The Story & Vision Behind Admin Avenues
By Career counseling

Hi! I’m Candice Burningham and I’m the Founder of Admin Avenues.

When I reflect on my 20+ years as an executive assistant, one consistent thread runs through it all, the power and potential of admin professionals. These roles are not merely supportive; they’re strategic, impactful, and essential to the success of any organisation. Yet, despite the critical nature of what we do, admin professionals often face misconceptions about the value of their work.

That’s why I started Admin Avenues.

A Vision for Admin Professionals

I was living my best life in London until Covid hit. Like all Australians locked out of the country, I was desperate to come home. I managed to get a flight in August 2021 and completed my 2-week quarantine hotel stay. During these very long 2 weeks, I had plenty of time on my hands, so I started looking at the admin website offerings in Australia and saw there was no “one stop shop” type resource for admin professionals – and so Admin Avenues was created. When I launched Admin Avenues, my goal was clear: to create a space where Australian admin professionals could connect, learn, and grow. I wanted to build a platform that not only elevated their skills but also celebrated their contributions to the business world. Over the past few years, we’ve made strides in achieving this mission, but there is so much more to come.

A Renewed Australian Focus

After much reflection, I’ve decided to refocus our efforts for Admin Avenues on the Australian market. While we’ll always welcome and cherish our international members, our primary content, resources, and events will now have a distinctly Australian perspective. This renewed focus allows us to better serve our local communities, while still offering global members valuable resources like newsletters, blogs, career advice, and templates – all still free and accessible as a member via our website HERE.

Excitingly, we’re launching a brand-new website in 2025 to align with this Australian focus. It will be a dedicated hub for Australian admins, packed with resources to empower your professional journey. And here’s the big news: Admin Avenues will be hosting its very first conference in Australia next year! We can’t reveal all the details just yet but trust us – it’s going to be something truly special.

Introducing ‘The Future Focused Admin’

For our global community, I’m thrilled to announce an exciting new venture. Jessica McBride and I are combining The Admin Collective and The Tech Savvy Assistant communities under a single brand: The Future Focused Admin. This initiative, which shares the name of our Podcast, will create a new global community for admins, designed to empower, connect, and inspire professionals worldwide.

While Admin Avenues will maintain its Australian focus, The Future Focused Admin will be our platform for global discussions, training, resources, and initiatives. We couldn’t be more excited to grow these communities together. Be the first to join The Future Focused Admin community HERE now!

Looking Ahead

In 2025, we’re focusing on three key areas to continue supporting and advocating for Australian admin professionals:

  1. Community Expansion: We’re building and collaborating with local communities and networks in each state/territory where admins can share insights, resources, and opportunities. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, our goal is to ensure you feel supported and connected. Look out for our in-person and virtual events, including webinars, meetups, and exclusive networking sessions.
  2. Professional Development: 2025 will see the launch of new training modules and resources designed to help admins stay ahead of the curve via The Future Focused Admin. From mastering AI tools to refining leadership skills, we’re committed to equipping our community with the expertise they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving workplace.
  3. Advocacy and Recognition: We’ll continue to push for greater recognition of admin roles as strategic and vital to organisational success. This includes partnering with industry leaders to highlight the value admins bring to the table and advocating for better compensation and career progression opportunities. More on this when we reveal more about our 2025 conference soon! Make sure you’re signed up to our Newsletter HERE to be the first to know.

My Commitment to You

Admin professionals are the backbone of successful organisations, and it’s time everyone understands that. Through Admin Avenues, The Future Focused Admin, and all our upcoming initiatives, my mission is to ensure that every admin knows their value, has access to the tools they need, and feels empowered to take their career as far as they’re willing to go.

Here’s to a brighter, stronger, and more connected 2025.

With gratitude and determination,

Candice Burningham 

PS: I always love hearing from the community so please feel free to drop me an email any time, if you haven’t already, add me on LinkedIn or come and join us on our social platforms @adminavenues @thefuturefocusedadmin. I look forward to connecting with you all soon.