Why Being IN THE ROOM Matters More Than Ever for Admin Professionals Blog
There has never been a more important time for administrative professionals to invest in their professional development.I don’t mean attending a virtual summit, I don’t mean signing up for a course that you will never find time to watch the catch-up replay. I mean being out of the office, off your laptop, phone away, forced to listen and engage for a whole day on YOUR career.
I know that is a big statement. I also know what many admins will immediately think: I don’t have the time. My workload is already out of control. My organisation won’t pay. I can’t justify being away from my desk.
But that is exactly why professional development matters so much right now.
The administrative profession is changing at a pace I have never witnessed in more than 20 years working in it. AI is reshaping tasks and workflows. Expectations are increasing. Organisations are restructuring. Job descriptions are becoming broader, and the line between administrative support, operations, project management and strategic partnership is becoming increasingly blurred.
Standing still is no longer the safe option.
Your role is changing – whether you are ready or not
We need to be honest about what is happening in our profession.
Some of the tasks that have traditionally formed part of an admin role can now be completed faster, automated or supported by technology. That does not mean the profession is disappearing. It means the value within the profession is shifting.
The admins who will continue to grow are those who understand how to use new technology, exercise judgement, communicate with influence, build strong executive partnerships, solve complex problems and demonstrate the value they bring to an organisation.
These capabilities do not develop by accident. They require exposure to new ideas, practical education, honest conversations and the opportunity to learn from people who understand where the workplace is heading.
You cannot future-proof your career by waiting for someone else to tell you what to learn.
Being busy is not the same as developing
Admin professionals are often so focused on helping everyone else succeed that their own development is pushed to the bottom of the list.
We organise leadership off-sites, book executives into conferences, coordinate team training and manage other people’s development budgets, then tell ourselves we are too busy to attend anything.
There will never be a perfect week to step away from your inbox. There will always be another meeting, deadline, urgent request or person who believes they cannot manage without you for a day.
But if you are genuinely indispensable, your organisation should want to invest in keeping your skills current. And if the business cannot function without you for one day, that is not a reason to miss professional development. It is a sign that systems, delegation and role sustainability need attention.
Taking time away from your desk to learn is not neglecting your role. It is strengthening your ability to perform it.
A conference gives you something an online search cannot
We have access to more information than ever before. You can watch a webinar, read an article or ask AI to explain almost anything in seconds. Those tools are valuable, but information alone does not always create change.
There is something powerful about stepping outside your usual environment and entering a room filled with people who understand your work.
At an in-person professional development event, you hear different perspectives, ask questions, test your assumptions and have conversations you did not know you needed. You meet people working through the same challenges in different organisations. You learn what other admins are doing with AI, how they are strengthening their executive partnerships, how they are approaching their careers and what employers increasingly value.
Sometimes one conversation changes the way you see your role. One introduction can lead to a mentor, a new opportunity, a supplier, a solution or a friendship that supports you for years.
That is why the right room matters.
Your network is part of your career security
Many admins only think about networking when they need a new job. By then, they are trying to build relationships under pressure.
A strong professional network should be built long before you need it.
Your network exposes you to opportunities, ideas and perspectives beyond your own workplace. It reminds you that the way one organisation treats or defines your role is not the only possibility. It gives you people you can call when you need advice, a recommendation or simply reassurance that you are not the only person dealing with a particular challenge.
For a profession that can sometimes feel isolating—even when we spend all day surrounded by people – that connection is incredibly valuable.
And no, networking does not have to mean walking awkwardly into a room and selling yourself to strangers. At Admin Avenues, we intentionally create an environment where connection feels welcoming, useful and genuine.
Confidence comes from capability and exposure
We often talk about confidence as though some people naturally have it and others do not.
In my experience, confidence grows when you build capability, understand your value and see what is possible.
Professional development gives you language for work you may already be doing. It helps you recognise where your skills sit in the broader business. It allows you to identify gaps before they become barriers and return to the workplace with practical ideas you can implement.
It can also give you the evidence and courage to have bigger conversations, about your responsibilities, title, salary, boundaries, development or next career step.
You do not need to know everything before you walk into the room. You attend because you are willing to learn.
Why Admin Avenues is different
There are plenty of conferences available, but I did not create Admin Avenues to add another generic event to the calendar.
Every decision starts with one question: Will this genuinely help an admin do their job better?
Our speakers are professionally engaged because expertise has value. Our programs are personally curated around the issues admins tell us they are facing now—not recycled content or generic motivation that disappears by Monday morning.
Across our 2026 Conference Series, we are tackling the subjects shaping the profession: AI and Microsoft Copilot, the changing value of the EA role, executive partnership, communication, leadership, confidence, career visibility, wellbeing, burnout and sustainable performance.
You will hear from experts, but you will also hear from working admin professionals sharing how they are actually using AI and adapting inside their organisations. You will leave with practical strategies, new connections and actions you can take from your very next day at work.
And because the experience matters, we have chosen premium venues where administrative professionals feel valued, welcomed and proud to be in the room.
Go deeper with a masterclass
A conference can open your mind to new ideas. A masterclass gives you the space to work through them.
Following each conference, Rachael Bonetti will deliver The New Value Equation, a highly interactive masterclass designed for EAs who want to understand how value is changing, and how to evolve with confidence and intention.
You will examine the forces reshaping the profession, the contributions becoming more influential, what organisations increasingly need from their EAs and where your own untapped opportunities may lie. You will complete a personal value audit and leave with a practical action plan to strengthen your influence, impact and future career options.
If you are questioning what comes next, feeling overlooked, worried about becoming easier to replace or simply ready to operate at a higher level, this is the room to be in.
Make the business case
Professional development should not be positioned as a day away from work or a nice reward. It is a business investment.
When requesting support, explain how the event connects to your role and your organisation’s priorities. Identify the sessions that will help you improve efficiency, adopt technology, support your executive more strategically or sustain performance. Commit to sharing your key learnings with your team and nominate specific ideas you will implement afterwards.
We have also created business case templates on each event page to help you have that conversation with your executive or manager.
Do not assume the answer will be no before you have even asked.
Choose your city and secure your place
The 2026 Admin Avenues Conference Series is coming to three cities:
- Adelaide: Monday 28 September 2026, Adelaide Marriott Hotel
Masterclass: Tuesday 29 September 2026, 10.00am–3.00pm
- Sydney: Monday 12 October 2026, Doltone House Hyde Park
Masterclass: Tuesday 13 October 2026, 10.00am–3.00pm at Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park
- Brisbane: Monday 26 October 2026, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
Masterclass: Tuesday 27 October 2026, 10.00am–3.00pm at Rydges South Bank
Conference-only, conference and masterclass, table and selected event-package ticket options are available. Visit your city page to view the full program, speakers, ticket inclusions, business case template and current availability:
If you are an AIOP member, remember to access your member discount. If you want to attend with colleagues, explore the group and table options—learning together makes it easier to bring new ideas back into the workplace and turn them into action.
Do not wait until change forces your hand
The easiest thing to do when work is demanding and budgets are tight is to postpone investing in yourself.
But your career cannot always come last.
You deserve to understand where your profession is going. You deserve access to current, relevant education. You deserve a network that knows the value of your work. And you deserve to spend time in a room created specifically for you.
The workplace is moving quickly. This is the time to build your skills, strengthen your network, understand your value and take ownership of what comes next.
Do not wait until you feel behind.
Choose your city, make the case and get in the room. We cannot wait to welcome you.