Finalists revealed for the region’s first-ever PA awards

 

25 personal, executive and virtual assistants from across Birmingham have been announced as finalists in the region’s inaugural PA Awards.

 

A shortlist of talented individuals from some of the region’s most prominent professional services organisations, as well as leading charities, retailers and self-employed virtual assistants, has been unveiled by the Birmingham PA Forum. 

 

The winners will be crowned at the Forum’s maiden awards ceremony which takes place on Friday 20th July at The Vox, Resorts World, NEC Birmingham.

 

A first of its kind for Birmingham and the wider region, the awards aim to replicate the success of similar ceremonies that take place in Manchester, London and Glasgow which see thousands gather to celebrate the achievements of business support professionals within their cities.

 

The finalists in the five award categories are:

 

#Motivation – Team Player of the Year

 

Jayne Forgham - PwC

Wynsum Matheson - Freeths LLP

Cathy Withington - Fieldfisher

Amanda McLanaghan - Fieldfisher

Julie Costello - PwC

 

#Inspiration – Lead by Example

 

Poonam Patel - Selfridges

Skevi Constantinou - KPMG UK

Kate Palmer - Paragon

Hannah Smith - Designated PA

Jackie Kelly - Cure Leukaemia

 

#Aspiration – Newcomer of the Year

 

Hannah Cowell - JW Hinks

Berni Bromwich - Pinsent Masons

Chesca Simmons - Galliford Try plc

Lisa Murray - PwC

Kirsty Smart - PwC

 

#Innovation – Innovator of the Year

 

Kirstie Barr LDC

Caroline Millichamp Mini U Services

Chelsea Guerin Trowers & Hamlins

Helen Grice Virtual Assistant Tanit Virtual

Paula Holland PwC

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#Celebration – Greater Birmingham’s PA of the Year

 

Wendy Moyle - Tarmac

Fay Gleeson - SCC

Georgina Duffy - RSM UK

Elaine Maher - Willmott Dixon

Nicki Lawton – Arup

 

Finalists will be required to deliver a 10-minute presentation to a carefully selected judging panel that represents both the PA and EA sector as well as Birmingham business. Judging the awards are Tracey Paton, Executive Assistant at Dignity Plc. Paul Faulkner, CEO at the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, and Karen Morris-Lanz, founder of Waponi HR and former HR Director and CIO of Securitas.

 

Daniel Skermer, Founder of the Birmingham PA Forum & Awards, said: “Birmingham has a huge pool of talented personal, executive and virtual assistants who often remain the unsung heroes of business. When we first set up the Birmingham PA Forum, we knew that we wanted to host our own awards ceremony to shine a light on the bustling sector within which they work. If cities like Manchester, London and Glasgow can recognise their successes, then Birmingham should too.

 

“The awards committee was overwhelmed with the number of entries that were received throughout the application process. The sifting process to determine our finalists was challenging – testament to the calibre of our nominees - and our judges now have some tough decisions to make as to who to crown winners on the evening.”

 

Organised by the Birmingham PA Forum, a network that has grown to over 400 members in just 18 months, the awards are being supported by headline sponsors Top Banana and Katie Bard, as well as category sponsors Asemblr, Egencia, ORS UK and Page Personnel. The awards ceremony will also be raising money for charities LoveBrum and the Sir Josiah Mason Trust.

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Partners The Vox, PA Life, Indigo Sky Solutions and Eventologists have all pledged their support as partners to the event.

 

Tickets for the awards ceremony, as well as additional sponsorship opportunities, are available through the Birmingham PA Forum website and can be accessed by clicking the button below.