Meet Our Speakers

Nicole Bearne has spent more than 25 years at the heart of Formula 1, helping her teams to win nine World Championship titles along the way. She began her motorsport career as Personal Assistant to the Team Principal of the newly formed British American Racing F1 team, and went on to spend over 15 years in senior PA and EA roles before pivoting into communications.

For a decade, Nicole served as Head of Internal Communication at the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, where she played a key role in shaping employee experience at one of sport’s most successful teams. Her motorsport expertise spans executive and technical operations, internal communications, employee engagement, event management and corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Nicole now leads The Comms Exchange, leveraging her F1 business experience and academic knowledge to help organizations build high-performing, people-centric cultures. She also delivers one-day training workshops on internal and leadership communication tailored for EAs, PAs, and business support professionals.

As an Independent Non-Executive Director at Motorsport UK, the governing body for four-wheel motorsport in the UK, Nicole also chairs the organisation’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee, helping to drive meaningful change across the sport.

Nicole holds a Master’s degree in Organisational Behaviour and a CIPR Diploma in Internal Communication. She is a member of the Institute of Internal Communication, a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, and an Accredited PR Practitioner. Nicole is also a regular speaker at internal communication and employee experience conferences across the UK, USA, and Europe.

Jayne Morris is one of the UK’s most trusted authorities on burnout prevention and recovery. A Master Certified Coach (MCC) with the International Coaching Federation and Director of Balanceology, she brings over a decade of expertise supporting high-performing professionals to achieve sustainable success. She also serves as an ICF UK Associate Board Member and is the Creator and Lead Tutor of the Balanceology Certified Burnout Coach CPD Training Programme.

Author of the acclaimed book Burnout to Brilliance, Jayne is a leading voice in the conversation around workplace wellbeing. Her work has been featured in The Telegraph, The Guardian, The Independent, Psychologies Magazine, Red, and Cosmopolitan. She has appeared on BBC, Channel 4, and SKY, and served as a resident life coach expert for the NHS Online Health Sector.

Jayne is a sought-after keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, known for delivering practical, science-backed strategies with warmth and clarity. She hosts The Art of Balance Podcast and and is a regular Psychologies Magazine contributor.

Since founding her Harley Street coaching practice in 2010, Jayne has supported hundreds of clients and collaborated with organisations across sectors to create cultures where people can thrive. Her mission is to equip leaders - especially those in demanding support roles - with the tools to recognise stress early, reset with purpose, and lead from a place of resilience.

Jayne lives by the sea near Bristol, where she hosts restorative retreats and enjoys coastal walks with her husband, daughters, and their dog, Blade.

Sarah Howson is a former C-Suite Executive Assistant with over 20 years of experience supporting senior leaders in both start-ups and FTSE250 companies. In 2015, while on maternity leave, she founded Strategic PA Network to unite and support Assistant professionals. A passionate advocate for the Business Support industry, Sarah launched Strategic PA Recruitment in 2018 to place high-calibre EAs, PAs, Chiefs of Staff, and Office Managers in organisations that truly value their contribution. Known for her relationship-focused approach, Sarah connects exceptional talent with forward-thinking employers. Based in Wooburn Green with her husband and two sons, she enjoys weekends on the football sidelines, family golf, and National Trust walks at Cliveden.

Before co-founding Strategic PA Recruitment in 2019, Marianne spent over 15 years in the travel industry, specialising in Sales, Marketing, and client relationships. Known for her warmth and connection-building skills, she has a passion for empowering others and bringing people together. Marianne has led several charity events and believes strong relationships are the cornerstone of successful businesses. Based in Hazlemere with her husband and four sons, she’s a keen runner—having completed multiple marathons—and a 5th-degree Black Belt in kickboxing, which she also teaches.

Lauren Bradley is the multi-award-winning founder of The Officials, an online platform dedicated to empowering administrative professionals through innovative training, mentorship, and a global community.

With over 20 years of experience, she has trained executive assistants and office managers from top companies like Google, Siemens, and Mastercard. Having worked in key administrative roles, including Executive Assistant and Private PA, Lauren’s "training for admins, by admins" philosophy guides her approach. A dynamic speaker and corporate trainer, she’s known for her no-nonsense style on leadership, technology, career development, and confidence-building. With accolades like 2022 eLearning Businesswoman of the Year, Lauren is committed to advancing the administrative profession, offering practical, real-world insights on leveraging technology to help assistants thrive globally.

Ruth “fell” into the exhibitions industry after university and has never looked back!  She has worked across various departments, including sales, marketing and operations, before finding her niche in Executive Assistance roles. Her unwavering dedication and an unrelenting drive for excellence led her to the position of Head of Culture for Nineteen Group, where she has revolutionised the company’s employee engagement strategies and fostered a solid culture of inclusivity and collaboration.

Ruth has pioneered innovative people-centric initiatives that not only help attract top talent but also ensure the growth and well-being of all employees at the company. Under her leadership, Nineteen Group has become a haven for creative minds, where diversity and innovation are celebrated, and where each team member feels valued and inspired.