Global PA Association

Global PA Association brings together training, a professional community, and recruitment support for executive assistants, personal assistants, secretaries, office administrators, and other business support professionals. Its headquarters are in Mayfair, London, while its courses and activities serve an international community. The organization describes itself as both an association and a training academy, offering accredited courses and membership options for people looking to build their skills or advance their careers.

The organization’s history is tied to founder Rosemary Parr, who established it in 2007 after working as executive assistant to Sir Christopher Bland, then chairman of BT. The association launched at BT Tower with Bland’s support and built on the BT PA Network, a professional group that began in 2003. The organization says its aim was to provide greater recognition and structured development for a role that carries significant responsibility but has not always had a clear training path.

The academy offers courses accredited by ILM and the CPD Standards Office in several formats: classroom sessions, in-house training for organizations, and online learning. Its catalog includes management and leadership, project management for executive assistants, programs for the chief of staff role, and on-demand courses. Individuals can study independently or employers can arrange training for a team. The material is designed for jobs that call for coordination, judgment, communication, and confident use of technology in executive settings.

Membership is offered at different levels and includes continuing professional development certification, mentoring opportunities, and networking. Members can also access a curated directory of suppliers and industry resources through the partner directory and specialist publications. For an assistant working on their own within a company, the network can provide contacts and professional references; for people already connected to office support communities, it offers a way to share practices and continue learning.

The recruitment arm connects executive assistants, personal assistants, and office managers with employers. The association describes the service as international and consultative, supporting both professionals seeking their next role and organizations hiring executive support staff. This work complements the training programs rather than replacing them; the site provides separate information for job openings and hiring, course enrollment, and membership.

Events round out the offering with conferences, networking gatherings, professional awards, and on-demand courses. The association also publishes resources on changes in assistant roles, from new management responsibilities to technology. Together, its calendar and learning materials offer an option for professionals who want practical development and contacts beyond their own employer, as well as a one-time course.

The organization lists courses and activities in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Norwich, and Aberdeen, alongside online options and in-house training; these are locations for educational activities, not a list of branch offices. Its base is in Mayfair, London. The official site provides details on programs and a way to ask the association directly whether a course, membership, or recruitment service is the right fit.