Craig Harris first male named PA of the Year in SuperAchievers Awards

Executive Assistant Craig Harris has become the first man crowned PA of the Year at Pitman’s Training’s SuperAchiever Awards. The nominees are put forward by colleagues for their outstanding achievements before being subjected to a public vote, with Harris being applauded for his success after becoming a PA without previous experience.

Taking on the role of assistant to the director of fundraising at Shelter, Harris came from a career in customer service, admitting that he took a ‘leap of faith’ after taking interest in the profession for offering variety and demanding versatility. Harris was put forward to give confidence to others to show that through training and determination you can make a positive career change.

Involved with EPAA’s ‘Not Just a Girl’s Job’ campaign, Harris hopes to inspire more men to take part in the industry, which is currently 98% female. Describing himself as an “assistant for life,” his commitment to the community through tackling misconceptions in the industry was a major factor for the judges.

“Craig is a deserved winner; it’s very clear to see his obvious determination and commitment to not only his own role and to the profession but also to encourage diversity to shine,” said judge Lucy Brazier from Executive Secretary Magazine. “The feedback on his professionalism from his colleagues is particularly impressive in an industry that thrives on collaboration.”

Other categories included working mum/dad of the year, student of the year and boss of the year to highlight the different areas of business, aiming to highlight people whose passion shines through, going beyond the basic responsibilities of their positions.

“One of the things I love about Craig is his enthusiasm, generosity and community minded spirit,” explained Jennifer Corcoran, last year’s PA of the Year. “He is the very definition of a life-long learner who is committed to giving back, sharing and helping others.

“This shines through when you meet Craig both in person and in the online world. We need more men like Craig in the profession and I will be following EPAA’s ‘Not Just a Girl’s job’ campaign with interest!”