THE EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT SECRETARY

• Tapping into the power of emotional intelligence
• Using EI to become a successful negotiator and team player
• Developing and building rapport with managers and teams through EI
• Combining emotional and social intelligence for the most beneficial career and personal results
• Learning how to handle yourself and your emotions professionally

with Cathy Harris
Professional Assistant to Executive Director Discovery Invest & Head: Product Development Executive Management, Discovery Life Limited
and Winner, OPSA Secretary of the Year 2006/2007

Cathy Harris is the Professional Assistant to Kenny Rabson, Executive Director Discovery Invest and Head of Product and Development, Discovery Life. Cathy has been with Discovery for 7 years and in this time has also worked for the CEO of PruHealth, and the COO of Discovery Health.

Cathy was nominated OPSA Secretary of the Year 2006/2007 and has been involved with the Discovery PA FORUM since its inception 7 years ago. She has served as Chairperson and is currently Deputy Chairperson. Cathy has been involved in various initiatives involving the development of PA’s within Discovery and these include the first ever Discovery PA conference 4 years ago, a PA Induction program; initiated the Discovery Chartered PA program and has recently launched the National Certificate for Business Administration program for the PA’s in her organization. Cathy has written many articles for the secretarial profession including 3 editions of the A-Z’s for Secretaries published by Dictum, The Star Workplace and several magazines including Women Inc. She has traveled internationally facilitating workshops and presentations, and has also provided One-on-One coaching programs for Executive PA’s. Cathy is passionate about her profession and has been an executive PA for many years. “Knowledge is such a powerful tool, sharing it is even more powerful, and having an open heart and an open mind, makes you stronger, wiser and keeps you constantly informed! Being able to participate and contribute towards the positive growth of our great profession is so rewarding for me!”

Keynote Address
WORK-LIFE BALANCE!? GET A LIFE

On your marks, get set … think.
Why is it that despite the speed and efficiency of the 21st century there’s still too much to do, and too little time? We live our lives in the fast lane, but are in danger of falling asleep at the wheel. Exhaustion has become the most prevalent health epidemic in modern times, yet we continue running on empty, tipping the scales and upsetting the balance – begging the question: “Are we really living at all?”

Take Home Value
This precept will assist individuals and organisations work smarter, not harder – through harnessing, concentrating and restoring that valuable human resource called energy, and applying those principles to work and life.
There are 1440 minutes in a day … just 90 of those could dramatically change the way you spend the rest of them.
“The secret to lasting success, individually and organizationally, lies in how we manage our energy.” - Marcus Buckingham, Author: “First, Break all the rules” and “Now, discover your Strengths

with Dr. Michael Mol
CEO, Paragon Health (Pty) Ltd and Presenter, Top Billing

Michael Mol is a qualified medical doctor with a vested interest in emergency medicine and advanced trauma, cardiac and pediatric life support. Four years ago he carried his charisma from the casualty room over to the small screen and has co-anchored Top Billing, South Africa’s longest running prime time magazine program ever since. He has spoken to the stars, travelled the world and shared his experiences in a personal and endearing way with a captive audience.

His most recent accolades include NTVA stone Awards for best presenter (2000 & 2001), for scriptwriting (2001), and GQ’s most stylish man of the year. A former Mr. South Africa, he is also a Red Cross Children’s Champion and a patron of SA Cares for Life and The Living Hope Community Centre. He’s a writer and speaker that suffers from an incurable ailment …an insatiable thirst for endogenous adrenalin! From sky-diving out of a hot-air balloon, to running the bulls in Pamplona, to scuba diving under an frozen lake, to being the father of a three year old son, to wing walking on a bi-plane, to surfing the great Zambezi white waters on a body board and bungi jumping off the highest bridge in the world backwards! … there’s nothing that he would shrink back from – yet! Naturally he prescribes to the old adage “Do as I say, not as I do” … or does he? His interpersonal and business skills, together with his ability to identify, simplify and pass on insightful observations about the world we live in, and an endearing presentation style, make him a favourite with business professionals around the world.

UNLEASH YOUR TRUE POTENTIAL: THE SECRETS OF CAREER AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Moving out of your comfort zone: challenging your personal boundaries
• Motivating yourself to reach the top
• Career management: Aligning your career goals with your personal goals
• Exploring career opportunities available to Executive Secretaries
• The value of networking, mentoring and developing contacts
• Overcome potential barriers to success
• Leveraging your network to gain access to resources, information and opportunities

with Jana van Heerden
Personal Assistant, CSIR and OPSA Office Professional of the Year Winner 2008/2009

Jana van Heerden is the centre secretary for Polymers & Bioceramics, and as such is responsible for all office administrative aspects, as well as support to all P&B staff members in matters such as travel arrangements, stationery, event organisation, etc. She is also the SHEQ (Safety, Health, Environment and Quality) officer for P&B.

Jana matriculated in 2002 at Garsfontein Hoërskool, Pretoria. In January 2003 she enrolled for her National Diploma in Office Management and Technology at TUT (Tshwane University of Technology) in Pretoria. While studying she also worked as a full-time student assistant at the Business School, TUT. After she completed her studies at the end of 2005 she worked at a small marketing company until August 2006.In August 2006 she started her career with the CSIR. Within her first year with Polymers & Bioceramics she received her first award (Most valuable contribution – 2007). In her second year she received her 2nd award within her department (Excellence Award for Support Excellence – July 2008). Jana’s most recent achievement is that of the OPSA Office Professional of the year award, received on 3 September 2008.

MARS AND VENUS IN THE WORKPLACE

• Understanding how men and women define their ‘sense of self’ and how this impacts in the workplace
• Common gender differences in communication
• Learning how problem solving is done on Mars and Venus
• How Marsians and Venusians deal with stress – and how this relates to your manager
• How non-verbal communication is interpreted by Marsians and Venusians
• Personal Mars/Venus Workplace attitude assessment

with Shurnell Andersson
Life Coach

Mother, wife and passionate believer in the potential of people! Shurnell Andersson is an internationally accredited Life Coach - specialising in Workplace and Personal Relationships and Child & Youth coaching. She is also a brilliant Inspirational Performer, and an energising Workshop Facilitator & Trainer.

Born on the Caribbean island of Barbados, Shurnell has dedicated her life and talents to empowering people to be their best self and choose a life of success. In achieving this Shurnell combines her coaching, training and speaking skills to stimulate, challenge and inspire people’s thinking and actions. Shurnell is especially passionate about youth and family relations and works closely with educators, parents, community and youth leaders to empower them to give the encouragement and support that young people need if they are to become the great individuals they are destined to be. Shurnell is owner/manager of Make a Difference Empowerment Solutions & Services. She has a background in Social Work and many years experience in Youth Development, Behaviour Change and Personal/Team transformation. Over 20 years of experience in human development has helped Shurnell hone her natural ability for people development and allowed her to expand her talent for growing and inspiring others to reach their potential. Shurnell has worked with diverse groups and individuals in the Caribbean, the US and a number of African states. She has lived in Trinidad, Zambia and Botswana and is currently residing in Johannesburg, South Africa.

AVOID BURNOUT BY ACHIEVING A SUCCESSFUL WORK LIFE BALANCE

• Creating a balance by establishing priorities in your personal and professional life
• Learning how to delegate at work and at home to avoid exhaustion
• Identifying qualities within yourself which will enable you to cope with the pressures of being a modern day working woman
• Effectively managing your various roles of wife, mother, sister and friend and still coping with your workload

with Ansunette Swanepoel
Personal Assistant to the Managing Director, Distell Ltd and ICAP South African PA of the Year 2008

After finishing her year voluntary military service at the South African Army Women’s College in George, Ansunette Swanepoel started working as a Secretary for the Department of Transport in Cape Town. Ansunette moved on to Parliament where she was appointed as a Secretary for the Legal Team of one of the Political Parties in Parliament.

She is very proud of the fact that she was part of writing our country’s first democratic Constitution. In 1998 Ansunette joined the Federal Council and moved to Pretoria for a year to work on the marketing and advertising campaign for the 1999 Elections. In 2002 she was appointed as Personal Assistant to the Chief Director in the Office of the Premier of the Western Cape – responsible for Communication Strategy and Planning. Ansunette left Government for the private sector in 2004 when she was appointed as Personal Assistant to the Managing Director of Distell Ltd. Ansunette finished her Public Relations as well as Conference and Event Management Courses with Distinction and is currently studying towards her BTech Degree in Business Administration which she will complete in June 2009. Ansunette is aspiring towards becoming an International Business Manager as her interests are the International Marketing and Sales environment. Ansunette regards the PA of the Year Award as the highlight of her career as Personal Assistant and looks forward to the challenges and opportunities that this title may hold.

THE ROLE OF EXECUTIVE SECRETARIES IN THE FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMPANY STRATEGY

• The relationship between the role of Executive Secretaries and that of the Strategy Formulators
• Executive Secretaries and the Bigger Picture of the Company – Executive Secretaries taking their rightful place!
• Simplifying the Company Strategy; and how to get buy-in from the Executive Secretaries.
• Challenges; Lessons Learnt and What usually Works…..

with Doreen Kosi
Chief Director: Personal Support Services and Administration, Office of the Deputy President, The Presidency

Doreen Kosi is currently the Head of Personal Support Services Unit: Chief Director (Administration) at the Office of the Deputy President of the RSA, The Presidency. She is currently busy with research for her Masters of Management Degree (Public Development and Management) through the University of Witwatersrand Business School.

Doreen’s previous positions include Head of Personal Support Services Unit at the Office of the Presidency, Private Secretary to the former Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, Private Secretary to the then National Minister of Education and prior to that Doreen occupied various Administrative/ Secretarial positions at the University of Fort Hare, in the Eastern Cape. Doreen is directly involved in planning of Presidential, International and National high profile events, official visits and conferences. Doreen was awarded Best Secretary in the Eastern Cape Province, 1994. Doreen is also involved in various committees at the Presidency.

DRUMMING SA
Drumming is a unique and dynamic way to get everybody beating to the same rhythm in no time! Benefits include:

• Builds team spirit
• Excellent ice-breaker
• Bridges cultural divides
• Creates strong and unified group identity
• Provides inspiration and motivation
• Encourages co-operation
• Enhances mental clarity and focus
• Releases stress

Anyone can drum - if your heart is beating, you have rhythm! Within minutes, your team will be making music. Because rhythm is a universal language, our ‘mother tongue’, drumming creates a unity that transcends barriers.

DON’T MISS OUT ON:

• An unforgettable interactive drumming experience
• Guaranteed fun and entertainment
• Highly experienced facilitators
• Some of the country's best Master Drummers