Author Victoria Darragh

Victoria Darragh

Victoria Darragh is a multi-award winning Executive Assistant with a career spanning 15 years. She has worked in various sectors during this time including charity/not-for-profit, public and corporate. Victoria’s current position is Executive Assistant to the Group HR Director and Group Technology Director for Hays Specialist Recruitment – a global specialist recruitment firm and in the UK a FTSE 250. In addition to this, Victoria, is also the National Channel Lead for Hays PA & Secretarial for UK & Ireland and Co-Founder of the award-winning ‘Hays PA Network’. Victoria spent the first five years of her career, from the age of 16, working her way up the secretarial career ladder. First starting as an Office Junior for a car leasing firm to Junior PA, Secretary until receiving her first Executive Assistant position at the age of 21. Her first EA position was for the female CEO of a Charity in London. For the last decade Victoria has in addition to her full-time role as an EA, organised numerous events for PAs across the country including breakfast seminars, training days, conferences and networking evenings. She is former London and South East Chairman for EUMA (European Management Assistants) and then later on Deputy National Chairman for UK. Victoria contributes to industry press on a regular basis and has appeared on the BBC Breakfast Show, BBC Radio 5 and in newspapers such as The Times newspaper, Daily Mail, London Business Matters and other industry trade magazines including Executive PA Magazine, Executive Secretary Magazine, Office Secretary and management Magazine to name but just a few. Victoria went on to set up the award-winning Internal ‘Hays PA Network’ in November 2009. The network was set up for the PAs across the Hays business and provides a best practice platform and advice, guidance on suitable training and development activity. It went onto to win ‘PA Employer of the Year’ 2010 at the Executive PA Magazine Awards. In October 2011 Victoria received an award ‘Outstanding Contribution to the PA Profession’ at the Mayfair PA Magazine awards. Victoria was nominated by not only both of her Directors and PAs across Hays but also from clients who she has worked with to create their own internal networks. The award recognised 8 years (at that time) contribution to the industry. Victoria was also a finalist in the Hays/Times PA of the Year 2008. Victoria is also a former judge for the Executive PA Magazine Awards 2008, 2012 and 2013 and works with former PAs of the Year on numerous events. She also organises and chairs the Hays PA Conference. In its 5th year, the conference is the most high-profile and largest for British PAs and is now attended by 250 of the country’s top PAs. The conference is free to attend and aims to inspire and empower PAs. Victoria regularly mentors PAs across the country and will be launching her ‘Rising Stars PA Academy’ later in 2014. The Academy is about helping aspiring PAs into the role and providing them with the support and guidance in order for them to progress their career path and also enjoy it too! Victoria regularly speaks at events and conferences across the UK and also internationally including; Russia, Singapore, Dubai, Sweden, Belgium, Ireland, USA.