Behind the AIOP Awards: Stories of Admins Who Inspire

In this blog, we hand the mic to past Australian Institute of Office Professionals (AIOP) Award winners Rachel Hall and Hayden Mackenzie. They share how winning transformed their careers – lifting visibility, opening doors, and even leading to board appointments.

Rachel Hall’s Story: 

I took the opportunity to nominate myself for the Office Professional of the year category in 2023. It took me a while to decide to nominate – I think I only just got my application in time. I chose to self nominate, because as I took the time to intentionally reflect on my contributions to the organisations that I have worked with, I was proud of what I had achieved personally, as well as corporately. It felt empowering to take a step forward and say, this is what I do. In the past I have definitely downplayed my contributions or even allowed acknowledgement to be overlooked.

Having heard the amazing work and contributions of my fellow nominees during the awards presentation, I was very surprised when my name was read out. I was not expecting it at all, and definitely had a moment of disbelief. As I walked up to accept my award, I had to push away feelings of imposter syndrome and I was then able to enjoy the moment with the amazing colleagues in the room.

Winning the award was such an honour and I am still so proud to have been a recipient of this award. My employer was equally proud of the achievement and my friends and family were happy for me. I enjoyed embracing the opportunity of receiving this award to take a more proactive approach to supporting the profession myself and championing others in this area. This has given me the platform as well as the confidence to step out more, I’m not sitting in the background or downplaying our profession any longer. 

As a part of my prize, I received the opportunity to attend a number of admin conferences that I would not have previously had the chance to attend. This has provided me with incredible professional development opportunities and it has expanded my professional network, as I am in a regional area forming meaningful industry connections isn’t always easy so this opportunity to connect has been very helpful and encouraging.

This nomination and award also opened up the door to being involved with the AIOP Board and I am now serving in the role of National President. In this role, I am hoping to be able to continue to promote the incredible strength that our administration professionals bring to the organisations that they work in and the value of the admin profession as a whole.

I hope that together we can inspire the next generation of admin professionals to embrace their career path. While sometimes admin roles are stepping stones, they don’t have to be. Being a highly efficient, strategic office professional is an incredibly rewarding career full of excitement, challenges and opportunities.

It is so important  that we stand up and share more of what it is that we bring to our organisations as office professionals. Nominating yourself or others is a great way to do this. I think that the mentality that I had in the past around downplaying what we bring to the table every day or having imposter syndrome is a common thought and the only way to push through this is to change the narrative. What you do and how you do it matters. Share your story.

Hayden Mackenzie’s Story: 

I was honoured to be nominated for the 2024 Aspiring Office Professional Award through the Administrative Awards of Excellence at the Australian Institute of Office Professionals (AIOP). Having been nominated by a long-time colleague and friend, it was incredibly humbling to know that the impact I had made on them went far enough that they felt compelled to take the time to write a submission on my behalf. While I would go on to win the award, the sheer notion that someone would dedicate part of their busy schedule to vouch for me in this way was one of the greatest pieces of recognition I have experienced in my career – adding weight to that old saying, “it’s an honour just to be nominated.”

At the awards ceremony, I was struck by the calibre of talent in the room. The event was celebrated across Australia, and while our Melbourne gathering was small, it was inspiring to see so many people participating nationwide. I was fortunate to be joined by my team, who took the afternoon off work to come along and show their support.

When my name was read out, I was utterly unprepared. Given the incredible people I shared the nomination with, I had made peace with the fact that I was unlikely to win. All I had prepared was a smile and a clap for the eventual recipient, similar to Angela Bassett’s gracious smile when she lost the Oscar to Jamie Lee Curtis at the 2023 Academy Awards. Once I realised it really was my name that had been announced, my face flushed red. I jumped to the stage and rambled some thanks to AIOP, my supportive team, and the colleague who nominated me. It was hardly a polished speech, and perhaps even had some wondering, “he’s the one we’re awarding?”, but it came from the heart.

Nevertheless, accepting the award was an incredible moment. The recognition gave me the strongest sense of reassurance that I had made the right choices in my career leading up to that point. It empowered me to not only walk forward in my career with greater confidence, but also to aim higher. Since receiving the award, I have stepped into a new role in communications at a new organisation, something I may never have had the confidence to do without the encouragement of my colleagues at the ceremony and the recognition I received from AIOP.

Along with this newfound confidence, I am proud to have joined both the AIOP Victorian & Tasmanian Divisional Committee and the AIOP Board of Directors as the Diversity & Culture Director. These roles have given me the opportunity to champion marginalised communities within the administrative profession and beyond. The connections I have made through AIOP are some of the strongest professional relationships of my career, and I am grateful to have found a sense of belonging through the institute – a direct result of receiving this honour.

To anyone considering a nomination for this year’s awards, my advice is simple: say yes. You don’t need to feel ready, accomplished, or even deserving. Few of us ever do. Being nominated is a recognition in itself, and whether you win or not, the experience can open doors, build confidence, and connect you with a community of peers who will lift you up. Step forward, share your story, and trust that your contribution matters. You may be surprised, as I was, by just how much impact you’ve had on those around you.

Ready to nominate?

Rachel and Hayden are proof: recognition opens doors. The AIOP Awards lift your profile, expand your network, and create pathways to new roles – plus there are great prizes, meaningful connections, and career-shaping opportunities.

• Elevate your credibility with national recognition
• Connect with leaders, mentors and peers
• Access speaking, board and project opportunities
• Enjoy partner perks and winner prizes

Nominate yourself or a colleague (it takes just a few minutes):

👉 Click HERE 

Shine a light on the impact of admins across Australia – submit your nomination today.

Want to learn more about the Australian Institute of Office Professionals 👉 Click HERE.