Dimitra Zographos
Executive Assistant to the Senior Vice President and Director
of Business Lines and Major Projects
URS Corporation

Dimitra has served as Executive Assistant to the Senior Vice President and Director of Business Lines and Major Project for URS Corporation since June 2006, where she is responsible for the overall administrative management of the office of the Senior Vice President.

URS Corporation is a fully integrated engineering, construction and technical services organization with the capabilities to support projects through every stage. URS employs over 50,000 staff in various industries, in the United States and in more than 40 countries.

Dimitra has a finance background and has been an Executive Assistant since 1995. Prior to joining URS, Dimitra held a Senior EA role with the ANZ for four years and eight years at Crown Limited for the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer. Having worked at Crown and being one of the very first employees to be involved in Crown's inception to completion phase, Dimitra brings some valuable experience and knowledge as she embarked on this journey.

At last year's Executive PA Magazine 2011 Awards, Dimitra was runner up Executive PA of the year, which is a leading national event and accolade for Executive level EA's.Dimitra was recognised for her passion and contribution to her procession by receiving this Award as well as profiling the importance of all senior PAs and EAs across Australia.

Dimitra is passionate for this procession and strongly believes that experience and knowledge should be shared to give other people the opportunity to grow and develop both personally and professionally and she makes time to speak at conferences, mentor and help connect and grow networks where appropriate.

Glenyce Johnson
Managing Director
Peregrine and Gecko’s Adventures

Glenyce Johnson is Managing Director of Peregrine and Gecko’s Adventures where she commenced more than 12 years ago as the Financial Controller (for 5 years) followed by the appointment as General Manager and then Managing Director.

Peregrine Adventures offer adventure travel experiences and specialise in small group tours to destinations across the world.

Glenyce is dedicated to ensuring Peregrine Adventures is committed to sustainable tourism, making a low impact on the environment and local cultures whilst helping to generate future employment for local people and their communities.

She is responsible for the wholesale business in Melbourne as well as retail offices in Melbourne and London, managing a budget of $100 million dollars across 7 continents.  Following September 11, 2001, and a worldwide downturn in travel, Glenyce was instrumental in keeping Peregrine alive.

John Karagounis
Managing Director and CEO
The EA Circle and CEO Circle

Managing Director and CEO, John Karagounis has been working with business leaders for most of his working life, and has established an outstanding reputation in industry. John started his career in the financial services industry working his way up the corporate ladder and making an impact all the way through, winning numerous State and national awards. He eventually found his niche in the private wealth management space and held a number of senior executive roles in the Commonwealth Bank, UBS and St George Bank. During his time in financial services he was a true advocate for the industry, playing an active role in the Australasian Institute of Banking and Finance which included being a member and Chair of the Victorian Board, leading up to the merger with the Securities Institute to form FINSIA. John was then approached by a business owner to run a lucrative part of his business focussed on connecting, assisting and providing opportunities for leaders of small to medium size companies. With his passion, experience and vision, John transformed this organisation and it was then that John received his calling. A knock came at the door and John was introduced to The CEO Circle. John purchased The CEO Circle globally in February 2008 and as a high achieving visionary, has already left his mark on this exclusive organisation. Based on the success of The CEO Circle, John started The EA Circle in 2009, offering Executive Assistants an exclusive forum in which to connect, share insights and develop ideas with other like-minded peers in a confidential environment, where there are no conflicts of interest and no hidden agendas.

Patrizia Iacono
EA to the Chief Information Officer
The Westpac Group

Patrizia's career experience as an Executive Assistant spans over 20 years, during which she has evolved her executive skills by supporting some of the most influential Chairmen and CEOs in Australia.

Patrizia's career catapulted from humble beginnings as a travel consultant, film production assistant and advertising account executive to managing the lives of the CEOs and Chairmen of Australian Consolidated Press, Lion Nathan Australia, Mattingly & Partners and Grey Advertising to name a few.

Patrizia has not only supported her executive's business activities and sometimes personal diaries, but also led a number of complex high profile and important initiatives, such as leading the project team in a major relocation, the business transformation of an advertising agency to orchestrating and directing one of the largest Christmas events for over 4000 employees across multiple locations around Australia.

Patrizia has also worked for a global IT management consulting business travelling the world alongside the COO and running her virtual office with only a mobile phone and laptop in hand.

In 2010 Patrizia made a decision that her next employer would be her choice, one that would support diversity and balance in the workplace, where her passion for people, hard work and dedication would be recognised and her career development encouraged.

Patrizia chose Westpac and is currently the Executive Assistant to the Chief Information Officer, Technology at Westpac Institutional Bank.

Patrizia's passion for people and her commitment to the professional development of the role of an Executive Assistant has her being sought after as a mentor to EAs within Westpac and across the corporate world. Time well
spent, where Patrizia feels that she gets as much out of those relationships as her mentees.

Patrizia has been married for 23 years and has a beautiful daughter. In her spare time, Patrizia dedicates every moment to her family and friends.

In 2010 Patrizia was selected to represent NSW in the Australian Executive Assistant of the Year, and went on to be awarded 3rd place nationally.

Philip Clark
Senior Facilitator, Inqurio and Former ABC Radio Broadcaster and TV Host

Philip Clark is one of the country's most experienced presenters and broadcasters with over 20 years experience in newspapers television and radio.

He is also a highly respected speaker, presenter and facilitator.

Philip has fronted highly successful Breakfast and Drive Show radio programmes on the ABC as well as commercial stations and has hosted a national ABC TV show, Flashback, as well as being a writer and columnist for newspapers and magazines.

Philip is known for his warm and engaging presence, humour and ability to communicate with audiences.

He is highly experienced in teaching communication methods and explaining to audiences how to pitch your message effectively.

Philip is a senior facilitator for Inqurio Pty Ltd, one of Australia’s leading change management consultancies.

Dr Suzy Green
Co-Founder
Positive Psychology Institute

Dr Suzy Green is a Clinical and Coaching Psychologist (MAPS) based in Sydney. She is a leader in the complementary fields of Coaching Psychology and Positive Psychology having conducted a world-first study on evidence-based coaching as an Applied Positive Psychology. Suzy was the recipient of an International Positive Psychology Fellowship Award and published in the Journal of Positive Psychology. Suzy lectures on Applied Positive Psychology as an Adjunct Lecturer in the Coaching PsychCoaching Psychology. Suzy is the co-founder of the Positive ology Unit, University of Sydney and is an Honorary Vice President of the Society for Psychology Institute,global well-being through provision of individual, educational and an organisation committed to increasing organisational services on applied positive psychology. Suzy also writes a regular "stress-less" column for Women's Health magazine.

Narrelle Matthey-Aickin
C – Level/ Senior EA

Narrelle Matthey-Aickin is a senior Executive Assistant at ANZ Bank assisting the Group General Manager Brand, Strategy and Management.

Narrelle has had a varied career working at senior levels at some major companies.  After joining GE Money in 2001, Narrelle worked as a personal assistant across a range of departments before commencing a role as Executive Assistant to the President. 

This exposure to diverse business functions was crucial in preparing Narrelle for that position, where she dealt with people and issues from across the GE business domestically and internationally.

The Global Financial Crisis saw both the President and Narrelle retrenched and she accepted a role at Telstra as EA to the Executive Director Consumer Marketing and Operations.  When her boss stepped up to a higher role Narrelle re-evaluated her future and decided to look for another position.

This led to a one-year maternity leave role as EA to the CEO Asia, Pacific, Europe & America at ANZ, which was an opportunity too good to resist.  Following that completion Narrelle was then offered her current position.

Kathy Cunningham
Director
empire PR & Events Ltd

Kathy brings a wealth of international experience to her Public Relations and Event Marketing business. Having spent 10 years managing a wide range of innovative and well-known events and media relations activities in New York City, Kathy moved to New Zealand and has spent the last eighteen years successfully managing her own Australasian event management and media relations business, based in Auckland. empire PR & Events began in 1992 and specializes in creating events that captures the attention of all those intended as well as generate awareness of a product or brand in a positive manner.

Kathy has managed events and media relations for some of the world’s most recognised brand names, and has launched new business ventures including: Cadbury, Cartier, Robert Harris, Hilton Auckland, Yellow Pages, Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind, Peugeot, Finistere Partners LLC, Levi Strauss, Dick Smith, New Zealand Rugby Union, Samsung, IMAX, Westpac, Tourism New Zealand, Tourism Queensland, The Cook Islands Tourism Authority and Star Alliance.

Kathy is a communications specialist and event management expert who is responsible for organising the first carbon neutral event in New Zealand with The Auckland Seafood Festival. Kathy teaches the highly acclaimed ‘Staging Successful Events’ training programme and believes in mentoring students through hands on internship programmes.

Kathy has been recognised for the impressive results she has gained for her clients by receiving awards from PRINZ, FINZ, NZAEP, a global gold MAC Award and a Bronze Lion from Cannes. Kathy is the founding Director on the Board of The First Tee of New Zealand.

Peter Blasina
The Gadget Guy

As Australia's trusted GadgetGuy, Pete Blasina has been explaining technology to consumers for more than 22 years. He's the on-air technology reporter for Channel 7, a tech trends commentator for Kochie's Business Builders and is often called on to comment on technology for Seven'’s 6.00pm News and Today Tonight current affairs program.

The Gadget Guy is also a regular weekly guest on over 14 radio stations nationally.

Pete has been invited to be an ambassador for a number of technologies, such as the launch of Digital Radio and the Blu-ray format in Australia.

Peter is currently the Department of Communications' National Cyber Security Ambassador and he works closely with the federal department of Regional Development Australia, taking the technology story to the country.

He is also Telstra's technology ambassador and delivers regular presentations, touring the country demystifying technology for a broad range of consumers via a variety of events.

The Gadget Guy provides valuable advice on how to assess product and make the most of today's popular technologies at his popular website, www.gadgetguy.com.au.

The experience Peter gained from 14 years as a senior science and mathematics teacher has come to the fore recently. He has been invited by a number of Australian Education Departments, TAFEs and Universities to provide an insight into technology trends and developments and their influence on the future of education and business in Australia.

When discussing the impact of technology on business, Peter speaks from experience. He currently operates a small business, called the Gadget Group - a content creation and publishing company that currently employs 16 people.

Mary Morris
Director
MTK Konsulting

A human resource professional, Mary has over 15 years experience in delivering an innovative approach to human resource development in Australia, Canada and the UK. Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Diploma in Human Resource Management and Certificate IV in Workplace Assessment and Training, LSI, HBDI and DISC accredited.

Some of Mary’s clients in EI are APRA, ARN, Randwick City Council, JP Morgan, Australia Post, CBA, and Randstad. 

Craig Farrell
Chief HR Officer
Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC)

Craig Farrell is the Chief HR Officer, People Strategy and Services Division, Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

His background includes managerial, employment brokerage, consultancy, contract management and corporate services, though for the past 15 years he has been in the HR arena.

Craig is a keen golfer, squash and tennis player, married with three children, and is an enthusiastic pilot, having run a successful commercial ballooning operation for 6 years.