Kristine Niven’s Post

The past three years as Executive Assistant to an Associate Principal, has been a wonderful journey of growth and learning - I truly have a passion for the role. However, part of this journey has learning to be okay with the sense of isolation, that sometimes comes with it. It's not that my colleagues aren’t friendly or supportive, they certainly are - it's just that working closely with senior educational leaders can create a sense of “apartness” or loneliness within the broader school community. As an extrovert, I’ve found this particularly challenging, and it has taken some time to adjust. But, I have learned over time to accept that this separation is a natural part of the role. Being an EA to an Associate Principal is unique, and that distinction will inevitably set me apart from others.  Instead of viewing this in a negative light, I choose to focus on the positive aspects of my position. I remind myself of the significance of supporting educational leadership and aligning my daily tasks with the school's broader mission.  This shift in perspective reinforces that my work contributes meaningfully to student outcomes, finding great fulfillment in being an integral part of a thriving educational environment. EAs in Education program is designed to address the sense of “apartness” that Executive Assistants often experience in these roles. In fostering a supportive community through online workshops, in-person events, and networking opportunities, the program helps senior administration professionals in education connect with peers who understand the unique challenges of their role. These connections create a sense of belonging and reduce feelings of isolation. Additionally, the program's professional development focus helps EAs enhance their leadership impact, turning isolation into empowerment and recognising their unique value. So let’s come together in 2025. I am delighted to now open registrations for 2025 for the following professional learning opportunities: 1. 12-month online program (8 x 1 hour workshops) 2. 2025 Elevating EAs in Education National Gathering (in-person event) 3. Bundle package offer for the 12-month online program & National Gathering available until 1 December 2024. Link below to website for registrations, payment and access to members portal. I do hope you join our community. https://lnkd.in/gQrzsKVw #easineducation #principals #schoolleaders #education #executiveassistants

So I am a Tim Minchin fan! His story telling through both words and music blends humor and intellect, his thoughtful insights with sharp wit makes his content so engaging and relatable. Recently I purchased a copy of his book - You Don’t Have to Have a Dream! and attended his book launch in Melbourne. I am now listening to the audible book for the third time...a little obsessed - perhaps!! Tim’s book is drawn from three of his iconic commencement addresses. He provides introductions to each speech, describing the time, place and context, allowing readers to understand where he was in his life during those moments. His book is a reflection on navigating life and success with a sense of awareness, humility, and purpose, offering his thoughts and advice on life, art, success, kindness, love, and thriving in a meaningless universe. However, what I really love about this is book is that it provides a reminder to embrace life’s journey with open curiosity.  It reminds us that the most valuable lessons and opportunities often aren’t the ones we set out to find, but rather the ones we stumble upon while picking up those shiny pebbles along the way.  It’s a celebration of the messy, meandering parts of the path, showing that these moments are just as important as any grand destination. Here are a few quotes that really resonated for me - highly recommend the read or listen! ⭐ “Be careful of long-term dreams. If you focus too far in front of you, you won’t see the shiny things out the corner of my eye.”   ⭐ “Comparing yourself to others in any area of your life is poison.” ⭐ “Put into the world valuable ideas.” ⭐ “It’s not only lonely at the top but populated by unnecessary chairs.” ⭐ “The moment I got authentic, my life changed.”

CONNECT, GROW, BELONG I am so proud to share the first research project drawn from the experiences of our incredible “EAs in EDUCATION” network. Close to 6 months ago, over 80 research participants answered a range of questions about their aspirations, motivations and frustrations in their dynamic and complex roles within schools. I have been honoured to explore the data and have completed an article which seeks to provide a snapshot of the many varied and authentic perspectives that were shared with such dignity and courage. He didn't want me to mention it, but it would be remiss of me in not mentioned my boss Dr Steven Middleton thank you for assisting with bringing all the words together. Please read, share, comment and join EAs in Education at our inaugural GATHERING in the beautiful surrounds of The Scots College, Bellevue Hills in June 2025. Limited registrations selling quickly with this year’s budget! If you would like to know more I would love to hear from you. Note: in prearation for 2025 programs, the EAs in Education website is currently under transformation...but only offline for a few more days. www.easineducation.com.au Wendy Wickham Pam Waterhouse Maryanne Walton Katie York Ruth McConaghy Georgia Barnes Dr Phil Cummins Dr Paul Teys Dr Timothy Hawkes OAM Candice Burningham Melanie Riley Narrelle Paige Aimee Presnall Lucy Brazier OBE Karen Smythe Janine Stratford Kirilly Middleton Jeremy Burrows Craig Harper Sue Glasser Dr Rob Loe Jenny Lutz Jessica Williams Sandy Stegman Sandra Hennessy Libby Bennett Veronique Lorquet Bianca Coleborn Tanya Fox Rachel Hall Susan Jones Alex Wild Merrilee Monk Kerry Danks-Guy Kathy Dickson Natalie Previtera Madie Brunt Chris Bradbury

Welcome back to Term 4, Day 1. Did any of you feel like the person in the picture below today? I certainly did with many "balls in the air"!! If you did feel the same way...you may find the words below useful to ease back into the term: Focus on prioritisation and break tasks into smaller, manageable steps. Try creating a clear list of your top priorities for the week and tackle them one at a time. We often make lists but forget to order them strategically to ease stress.  This approach not only reduces overwhelm but also gives you a rewarding sense of accomplishment as you check things off - thank you Aimee Presnall for the reminder! All the best for a rewarding Term 4 in your school communities. #easineducation #schoolleaders #principals #education #assistants

Connecting the Two: The transition from the 'arena' to the 'road less travelled' mirrors the Executive/Personal Assistant's progression from courageous action to thoughtful, strategic decision-making. In 2024, 'The Man in the Arena' by Theodore Roosevelt taught our community to embrace courage, resilience, and perseverance in their roles. It emphasised taking bold action, learning from setbacks, and focusing on contributions rather than external criticism. The theme encouraged dedication, valued efforts, even when challenges arise. Ultimately, I hope it inspired members to see their roles as leading within their school communities. In 2025, EAs in Education will transition from the 'arena' to the 'road less travelled'. 'The Road Not Taken' by Robert Frost written in 1915, is intended to inspire members to take bold, less-travelled paths that can shape their futures and positively influence their school environments. To provide encouragement, to embrace riskier or less common choices for innovation and for both personal and professional growth. Which 'road' might you take in 2025? Thank you to this one Dr Steven Middleton for the encouragement and support to continue taking the road less travelled. EAs in Education #easineducation #schoolleaders #principals #education #assistants

I have recently been working on a research project within the EAs in Education network, to explore the role of the Executive Assistant to Senior Educational Leaders in a school setting. From both an academic and pragmatic perspective, scant investigation of the role is evident, in contrast to the extremely in-depth and expansive literature that exists upon educational leadership, educators and schools.  This initial project sought to build upon this body of research to gather data in relation to the vital role of Executive Assistants in school settings. The project was designed to gather data which may guide both the development of ‘EAs in Education’ and inform its members of the collective motivations and frustrations of those engaged with this professional role within educational settings.  This body of research will be shared in an article in the near future and in more depth at the Elevating EAs in Education National Gathering in 2025! https://lnkd.in/e4MszFec #easineducation #schoolleaders #principals #education #executiveassistants

Recently I outlined the event vision, the direction and purpose of the Elevating EAs in Education’s National Gathering 2025.   With the back drop of Bondi Beach, the past few days have provided an opportunity to develop the event design and begin the process of bringing the vision to reality. My time in Sydney has also included networking with potential sponsors, meeting guest speakers and the most rewarding day with colleagues at The Scots College. I am so grateful to Dr Ian Lambert and to his wonderful EA Maryanne Walton for their support of the EAs in Education community in hosting this event. Many Education EAs have event management within their roles, and I am hopeful that in sharing some learnings in bringing this event to life might be helpful when you are organisating events within your school.  We know that well-planned school events are a very important element of your school's character and extremely powerful in building relationships with prospective students and families and keeping your existing community engaged. All events are experiences and experiences don’t just ‘happen’ - they are designed. So how do we design an event to align with its vision? Bladen et. al. (2018) defines event design as “the mental creation of an event before it takes place, first in the mind of the designer, and then as it is communicated to those responsible for it’s production”. This provides the foundation of how the attendees experience the event. As you will see below, I have applied as an entry point Goldblatt’s The 5Ws (2005) and outlined the event theme for our National Gathering next year. The questions asked within this model drive the design conceptualisation with the theme influencing all elements of the event design.  The answer to Question 5 - the dimensions for the experiential outcomes (the event takehomes) for this event to be shared soon. Can't wait to reveal all. https://lnkd.in/e4MszFec #easineducation #schoolleaders #principals #education #executiveassistants

And that's a wrap for Term 3!! I am sure many of you are looking forward to some well-deserved rest - myself included! Next week I am headed to the warmer tropics of Sydney - Bondi Beach in fact for a week's annual leave! Really looking forward to working on the business, planning and exploring sponsorship opportunities for the EAs in Education National Gathering in 2025. Can't wait to also catch up with Sydney colleagues and of course there will be down time as well. So from my campus to yours, enjoy your break, recharge, and come back ready for all the exciting things planned for Term 4 - as we head towards the finishing line of the 2024 school year. #easineducation #principals #schoolleaders #education #assistants

Today, I had the privilege of being part of the judging panel for 'The Battle of the Bands,' a friendly student House competition. Last term I was given the opportunity to read out the student profiles at the Presentation Ball. A few weeks ago I attended the school's annual Gala Ball and tomorrow I am excited to have our all senior school staff and students at the Officer Campus. Every time I participate or attend such events I am reminded of the core purpose behind our work in education and grateful and appreciative for every opportunity. If you ever find yourself questioning your role and purpose within a school, I encourage you to immerse yourself in assemblies, student events, ask to go on a school camp, engage actively with the wider community. These experiences can reignite your passion and commitment. Here are a few other reasons why I find the role of an Executive Assistant in Education so fulfilling and rewarding - you may resonate with a few. 👉 Making a Positive Impact 👉 Building Meaningful Relationships 👉 Thriving in a Dynamic Environment 👉 Fostering Professional Growth 👉 Supporting an Associate Principal 👉 Advocating for EAs in Education Let's support and be kind to each other as we approach the final week/s of Term 3! The busy and overwhelming moments will pass - they always do! #easineducation #principals #schoolleaders #education #schools

They say life has defining moments, an event, a place and time that alters the trajectory of your life. Well this moment for me was 10 years ago. Brene Brown says to be able to lead we need to be authentic and vulnerable. “Vulnerability is not oversharing. It’s sharing with people who have earned the right to hear our stories and our experiences”. Ryan Holiday argues that obstacles don't block the path, they are the path. He draws on the philosophy of Stoicism to suggest that the way to deal with challenges is not to avoid them but to confront them directly. Nearing the 10 year death anniversary of my only sibling and brother, has provided a reflective period. He was 38 when killed tragically. I have debated whether I should share this period of my life and why I would do so. However, after a chat with my boss last week about leadership authenticity and vulnerability I hope to be able to share this story with you at some stage. During this reflective period, I have also been giving a lot of thought to the book I would like to gift EAs in Education members at the beginning of 2025. I am leaning towards The Obstacle is the Way. "The Obstacle Is the Way" by Holiday is structured around three critical disciplines derived from Stoic philosophy: Perception, Action, and Will. He uses anecdotes and examples from history, philosophy, and business to illustrate these principles in action. The central message is that our reaction to obstacles determines our success, and by embracing our challenges, we can forge a path forward. For me “The Obstacle is the Way” has been incredibly empowering during this period of reflection, not only personally but for guidance in my professional world. It's a book that not only provides practical wisdom on handling challenges but also aligns beautifully with the themes of resilience and growth. I am hopeful it will offer EAs in Education members with similar insights and inspiration in 2025. Treat every day as a gift, set kindness as your default and view obstacles as opportunities, the pathway forward. #easineducation