Professor Stephen Hawking’s former PA confirmed for office* 2015
Judith Croasdell, former PA to Professor Stephen Hawking – one of the world’s most famous scientists, has been confirmed to host a headline Keynote at this year’s office* show, which returns to London’s Olympia on 13-14 October.
Other Keynote speakers also unveiled today include Heather White from Smarter Networking; Kev House from Art of Brilliance; Tess Alps from Thinkbox; and barrister and businesswoman Miranda Brawn Esq. They’ll be joining over 4,000 visitors and 175 leading business to business suppliers at the UK’s award-winning annual event for PAs, EAs, secretaries, and office managers.
From 2004 until last year, Croasdell worked as PA/manager and agent to Professor Hawking at the Centre of Mathematical Sciences in Cambridge. She will be sharing exclusive insights from her long and colourful career – from starting out as a secretary for M16 in Bahrain, through to ‘working with a genius’ (under the spotlight of the world's media).
Although already well-travelled before she met Professor Hawking (she was born in Singapore, spent her early childhood in Bangkok, recorded indigenous music in Africa and the South Pacific, and was the first English woman to graduate from the Pacific Theological College in Fiji), it is her time and tours with him that led to many of her most treasured career highlights.
Among those highlights, she says, are meeting “outstanding people” like Buzz Aldrin, Mike Griffen (Administrative Head of NASA), Canadian astronaut Chris Hadley, Sir Roger Penrose, Brian Cox, Richard Dawkins, Benedict Cumberbatch, not to mention HM The Queen (twice, in 2005 and 2006) and enjoying “overseas trips to China, South Africa, South America, Israel and the West Bank, Germany, Spain, Geneva”. She also gives special mention to organising Professor Hawking's famous zero-gravity flight from Florida, and working with him on the opening ceremony of London 2012 Paralympics (which began with a ‘big bang’).
Whilst the PA role may have altered dramatically since her first secretarial posting in the 1960s, Croasdell’s keen to impart her knowledge and experiences to others just starting out in their career. Speaking ahead of her office* keynote, she says that it’s vital not to “just focus on being a PA” and be prepared to utilise other skills, studies and interests at your disposal. It’s hard won advice that has certainly worked in her favour.
“Keeping up and keeping on top of the job, can mean you work 24/7 which intrudes into home and weekends,” she says. “Avoid becoming a slave! Be creative and develop a good sense of humour and be 100% flexible and well informed. Never lose your temper, and always be approachable. The PA must look ahead and be prepared for anything!”
Judith Croasdell’s office* Keynote, ‘Working with a genius’, will take place at 1pm on Wednesday 14 October at Olympia, London.
The full Keynote line-up, which includes panel discussions hosted by PA Life and Executive PA Magazine, is set to be announced later this month. Please visit the show’s website for further details at www.officeshow.co.uk/education/keynote-theatre.
Admission to the Keynote programme is non-bookable and included with free show entry. To pre-register to attend office* on 13-14 October 2015, please visit www.officeshow.co.uk and use priority code OFF702 (direct link: www.eventdata.co.uk/Visitor/Office15.aspx?TrackingCode=OFF702).
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Notes:
Caption for photo: Judith Croasdell and Professor Stephen Hawking on Easter Island
Download high res photo: www.officeshow.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Judith-Croasdell-PR-pic.jpg
office* won ‘Best PA Industry Event’ 2014 at pa-assist.com’s Members Voice Awards in 2014. office* was shortlisted for ‘Best UK Trade Show Exhibition (under 2,000m2)’ at the Association of Event Organisers (AEO) Excellence Awards in both 2013 and 2014.
High res office* show photos are available upon request:
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Diversified Communications UK Ltd (Diversified UK) is a fast growing trade event organiser and publisher based in Brighton, Peterborough, Leamington Spa, and Nailsworth, Glos. Diversified UK’s event portfolio includes office*; SITS – The IT Service Management Show; Casual Dining; lunch!; Commercial Kitchen, Natural & Organic Products Europe; Nordic Organic Food Fair and Natural Products Scandinavia in Malmö, Sweden; camexpo; Geo Business; Ocean Business (including Offshore Survey Conference & Ocean Careers); MARELEC Marine Electromagnetics conference; Euro Bus Expo; Coach & Bus Live; and British Travel & Tourism Show. For more information, visit: www.divcom.co.uk.
Diversified UK is part of Diversified Communications, a leading international media company providing market access, education and information through global, national and regional face-to-face events, eMedia, publications and television stations. Diversified serves a number of industries including: seafood, food service, natural and organic, healthcare, commercial marine, and business management. Based in Portland, Maine, USA, Diversified employs over 800 staff, with divisions in the Eastern United States, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit: www.divcom.com.
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