6th Annual Conference and Award for Executive Secretaries and PAs:
ACES 2013
Speaker Biographies
Annabel Goldie MSP
Former Leader of the Conservative Party in Scotland
Professional Information: 1978 – January 2006; Partner in the Glasgow firm of Donaldson,
Alexander, Russell & Haddow.
Political Information: A former Constituency Chairman of the Renfrew West and Inverclyde
Conservative Association, Parliamentary Candidate for Renfrew West and Inverclyde in 1992
when Labour majority was reduced to approximately 1,700. Appointed Vice-Chairman of the
Scottish Conservative Party in 1992. Appointed Deputy Chairman of the Scottish Conservative
Party in 1995 until March 1997. Chairman of the Scottish Conservative Party from March to July
1997. Deputy Chairman August 1997 to June 1998. Deputy Leader of the Party 1998 to
November 2005. Leader of the MSP Group November 2005 to November 2011.
Scottish Parliament: List Member for the West of Scotland since 1999.
Other Positions: Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Renfrewshire, Member of the Salvation
Army West of Scotland Advisory Board, an Elder of the Church of Scotland in Bishopton and
Honorary Fellow of the University of Strathclyde.
Likes: The countryside, cycling, walking, bird-watching and wildlife, reading and when time
permits theatre, concerts and cinema.
Victoria Darragh
EA to HR Director, Hays plc and Co-Founder of Hays plc Internal PA Network
Victoria Darragh is an award winning Executive Assistant with over 10 years' experience
working in the public, not-for-profit and corporate sectors.
A Fellow member of the Association of Personal Assistants as well as a member of the Institute
of Professional Administrators, EUMA and the Global PA Network, Victoria regularly presents at
conferences and companies across the UK and Ireland, Europe and internationally.
Victoria recently won an award at the Mayfair PA Awards for 'Outstanding Contribution to the PA
Profession' and has a wealth of experience in creating internal and external PA networks and
working with top companies in the UK helping them to achieve this.
Victoria is extremely passionate about the role of the PA and actively encourages it as a truly
fantastic career choice.
Please see over
Gilly MacMorran
Managing Director, Priority Management (Glasgow) Ltd
Gilly MacMorran is the Managing Director of Priority Management (Glasgow) Ltd, the
productivity training specialists. She established the company in January 1998 and has now
grown a successful business in the west of Scotland over the last 14 years.
Gilly gained practical management experience in finance, sales, marketing and training in a
variety of roles at Midland Bank, Mars Confectionery and Kettle Foods. With a strong business
background and interpersonal skills, Gilly is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable trainer and
developer of people. In addition, Gilly has developed and grown Priority Management in
Glasgow with year on year growth; her high standards and expectations throughout the
business from administration to delivering training have resulted in a significant market
presence. Gilly now has a first class team working with her to deliver the Priority Management
programmes.
Priority Management’s reputation for delivering results speaks for itself with a client list
including South Lanarkshire Council, Glasgow City Council, East, South & North Ayrshire
Councils, Dumfries & Galloway Council, East Dunbartonshire Council and in the private sector:
Cigna Healthcare, Aggreko, Transocean, Maersk, Black & Lizars and Eclipse Blinds in addition to
many small and medium sized companies.
Priority focuses on 2 areas: personal effectiveness & productivity, and project management.
Most busy managers are recruited for their skills, brains and leadership but regularly find
themselves being ‘work-flowed’ by emails, meetings and paperwork which results in an overload
of tasks and rushing to deliver the big things at the last minute. By introducing people to new
working processes and by leveraging existing IT, productivity and performance improvements
are immediate, tangible and measurable.
Inspirational and impressive, Gilly is dedicated to helping business leaders and managers
improve their working practices, leading to higher productivity, less stress and more enjoyable
working lives. A mother of 3 sons also means that she practices what she preaches.
A lively, approachable and impactful presentation style makes Gilly a popular and sought after
speaker. With speeches full of helpful tips and practical suggestions that audiences love for their
immediate benefits, Gilly’s approach is enjoyable, frank and very memorable.
Allan Miller
Managing Director, IMEX Europe
Allan has built a network of very talented and successful partnerships across Europe, along with
running his own consulting & coaching business in the last 10 years, with Innermetrix being at
the forefront of this Journey.
Allan is a dynamic Training & Development Consulting Specialist who has extensive
Management experience working with leading blue chip Companies. He is a Certified
Professional Behaviour Analyst, Professional Values Analyst, Attribute Index Analyst, Member of
CIPD and a level 5 coach. Allan has a history of successful delivery of a wide range of training
solutions within blue chip organisations.
Ability to communicate effectively at all levels of an organisation has been pivotal to success.
Accustomed to working under pressure in demanding situations. Commercially focused and
aware of the need to balance profitability with customer loyalty. Success has been generated by
a hands-on consultative approach to clients.
Susan Nicol
General Manager, St Enoch Centre
Susan is Regional Director, Operations, Europe for Ivanhoe Cambridge with responsibility for
the company’s European portfolio. She is also the General Manager, St. Enoch Centre,
Glasgow.
Susan has been General Manager of St Enoch Centre since 2005. She has been the driving
force behind the hugely successful £150 million redevelopment of the Centre which opened in
1989 and has since become one of Glasgow’s favourite shopping destinations.
Susan has over twenty years experience in the shopping centre industry and has been involved
in a number of major extension and refurbishment projects.
She began her career at Cameron Toll, Edinburgh, the UK’s first seven day a week shopping
centre, before assisting on the development and delivery of Gyle in Edinburgh and was the first
General Manager. Having firmly established the Gyle as one of Scotland’s premier retail
destinations Susan then joined Capital Shopping Centres where she oversaw and managed
development plans for the £170 million extension of Eldon Square, Newcastle, in addition to
managing over 140 retailers.
Bill Miller
Director, The Entertainment Company
Bill has over 30 years experience as a professional entertainer and ex Band Secretary of HM
Royal Marines Band, Flag Officer Scotland Northern Ireland. He has had performances and
events from Istanbul, Paris, Key West and L.A. His greatest satisfaction comes from building
ongoing partnerships where he has the opportunity to develop ideas and strategies from event
to event. Bill still works with clients that he met in the earliest days of the company.
With his co-director Ronnie Ireland and the events team, he strives to provide the best possible
services in entertainment, theme decor and team events. The Entertainment Company is
Scotland’s only one-stop answer for quality events, imaginatively presented.
Lucy Brazier
CEO, Executive Secretary Magazine
Lucy Brazier has been a Publisher and Events Organiser for over 25 years. Owner of
administrative professional magazines - Executive Secretary & The VA Magazine, Lucy started
her career at a local newspaper working her way up to Publishing Director for Wilmington PLC's
magazines division.
She has worked for The Times & The Independent as well as some of the most successful
publishing companies in the world including Centaur Communications, Emap, Advanstar and
Glass’s Guide. Lucy has managed teams based in Singapore, New York, Germany & London and
as well as managing up to 13 publications at a time has held responsibility for international
conferences, awards, trade shows, editorial, marketing, sales, subscriptions & websites.
Please see over
Joan Serafini
Managing Director, Equator Events and Public Affairs and Judge of PA of the Year
Award 2013
Few people understand the importance of looking after high-profile figures than Joan Serafini.
She spent 22 years in the Scottish Office, then the Scottish Executive, working in Donald
Dewar's team, then directly for Henry McLeish and Jack McConnell.
With all-round experience of dealing with high-profile visits, including those of royalty and Prime
Ministers, 2002 was the year in which she decided to put her talents to good use in the business
world.
Now Serafini is managing director of Equator Events, a subsidiary of the Equator Scotland
group, a multi-media, marketing and web design company run by Serafini's cousin. Her concept
of an event management company seemed to fit in well as another arm of the organisation.
The success has come from spotting the possibilities of business events and trips, to and from
Scotland. She has to organise possibly the most glamorous event ever to hit Scotland.
She was the Scottish co-ordinator of the Braveheart film premiere in Stirling, liaising with
BAFTA, 20th Century Fox and essential services, such as local police, to ensure the evening for
the event went smoothly. It did, and she was even rewarded with a kiss from Mel Gibson, even
though according to Serafini, she “had to stalk him”.
Her obvious enthusiasm, experience and the good relationship she has built up over the years
are reasons why so many businesses entrust high-profile big budget events to her company.
John McKelvie
Closing speaker
A native of the Lanarkshire mining village of Holytown, John joined the Police Service in 1971.
He recently retired from Strathclyde Police after 30 years service. Prior to retiral he was
Superintendent at Govan - a quaint little fishing village on the banks of the Clyde!
He jogs five miles each day which suits his wife perfectly - by the end of the week he is 35
miles away from her.
John joined Lanarkshire Referees' Association in 1970 and has often been compared to World
Cup referee Hugh Dallas - compared to Hugh Dallas he is brilliant! His refereeing career has
seen him officiate at Scottish Amateur Cup Finals at youth and full amateur level.
John formerly worked Monday to Friday in the Police and refereed on a Saturday. He really
looked forward to a Sunday as this is the only day that his parentage was not openly
questioned.
Since 1998 he has been a regular on the after dinner circuit at a variety of venues ranging from
local establishments to top hotels throughout the UK. He has a style which is comfortably
anecdotal, incorporating humorous one liners. John is a master of mischief and character
assassination however he is aware that his job is to entertain and not to offend.