PA Life Star Awards 2026: introducing new judges & interviews this year

We are delighted to confirm the judges of the PA Life Star Awards 2026. The awards will again be judged fairly and expertly by a panel of experienced industry professionals. New members have joined the panel, plus we’ve added a second round of judging in a form of an interview too…

If you haven’t entered the awards yet, please do so by midnight 18 September. You can either nominate yourself, a colleague or a friend – you will be asked to provide at least one testimonial from the nominee’s boss, exec, senior colleague or client in support of the nomination. Simply choose your categories and complete the short entry form and you are in – we’ll be in touch should we need further information from you.

PA Life Christmas Party & Star Awards 2026 – special  celebration marking PA Life’s 15th anniversary year

📅 The awards will be co-hosted by Graysons Venues at PA Life’s Christmas Party & Star Awards at 10 Union Street, London Bridge, on Friday 11 December.

You will need to register for the party here. The 250 assistant guest places are in high demand, however all nominees of the Star Awards will be offered a place.

We have added new judges to the panel this year, and are proud to confirm the fantastic line-up of experienced coaches, trainers and senior EAs below.

We have also introduced changes to the process, a second round of voting as all the finalists will be interviewed over a a video call by two judges.

The line-up of PA Life Star Awards 2026 judges

Suzy Sanders, Founder and Franchisor of Alchemy VA. Suzy has won awards for her noticeably different approach to running her successful VA business with collaboration and community as core. She has been featured on radio, TV and in leading industry publications, including the BBC, HuffPost and Go Daddy.

Kathy Soulsby, Founder and Director of Personally Virtual. After a varied career as a Restaurant Manager, in Customer Relations, Sales, and PA and EA roles in Management Consultancies, Recruitment and Executive Coaching Businesses Kathy set up Personally Virtual in 2014. Together with her team she provides services that you’d expect from a skilled Executive Assistant.

Emily Partidge, Creator and Director of eavolve 

Emily is a distinguished leader with a wealth of experience in executive coaching and professional development (specifically for EA/PA professionals). Drawing from her extensive background as a C-Suite global Executive Assistant (EA) and EA Team Manager (for a Fortune 500 global IT services leader), Emily brings a unique perspective and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by strategic EAs.
Her expertise in team management, strategic planning, and executive support has made her a valuable mentor for both aspiring leaders and EAs/PAs looking to enhance their careers.

Jodie Mears FinstAM – experienced C-Suite Executive Assistant, co-host of The Crodie Files Podcast 

Jodie began her career circa twenty years ago as a purchase ledger clerk, supporting the needs of account managers within the UK energy supply markets, and quickly moved into high-level administrative support roles, ranging from Receptionist, Senior Administrative Assistant / Ethics & Compliance Coordinator within the Aerospace industry, to currently supporting two C-Suite Global Executives as a strategic EA in the digital integration & consultancy sector.

Experienced in supporting senior leadership, ethics & compliance coordination and support in technical development teams, as well as bids & proposals within the aerospace markets (airports and airline technologies).

Jodie also served as a founding committee member of a successful corporate wellness & wellbeing Initiative in 2018. She plays an active role in organising internal events and engaging with colleagues and peers worldwide.

Always taking her career and self-development into her own hands, Jodie thrives on levelling up in business attributes and skills as well as gaining tremendous self-accomplishment when creatively inspiring others to do the same.

In recent years was asked to contribute as an advisory board member of the UK’s largest exhibition for administrative professionals- The PA Show and shares her experiences on industry panel discussions at various events. Jodie attends and hosts many in-person and online events, and mentors and supports the administrative industry with passionate advocacy.

Abigail Jones is a career Executive Assistant, currently working as an EA to a VP at Spotify, she is also our Ask Abi columnist

The winner of PA Life Star Awards‘ PA of the Year 2019 and Miss Jones PA of the Year 2018, shortlisted for Anderson Hoare PA of the Year 2019, Outstanding Achievement, EA of The Year 2018, London PA of the Year 2017, PA of the Year 2022 and 2016.

She was featured on the cover of PA Life Magazine and is a regular contributor to it, and has also been featured on panel shows, key note speeches, articles, summits and workshops with the European Executive Assistant Conference, The Global PA Association, Practically Perfect, LCCI PA Club and SecsInTheCity.

Abigail specialises in working at ‘C suite’ level, and is passionate about encouraging PA’s to get the most of out their careers, giving women and equal voice in the workplace, and developing skill sets to make the most of the role of Executive and Personal Assistant. She also provides professional coaching and mentoring to individual EAs and PAs and as well as corporate groups.

Marja-Leena Toseland, Editor, PA Life. PA Life is all about supporting the Professional Assistant community with the informative and inspiring content in both our print and digital platforms,  as well as through our vibrant PA Life Club community. The Assistants are at the core of everything we do and Marja-Leena recognises the talent, hard work and determination required for succeeding in the role.

Submit your nominations by 18 September

All the judges are very much looking part of  reading your nominations – so don’t delay, the process is quick and simple – complete and submit the entry form here. We’ll ask for further details should we need to.

PA AWARDS: PA LIFE STAR AWARDS 2026 CATEGORIES AND CRITERIA

Here are the categories and the qualities, efforts and achievements our judges we are looking for.

• Rising Star celebrates outstanding Assistants who have been working in the sector for less than five years, but have demonstrated excellence in their approach to their role.
• Virtual Assistant Star will be awarded to an individual who has shown exceptional applications of services to clients.
• PA Life Club Member Star is awarded to the member of the PA Life Club who has shown strong commitment to supporting the Club by attending events and engaging with other Club initiatives.
• PA Life Club Mentor Star will be nominated by PA Life Club mentees for the support, guidance and positive impact they’ve made on the mentee.
• Event Organiser Star is awarded for the Assistant who has shown to be an accomplished event professional behind successful events.
• Project Lead Star has demonstrated strong project management skills within their organisation by undertaking successful project.
• Team Player Star is awarded to someone who not only supports their exec/boss, but other colleagues too.
• Commitment to Wellbeing Star has actively helped their organisations with wellbeing and wellness initiatives, either by introducing projects and programmes, or by managing them.
• PA Star of the Year is the Star of all Stars award is given to someone who’s enhanced their workplace, going above and beyond duty to make processes smoother and their Execs’ and/or their teams’ lives easier.

Good luck!