The Admin Avenues Conference: A Turning Point for Our Profession
There are moments in a profession that don’t feel like “an event” – they feel like a shift. The Admin Avenues Conference was one of those moments.
A week ago today, at 9.00am, we opened the doors at the InterContinental Double Bay to start the inaugural Admin Avenues conference. The energy in the room was unlike anything you can manufacture. It wasn’t just excitement – it was recognition. It was the feeling of being surrounded by Your People – those who understand the pace, the responsibility, the strategic influence, and the heart that sits behind this role.
This wasn’t just a conference. It was a signal that the profession in Australia has stepped into its next chapter.
A Conference Built For Admins, By Admins
Every detail of this event was intentionally created by people who have lived and breathed this profession. Especially me. I personally curated the whole conference, because it’s exactly what I would have wanted in a conference. It’s why the experience resonated so deeply – because it was designed by those who understand the work behind the work.
This conference wasn’t about “adding new skills.” It was about reframing identity.
It reminded the room – loudly and proudly – that the modern admin is not a support act. We are strategic operators, leaders and enablers, connectors of people and information, and steady navigators inside fast-paced organisations.
The overwhelming feedback afterwards confirmed what I hoped people would feel:
“I didn’t just learn something – I felt seen.”
The Big Shift: From Admin to Strategic Asset
A consistent theme across all sessions was this moment in time: we are standing at the crossroads of our profession’s next era.
Where once the role was defined by tasks, today it is defined by impact.
Where once influence was informal, today it is commercial.
Where once we waited to be invited into strategy, today we shape it.
Speakers shared deeply human stories, practical playbooks, and future-focused insights, but the through-line was powerful and clear:
- Leadership is a behaviour, not a title.
- Calm is a strategic advantage.
- Connection is currency.
- AI isn’t replacing admins – it’s amplifying them.
- Our value is not “helping” – it’s moving outcomes forward.
For the first time in history, we are not just watching the profession evolve – we are the ones leading the evolution.
The Energy You Couldn’t Ignore
Multiple attendees used the same word: buzzing.
Not simply because of the speakers – although the calibre was phenomenal – but because of what happened between the sessions. The networking. The generosity. The side conversations where someone said, “I’ve been trying to solve that too – here’s what worked for me.” The confidence that rises when you realise you are not the outlier – you are part of a movement.
Admins are often the quiet driving force behind leaders. On this day, and night, that driving force was front and centre – visible, celebrated, and deeply connected.
Flowing Into the Awards Night: Celebrating Excellence
The conference flowed seamlessly into the 2025 Australian Institute of Office Professionals Awards – a celebration that felt like the natural crescendo of the day.
It wasn’t just about trophies or categories – it was about honouring mastery, contribution, resilience, and leadership in its truest form.
What struck people most was the calibre of nominations – over 140 – a record for AIOP. Every judge commented on how difficult it was to choose. That alone speaks volumes about where this profession is heading: upward, confidently, and together.
Seeing so many finalists, board members, and industry leaders in one room – not as support acts, but as business leaders in their own right – is exactly what progress looks like.
Why This Moment Mattered
When I created Admin Avenues, I did it because I believed this profession deserved a platform that understood its power – not its stereotypes.
This conference was proof of what happens when you build the room specifically for the people doing the work.
- We didn’t have to justify our value – it was assumed.
- We didn’t have to translate our impact – it was understood.
- We didn’t have to shrink ourselves – we were invited to take up space.
This IS the shift. Not just learning how to grow – but owning why we matter.
Gratitude
To our keynote speakers – Suzy Miller, Rachael Bonetti, Alison Shamir, Samantha Cox, Jayne Papaleo, Blake Burningham and Dominic Price – thank you for moving hearts as much as minds.
To our Admin Panel – Kiara Filardi, Gisele Karame-Kemp, Rachel Hall and Sarah Nomanbhoy – your candour, lived experience and wisdom grounded the day in what’s real.
To our incredible partners and sponsors – InterContinental Double Bay, Microsoft, Madebox, GroupTogether, Capstone Recruitment, The Conference Shop, Circolo Software, Vistaprint, Arnott’s and Swag N Send — thank you for believing in this community and backing it so strongly.
And to every attendee who showed up – with curiosity, pride, generosity, and presence – you are the reason this profession continues to rise.
What’s Next
This is not the peak – it is the foundation.
The conversations started in that room will ripple into workplaces across the country. The confidence built in the community will translate into influence at the table. And the connections formed will continue to shape careers into the future.
2026 will be bigger, bolder, and even more strategic – because this movement is only getting started.
Keep the Conversation Going
If you want to dive deeper into the thinking that shaped the conference, you can catch conversations with most of our speakers (the rest are still being recorded) on The Admin Avenues Podcast HERE, where we unpack the mindset, leadership capability, strategic thinking, and future skills behind high-impact executive support.
This isn’t just a community – it’s a redefinition of the profession – and I couldn’t be prouder to be building it with you. So thank you for your support in making this dream become a reality. Be sure to be signed up to our newsletter HERE to keep up to date with all the events we have planned for 2026. WE CANNOT WAIT to see you all again soon!
Sincerely,
Candice
To take a peak of some of the pics captured on the day – click HERE (Captured by the amazing Erin Masters. Video recap coming soon!