The annual PA Life Star Awards were celebrated last Friday jointly at our Christmas Party, hosted in style at the fabulous Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – our Venue Host Sponsor. The evening was also supported by other select event partners and sponsors…
The hotly contested annual PA Life Star awards recognise the dedication, hard work and talent of executive support professionals. Executive Assistants, Personal Assistants, Virtual Assistants and Office Managers we invited to enter the free awards and to send with it at least one testimonial to verify the entry. We were delighted to receive a record number of nominations – almost entirely sent in by execs, bosses and senior colleagues.
The numbers were also boosted by us simplifying the process by introducing an online submission for nominations.
Expert judges faced a difficult decision deciding on the PA Life Star Awards 2025 winners
Our panel of judges were all either current or former Senior Executive Assistants, trainers and educators for the assistant profession, Virtual Assistants running their own successful businesses.
Thank you for dedicating your time to review this year’s PA Life Star Awards nominations!
The judging panel of 2025 included:
Abigail Jones is a career Executive Assistant, currently working as an EA to a VP at Spotify, she is also PA Life magazine’s Ask Abi columnist. Abigail specialises in working at โC suiteโ level, and is passionate about encouraging PAโs 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 providesย professional coaching and mentoringย to individual EAs and PAs and as well as corporate groups.
Suzy Sanders, Founder and Franchisor ofย 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 ofย 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 youโd expect from a skilled Executive Assistant.
Emily Partidge, Creator and Director ofย eavolveย
Emily is a distinguished leader with a wealth of experience in executive coaching and professional development (specifically for EA/PA professionals). 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 โ experienced C-Suite Executive Assistant, co-host ofย The Crodie Files Podcastย
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).
The winner ofย PA Life Star Awardsโ 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.
Lindsay Taylor is the co-founder and director ofย Your Excellency, a leading UK-based training organisation, established in 2007 and highly regarded in the EA/PA and learning development communities.ย Withย 30 years of experience in the EA/PA community including holding EA roles in both the UK and USA,ย Lindsay intimately understands the challenges and opportunities within the role.
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, and events. She is also much invested in supporting the PA Life Club member 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.
Time to reveal the PA Life Star 2025 winners & finalists
1. Team Player Star 2025 is Laura Jones, EA at Dun & Bradsheet
The runners-up were Emma Colato-Marks, Personal Assistant at Associated British Foods and Francesca Paveley, Personal Assistant at Blick Rothenberg
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- Laura Jones with Joe Thurgood, SWR Business Direct
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- Raaghav Dawar, Blacklane with Oksana Gabriel
2. Event Organiser Star 2025 – Oksana Gabriel, Office Manager/Executive Assistant at BW ESS
The finalists were Alex Kais, Event Organiser & Founder at House of Kais, Danielle Vidal, Executive Assistant and Account Manager at Capco
3. Virtual Assistant Star 2025 is Hayley Taylor, Founder of Peak Lifestyle Management
The runners-up were: Debra Peltz, Founder of CollabWork and Tina Walker, Founder of Liberty Executive Services
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- Lola Stanford
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- Hayley Taylor
4. Rising Star 2025 – Lola Stanford, Personal Assistant. At the time of her nominations she worked at empiric.
The reminding finalists were: Aniela Bochen, Personal Assistant at Hill Dickinson LLP and Chelsey Cowan, Office Manager and Personal Assistant at Foresight Group
5. Project Lead Star 2025 award went to Anna Petrides,ย Executive Assistant & Admin Manager at Indurent
Two accomplished project leader also made the final shortlist – Mark Walsh, Team Assistant, Office of the Chair and Chief Executive at Nursing and Midwifery Council and Sam Wardell, Executive Assistant at Indurent
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- Andrew Allen-Simpson, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with Elina Oaulah
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- Anna Petrides
6. Commitment to Wellbeing Star 2025 winner is Elina Oualah,ย Personal Assistant at Blick Rothenberg
The reminding finalists were Claire Howford, Executive Assistant to CEO at Gallagher and Francesca Paveley, Personal Assistant at Blick Rothenberg
7. Mentor Star 2025 – Claudine Martin, Senior Executive Assistant to Head of BNY Pershing EMEA
Our other finalist were Hannah Houston-Banks, Executive Assistant, Associated British Foods, Rebecca Polson, Executive Support Manager, Alzheimer’s Research UK and Zennie Major, Executive Assistant, Phoenix Money
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- Zachary Wood, Fortnum & Mason Concierge Service with Claudine Martin
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- Ivana Cartman with Joe Thurgood, SWR Business Direct
8. PA Life Club Member Star 2025 Ivana Cartman, Executive Assistant at Displayr
The four other finalists in this category were Emma Taylor, Executive Assistant/Event Planner at SLB, Ilona Bee, MCoE Coordinator at Munichre, Joanie Suffield, Executive Assistant at Crรฉdit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank and Sandria Plummer, Executive Assistant at CIWEM
9. PA Star of the Year 2025 – Star of all Stars was this year awarded to Caroline Barnard, Executive Assistant at Cambridge University Press & Assessment English
The esteemed runner-sup were Tanya Bannon, Senior Executive Assistant at Deloitte LLP and Trisha Everton-Tye, Personal Assistant to ACOS GOSCC Brigadier at Ministry of Defence.
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