection as an Executive Assistant
Guest speaker: Matt Pitman
In the often-isolated role of Executive Assistant, how can we intentionally build the kinds of connections that not only support our own growth but also enhance the leadership and culture of our school communities?
Drawing on insights from The Connection Curriculum and The Connection Conundrum, this interactive session explores connection as a core leadership competency, especially in essential roles that sit at the intersection of relationships, influence, and visibility. You’ll discover practical strategies to strengthen trust, belonging, and purpose across your teams, and understand how your proximity to school leaders places you in a powerful position to drive meaningful, school-wide connection.
We'll unpack questions like:
How do we connect meaningfully when our roles often operate in the background?
What does sustainable connection look like in a busy, relationally complex school?
How can connection elevate the recognition and leadership of EAs in education?
This is not just another talk about relationships, it's a practical invitation to rethink your influence, visibility, and leadership through the lens of human connection. You’ll leave with clear takeaways, a personalised connection challenge, and the momentum to apply what you’ve learned in your own unique school context.
Matt Pitman is an experienced educational leader, a doctoral candidate researching connections across school communities, and the author of The Connection Curriculum and The Connection Conundrum published by Amba Press. Matt’s experience is varied, from the leadership of curriculum teams and programs to student wellbeing, student improvement and community engagement portfolios. He has led Positive Education and student support programs and has a passion for working with students, parents, and staff to develop new understandings of the needs of young people in the 21st century.
