A supportive community of professional services talent.
The PA & Administrator Network offers development, support and networking opportunities for all staff who perform a PA or administrative function as part of their role. Job titles may vary from Executive Assistant (EA) and Personal Assistant (PA) to Office Manager or Administrator, amongst others!
These staff members perform vital roles within Imperial and can experience isolation within their local work environment. The networking group aims to rectify this by providing access to tailored development opportunities and sharing experiences with like-minded colleagues.
To support this initiative, a dedicated PAAN MS Teams site has been set up for all members to use as a platform to communicate, collaborate, and interact, exchange knowledge and professional experiences, or advertise training and vacancies.
These interactions are guided by the PAAN digital communication etiquette, which is aligned with Imperial values. This ensures the network has a vibrant and engaged group that works for everyone.
what we do
- Established in 2008 with support from People and Organisational Development (POD), run by a small group of committee volunteers
- Currently, ~500 members from Departments across Imperial sites, comprising a range of job roles, levels, expertise and experience
- 90% women, 28% BAME, 10% recorded disability (@ FEB 2023)
- Supported centrally via EDIC Director of HR and Deputy Director (Organisational Development and Inclusion) de facto Executive Sponsors
- Organise and deliver online discussions and in-person sessions with internal/ external speakers on a range of topics
- Survey our members to align their needs and aspirations with what we deliver
- ‘Buddy’ new starters with PAAN members for informal point of contact
- Collaborate and share knowledge and views via a dedicated MST site and online forums to inform and support members across Departments
- Leverage Imperial’s EDIC and POD resources to maximise how these services can better support members
- Engage with the other Staff Networks (at Imperial and externally) to learn and disseminate best practice
- Promote our members’ interests and raise our profile, ensuring a ‘voice’ for a large group that is potentially under-represented in College decision-making forums
- Offer peer-to-peer support, guidance, practical information and a social outlet for members to meet and network, decreasing the feelings of isolation some can experience
- Create a community of motivated and networked professionals, enhancing engagement with Imperial’s strategy and policies from the ‘bottom-up’ and contributing to successful delivery on the ground.
If you would like to join the group, please submit your request using this form.
To contact the PAAN Committee, please contact the pa-admin-network-committee@imperial.ac.uk or any of our volunteer committee members: