19396 Disc courses in Cardiff delivered Online

LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION Marilia Savvides founded The Plot Agency in 2024. She began her career in publishing at Peters Fraser and Dunlop, where she spent eight years, first as International Rights Agent, and later as Literary Agent, building her own list of authors. In 2019, she joined 42MP, where she worked as Literary Agent for four years, helping to launch and set up the Book Division. She is particularly interested in fiction that is beautifully written and cleverly constructed, but still accessible to a wide readership. She is often drawn to darker tales that weave together excellent characters and an impossible-to-put-down story, from immersive book club novels with a splash of suspense, crime and thrillers, accessible horror, and speculative, genre-bending or dystopian stories. She also adores smart, witty contemporary rom-com in the style of Emily Henry. In the thriller, crime and mystery space she is interested in most areas, except military thrillers and organised crime/ mafia / mob stories. Big hooks and clever set ups are a big bonus! She adores Karin Slaughter (especially her standalone novels) and Gillian Flynn. In the book club / reading group space, she’s particularly drawn to fiction in the vein of Jodi Picoult, Liane Moriarty and Celeste Ng, and absolutely fell in love with Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll, both for the incredible voice, and the exquisite use of structure and time. Complicated family dynamics, empathetic and smart approaches to controversial issues, stand out protagonists (like Elizabeth Zott in Lessons in Chemistry or Bernadette in Where D’You Go Bernadette), long buried secrets, complicity, the road to justice, and impossible decisions, are all themes she finds herself drawn to. In the horror space, she’s a sucker for amazing female-centric stories in the vein of Yellowjackets, and the kind of contemporary, accessible horror that Stephen King always nails. She wants to get lost in a world that feels within reach of ours. In the speculative and dystopian spaces, she’s interested in genius ideas that set up big questions or reflect the most broken (and sometimes hidden) parts of society. She loves Octavia Butler, Margaret Atwood, George Orwell, and also adored The Leftovers, Station Eleven, Wanderers, and The Power. The what-ifs of life and fiction fascinate her. In the grounded sci-fi space, she’d love to find a smart, immersive, and accessible story like The Martian. She doesn’t represent fantasy or romantasy. In regards to sci-fi, unless it’s very grounded and has crossover potential to a mainstream audience, it’s not for her. In the romance space, she’s particularly drawn to smart, complex and witty characters, where the chemistry is jumping off the page. She loves contemporary settings and all the tropes, though the voice and characters must come first to make the reading experience fully immersive. She wants to be cackling, and rooting for the characters with all her heart. She is very hands-on editorially, and loves working with her authors to shape their manuscripts, and brainstorm ideas. The best part of the job is discovering debut authors, and helping them find a home for their books. Marilia would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 - 2 page synopsis and the first 5,000 words of your manuscript in a single Word document.  (In addition to the paid sessions, Marilia is kindly offering one free session for low income/underrepresented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print).  By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Tuesday 16th September 2025

Penetration testing training course description An advanced technical hands on course focusing on hacking and counter hacking. The course revolves around a series of exercises based on "hacking" into a network (pen testing the network) and then defending against the hacks. What will you learn Perform penetration tests. Explain the technical workings of various penetration tests. Produce reports on results of penetration tests. Defend against hackers. Penetration testing training course details Who will benefit: Technical support staff, auditors and security professionals. Staff who are responsible for network infrastructure integrity. Prerequisites: IP Security IP VPNs Duration 5 days Penetration testing training course contents Introduction Hacking concepts, phases, types of attacks, 'White hacking', What is penetration testing? Why use pen testing, black box vs. white box testing, equipment and tools, security lifecycles, counter hacking, pen testing reports, methodologies, legal issues. Physical security and social engineering Testing access controls, perimeter reviews, location reviews, alarm response testing. Request testing, guided suggestions, trust testing. Social engineering concepts, techniques, counter measures, Identity theft, Impersonation on social media, Footprints through social engineering Reconnaissance (discovery) Footprinting methodologies, concepts, threats and countermeasures, WHOIS footprinting, Gaining contacts and addresses, DNS queries, NIC queries, ICMP ping sweeping, system and server trails from the target network, information leaks, competitive intelligence. Scanning pen testing. Gaining access Getting past passwords, password grinding, spoofed tokens, replays, remaining anonymous. Scanning (enumeration) Gaining OS info, platform info, open port info, application info. Routes used, proxies, firewalking, Port scanning, stealth port scanning, vulnerability scanning, FIN scanning, Xmas tree scanning, Null scanning, spoofed scanning, Scanning beyond IDS. Enumeration concepts, counter measures and enumeration pen testing. Hacking Hacking webservers, web applications, Wireless networks and mobile platforms. Concepts, threats, methodology, hacking tools and countermeasures. Trojan, Backdoors, Sniffers, Viruses and Worms Detection, concepts, countermeasures, Pen testing Trojans, backdoors, sniffers and viruses. MAC attacks, DHCP attacks, ARP poisoning, DNS poisoning Anti-Trojan software, Malware analysis Sniffing tools. Exploiting (testing) vulnerabilities Buffer overflows,, simple exploits, brute force methods, UNIX based, Windows based, specific application vulnerabilities. DoS/DDoS Concepts, techniques, attack tools, Botnet, countermeasures, protection tools, DoS attack pen testing. SQL Injection Types and testing, Blind SQL Injection, Injection tools, evasion and countermeasures. Securing networks 'Hurdles', firewalls, DMZ, stopping port scans, IDS, Honeypots, Router testing, firewall testing, IDS testing, Buffer Overflow. Cryptography PKI, Encryption algorithms, tools, Email and Disk Encryption. Information security Document grinding, privacy.

Securing UNIX systems training course description This course teaches you everything you need to know to build a safe Linux environment. The first section handles cryptography and authentication with certificates, openssl, mod_ssl, DNSSEC and filesystem encryption. Then Host security and hardening is covered with intrusion detection, and also user management and authentication. Filesystem Access control is then covered. Finally network security is covered with network hardening, packet filtering and VPNs. What will you learn Secure UNIX accounts. Secure UNIX file systems. Secure UNIX access through the network. Securing UNIX systems course details Who will benefit: Linux technical staff needing to secure their systems. Prerequisites: Linux system administration (LPIC-1) Duration 5 days Securing UNIX systems course contents Cryptography Certificates and Public Key Infrastructures X.509 certificates, lifecycle, fields and certificate extensions. Trust chains and PKI. openssl. Public and private keys. Certification authority. Manage server and client certificates. Revoke certificates and CAs. Encryption, signing and authentication SSL, TLS, protocol versions. Transport layer security threats, e.g. MITM. Apache HTTPD with mod_ssl for HTTPS service, including SNI and HSTS. HTTPD with mod_ssl to authenticate users using certificates. HTTPD with mod_ssl to provide OCSP stapling. Use OpenSSL for SSL/TLS client and server tests. Encrypted File Systems Block device and file system encryption. dm-crypt with LUKS to encrypt block devices. eCryptfs to encrypt file systems, including home directories and, PAM integration, plain dm-crypt and EncFS. DNS and cryptography DNSSEC and DANE. BIND as an authoritative name server serving DNSSEC secured zones. BIND as an recursive name server that performs DNSSEC validation, KSK, ZSK, Key Tag, Key generation, key storage, key management and key rollover, Maintenance and resigning of zones, Use DANE. TSIG. Host Security Host Hardening BIOS and boot loader (GRUB 2) security. Disable useless software and services, sysctl for security related kernel configuration, particularly ASLR, Exec-Shield and IP / ICMP configuration, Exec-Shield and IP / ICMP configuration, Limit resource usage. Work with chroot environments, Security advantages of virtualization. Host Intrusion Detection The Linux Audit system, chkrootkit, rkhunter, including updates, Linux Malware Detect, Automate host scans using cron, AIDE, including rule management, OpenSCAP. User Management and Authentication NSS and PAM, Enforce password policies. Lock accounts automatically after failed login attempts, SSSD, Configure NSS and PAM for use with SSSD, SSSD authentication against Active Directory, IPA, LDAP, Kerberos and local domains, Kerberos and local domains, Kerberos tickets. FreeIPA Installation and Samba Integration FreeIPA, architecture and components. Install and manage a FreeIPA server and domain, Active Directory replication and Kerberos cross-realm trusts, sudo, autofs, SSH and SELinux integration in FreeIPA. Access Control Discretionary Access Control File ownership and permissions, SUID, SGID. Access control lists, extended attributes and attribute classes. Mandatory Access Control TE, RBAC, MAC, DAC. SELinux, AppArmor and Smack. etwork File Systems NFSv4 security issues and improvements, NFSv4 server and clients, NFSv4 authentication mechanisms (LIPKEY, SPKM, Kerberos), NFSv4 pseudo file system, NFSv4 ACLs. CIFS clients, CIFS Unix Extensions, CIFS security modes (NTLM, Kerberos), mapping and handling of CIFS ACLs and SIDs in a Linux system. Network Security Network Hardening FreeRADIUS, nmap, scan methods. Wireshark, filters and statistics. Rogue router advertisements and DHCP messages. Network Intrusion Detection ntop, Cacti, bandwidth usage monitoring, Snort, rule management, OpenVAS, NASL. Packet Filtering Firewall architectures, DMZ, netfilter, iptables and ip6tables, standard modules, tests and targets. IPv4 and IPv6 packet filtering. Connection tracking, NAT. IP sets and netfilter rules, nftables and nft. ebtables. conntrackd Virtual Private Networks OpenVPN server and clients for both bridged and routed VPN networks. IPsec server and clients for routed VPN networks using IPsec-Tools / racoon. L2TP.

Objective-C programming training course description A hands on introduction that will allow you to master Objective-C and start using it to write powerful native applications for even the newest Macs and iOS devices! Using The step-by-step approach, will let you get comfortable with Objective-C's unique capabilities and Apple's Xcode 5 development environment. Make the most of Objective-C objects and messaging. Work effectively with design patterns, collections, blocks, foundation classes, threading, Git and a whole lot more. Every session builds on what you've already learned, giving a rock-solid foundation for real-world success! What will you learn Use Xcode 5. Declare classes, instance variables, properties, methods, and actions. Use arrays, dictionaries, and sets. Expand and extend classes with protocols, delegates, categories, and extensions. Use Apple's powerful classes and frameworks. Objective-C programming training course details Who will benefit: Developers wanting to learn Objective-C. Prerequisites: Software development fundamentals. Duration 5 days Objective-C programming training course contents PART 1: GETTING STARTED WITH OBJECTIVE-C The Developer Program: Objective-C, enrolling as an Apple Developer, setting up the development environment, Xcode. Your first project. OO programming with Objective-C: OO projects, Frameworks, classes and instances, encapsulation, accessors, Inheritance. OO features in Objective-C: Messages, methods, working with id, nesting messages, method signatures and parameters. allocating and initializing objects. Using Xcode: Xcode, source code control, git and Xcode, Using a Remote Repository. Compiler Directives: Projects, Compiler Directives, Prefix headers, main.m, .h files. PART 2: OBJECTIVE-C BASICS Messaging in a Testbed App: Setting Up the Testbed Apps, Adding a Text Field and Connecting It to Your Code, Sending a Message to the Text Field, Reviewing the Message Syntax. Declaring a Class in an Interface File: Context, Creating an Instance Variable with id, What Happens When Execution Stops, dynamic binding, Creating an Instance Variable for with the Class Name and with a Superclass Name, instance variable visibility. Properties in an Interface File: Interface Variables vs Properties, Declared Properties, Using Attributes. Implementing Properties. @synthesize, @dynamic. Methods in an Interface File: Methods in a Class, class and instance methods, Method declaration, returning complex data structures from Methods. Actions in an Interface File: Actions, Actions in OS X and iOS, disconnecting actions. Routing messages with selectors: Receiver and selector objects in messages, Objective-C Runtime, SEL and @selector (), performSelector, NSInvocation, testing whether an Instance can respond to a selector. Building on the Foundation: The Foundation Framework, Foundation Classes, Foundation Paradigms and Policies; Mutability, class clusters, notifications. Defining a Class in Implementation Files: Projects, dynamic typing, creating a new App, implementing a method, expanding Classses with init Methods. Organizing Data with Collections: Collecting Objects, Property Lists, Runtime, comparing the Collection Classes, Creating a Collection, Objective-C Literal Syntax, Enumerating collections, Testing Membership in a Collection, Accessing an Object in a Collection. Managing Memory and Runtime Objects: Managing objects in memory, managing reference counts manually and with ARC, variable qualifiers, variable autorelease. PART 3: EXPANDING AND EXTENDING CLASSES Protocols and Delegates: Subclassing, Protocols, Delegates, Looking Deeper Inside Protocols. Categories and Extensions: Comparing categories and protocols, categories vs subclasses, working with categories, class extensions, informal protocols. Associative References and Fast Enumeration: Objective-C 2.0 Time-Saving Features, Extending Classes by Adding Instance Variables (Sort of), Using Fast Enumeration. Blocks: Revisiting Blocks, Callbacks, Blocks, Exploring Blocks in Cocoa, Cocoa Blocks and Memory. PART 4: BEYOND THE BASICS Handling Exceptions and Errors: Exception and Error classes: NSException, NSError, Identifying exceptions, throwing exceptions, catching exceptions. Queues and Threading: Getting Started with Concurrency, Introducing Queues, Dispatch Sources, Using Dispatch Queues. Working with the Debugger: Logging Information, Console Logs, NSLog, Smart Breakpoints, enhancing breakpoints with messages. Using Xcode Debug Gauges for Analysis: Debug Gauges, Monitoing CPU and memory utilization, monitoring energy, Using Instruments. PART 5: OPTIONAL TOPICS C Syntax Summary: Data Types, Control Structures. Apps, Packages, and Bundles: Project Bundles, lproj Files, Asset Catalogs, plist Files, Precompiled Header Files (.pch). Archiving and Packaging Apps for Development and Testing: Archiving.

LOOKING FOR:  MIDDLE GRADE, YOUNG ADULT & ADULT FICTION AS WELL AS NON-FICTION FOR ALL AGES Prior to joining DKW in 2023, Camille worked at David Higham Associates as Agent’s Assistant to Jane Gregory and in the Children’s Translation Rights team. She has also worked in editorial for an academic publisher, in rights and marketing for an audiobook publisher and as an intern at Felicity Bryan Literary Agency. Camille loves engaging with narratives on a structural level in order to draw out their best qualities. Camille has an MSc in Publishing from Edinburgh Napier University and an MA in English Literature from the University of Edinburgh. She was Secretary of the Association of Authors’ Agents, as well as Co-Chair for the AAA’s Bridge Committee for early career agents and assistants, from late 2021 to early 2024. She also previously volunteered at the Story Museum in Oxford. Camille is looking to grow her list with a particular focus on middle grade, young adult and adult/crossover fiction, as well as non-fiction for all ages. Books that she has loved and that speak to her taste include Lockwood and Co by Jonathan Stroud (MG), I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson (YA), Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (crossover) and Every Summer After by Carley Fortune (adult). For more information, please visit Camille's page on the Diamond Kahn Woods Literary Agency website. Camille would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 - 2 page synopsis and the first 5,000 words of your manuscript in a single Word document.  (In addition to the paid sessions, Camille is kindly offering one free session for low income/underrepresented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print).  By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Wednesday 17th September 2025

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification Program: In-House Training This course is specifically for people wanting to become Lean Six Sigma Black Belts, who are already Lean Six Sigma practitioners. If advanced statistical analysis is needed to identify root causes and optimal process improvements, (Lean) Six Sigma Green Belts typically ask Black Belts or Master Black Belts to conduct these analyses. This course will change that. Green Belts wanting to advance their statistical abilities will have a considerable amount of hands-on practice in techniques such as Statistical Process Control, MSA, Hypothesis Testing, Correlation and Regression, Design of Experiments, and many others. Participants will also work throughout the course on a real-world improvement project from their own business environment. This provides participants with hands-on learning and provides the organization with an immediate ROI once the project is completed. IIL instructors will provide free project coaching throughout the course. What you Will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Use Minitab for advanced data analysis Develop appropriate sampling strategies Analyze differences between samples using Hypothesis Tests Apply Statistical Process Control to differentiate common cause and special cause variation Explain and apply various process capability metrics Conduct Measurement System Analysis and Gage R&R studies for both discrete and continuous data Conduct and analyze simple and multiple regression analysis Plan, execute, and analyze designed experiments Drive sustainable change efforts through leadership, change management, and stakeholder management Successfully incorporate advanced analysis techniques while moving projects through the DMAIC steps Explain the main concepts of Design for Six Sigma including QFD Introduction: DMAIC Review IIL Black Belt Certification Requirements Review Project Selection Review Define Review Measure Review Analyze Review Improve Review Control Introduction: Minitab Tool Introduction to Minitab Minitab basic statistics and graphs Special features Overview of Minitab menus Introduction: Sampling The Central Limit Theorem Confidence Interval of the mean Sample size for continuous data (mean) Confidence Interval for proportions Sample size for discrete data (proportions) Sampling strategies (review) Appendix: CI and sample size for confidence levels other than 95% Hypothesis Testing: Introduction Why use advanced stat tools? What are hypothesis tests? The seven steps of hypothesis tests P value errors and hypothesis tests Hypothesis Testing: Tests for Averages 1 factor ANOVA and ANOM Main Effect Plots, Interaction Plots, and Multi-Vari Charts 2 factor ANOVA and ANOM Hypothesis Testing: Tests for Standard Deviations Testing for equal variance Testing for normality Choosing the right hypothesis test Hypothesis Testing: Chi Square and Other Hypothesis Test Chi-square test for 1 factor ANOM test for 1 factor Chi-square test for 2 factors Exercise hypothesis tests - shipping Non-parametric tests Analysis: Advanced Control Charts Review of Common Cause and Special Cause Variation Review of the Individuals Control Charts How to calculate Control Limits Four additional tests for Special Causes Control Limits after Process Change Discrete Data Control Charts Control Charts for Discrete Proportion Data Control Charts for Discrete Count Data Control Charts for High Volume Processes with Continuous Data Analysis: Non-Normal Data Test for normal distribution Box-Cox Transformation Box-Cox Transformation for Individuals Control Charts Analysis: Time Series Analysis Introduction to Time Series Analysis Decomposition Smoothing: Moving Average Smoothing: EWMA Analysis: Process Capability Process capability Discrete Data: Defect metrics Discrete Data: Yield metrics Process Capability for Continuous Data: Sigma Value Short- and long-term capabilities Cp, Cpk, Pp, Ppk capability indices Analysis: Measurement System Analysis What is Measurement System Analysis? What defines a good measurement system? Gage R&R Studies Attribute / Discrete Gage R&R Continuous Gage R&R Regression Analysis: Simple Correlation Correlation Coefficient Simple linear regression Checking the fit of the Regression Model Leverage and influence analysis Correlation and regression pitfalls Regression Analysis: Multiple Regression Analysis Introduction to Multiple Regression Multicollinearity Multiple Regression vs. Simple Linear Regression Regression Analysis: Multiple Regression Analysis with Discrete Xs Introduction Creating indicator variables Method 1: Going straight to the intercepts Method 2: Testing for differences in intercepts Logistic Regression: Logistic Regression Introduction to Logistic Regression Logistic Regression - Adding a Discrete X Design of Experiments: Introduction Design of Experiment OFAT experimentation Full factorial design Fractional factorial design DOE road map, hints, and suggestions Design of Experiments: Full Factorial Designs Creating 2k Full Factorial designs in Minitab Randomization Replicates and repetitions Analysis of results: Factorial plots Analysis of results: Factorial design Analysis of results: Fits and Residuals Analysis of results: Response Optimizer Analysis of results: Review Design of Experiments: Pragmatic Approaches Designs with no replication Fractional factorial designs Screening Design of Experiment Case Study Repair Time Blocking Closing: Organizational Change Management Organizational change management Assuring project sponsorship Emphasizing shared need for change Mobilizing stakeholder commitment Closing: Project Management for Lean Six Sigma Introduction to project management Project management for Lean Six Sigma The project baseline plan Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Resource planning Project budget Project risk Project schedule Project executing Project monitoring and controlling and Closing Closing: Design for Lean Six Sigma Introduction to Design for Lean Six Sigma (DMADV) Introduction to Quality Function Deployment (QFD) Summary and Next Steps IIL's Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification Program also prepares you to pass the IASSC Certified Black Belt Exam (optional)

Has the Computer System Validation Engineer left and you’ve been handed their responsibilities? Do the thoughts of your next audit fill you with dread? CSV can be frustrating but this program will show you how to manage electronic data in a regulated manufacturing/laboratory/clinical environment using the GAMP framework and ensure compliance with FDA’s 21 CFR Part 11, EU Annex 11 or other regulatory guidelines.

LOOKING FOR: MG, YA AND ADULT SCI-FI / FANTASY, CHILDREN'S NON-FICTION After graduating from St Andrews University with a degree in English Literature and Art History, Maddy followed her love of literature to an internship at non-fiction literary agency Graham Maw Christie. At GMC, Maddy worked her way up to Agent and built a list of authors who wrote for both for adults and children, spanning history, tarot, and nature writing. An avid reader of anything magical, Maddy joined Madeleine Milburn in 2022 to build a list specialising in SFF. Maddy would like to see SFF across all genres for all ages, including: grim dark, thriller, historical, romance, cosy fantasy, sci-fi, epic, YA fantasy, dark academia, contemporary fantasy, fantasy middle-grade, mythology, fairy tale and queer fantasy. Inspiring children’s non-fiction. She loves worlds to get lost in, adventures that transform what it means to be a hero, and unique magic that offers as many problems as solutions. She likes books that make her cry and books that change her mind. Above all, when she finishes a story about another world, she wants it to have taught her a lesson which helps her live in this one. She loves all fantasy, but favours richly imagined, complex worlds with a history to discover and a future to protect. Worldbuilding is one of her favourite aspects of this genre and she is always looking for a new, dense world with series potential. Think Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere or the Marvel Cinematic Universe – the bigger the better! Maddy also likes character-driven fantasy with a diverse cast to root for (or root against) and she wants to see a range of different relationships depicted authentically. She particularly like epics that dip into big, universal themes such as grief, climate change, or war and which ask impossible questions in the vein of R.F. Kuang or N.K. Jemisin. She is also excited by authors that play with form and language in a fantasy setting. In YA, she is looking for much the same as in an adult fantasy, but with younger protagonists and a closer focus on relationships. She wants to see the tropes she knows and loves in new and exciting forms and her favourite YA books often centre around belonging and becoming. She likes a dash of romance in everything, because she is sentimental that way, but it’s particularly important in the YA space. Sci-fi is a big passion of hers, especially when it comes with a strong hook. She is a huge fan of Becky Chamber’s The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet and Michaiah Johnson’s The Space Between Worlds. She likes space as a metaphor, and would love something that explores different alien species. Please send her your space operas and sci-fi romances which combine space, magic and mayhem! In fantasy middle grade, she favours whimsy and animal companions; she would love to follow a group of kids through magic school. She tends to look for plenty of humour with a strong friendship at the centre, and she wants middle grade stories which engage with the concerns of children growing up as well as offering an all-important escape (preferably on a dragon/unicorn’s back). She is also looking for children’s non-fiction for all ages. In this space, she wants something as creative as it is informative, and thinks diverse voices are increasingly important. Maddy would like you to submit a covering letter, one page synopsis and the first three chapters (Max 5000 words) of your completed manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, Maddy is kindly offering one free session for low income/under-represented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print).  By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Wednesday 17th September 2025

Elite EA/PA Forum We are delighted to announce the Elite EA/PA Forum for the UK & Ireland will be on the 30th of October 2025. Our workshop aims to: Enhance your influence and impact by mastering assertive communication, negotiation, and self-advocacy skills. Stay composed and solution-focused in high-pressure situations with practical tools for crisis management and clear decision-making. Embrace evolving technology by understanding how AI and automation can streamline your role and boost efficiency. Future-proof your career by building strategic value, resilience, and adaptability in an ever-changing professional landscape. Keynote Address with Q&A from the audience: What to expect from Sam's Keynote: With over 30 years supporting leaders at the highest levels, Sam Cohen brings a wealth of insight, experience, and stories (the kind she can share) to the stage. From 18 years serving within The Royal Household - including as Deputy Private Secretary and Press Secretary to Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II - to working with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, running the Prime Minister’s Office at Downing Street, and serving as Chief of Staff to the global CEO of Rio Tinto, Sam’s career is a masterclass in discretion, diplomacy, and delivering at the top. In this exclusive keynote, Beyond the Role, Sam will explore how Executive Assistants don’t just support leaders - they shape leadership, drive strategy, and build legacy from behind the scenes. Join us for this rare opportunity to hear from someone who’s been at the epicentre of power - and bring your questions! The keynote will include a live Q&A, where you can ask Sam about her remarkable career, leadership insights, and how to truly excel in high-performance environments. (Don’t ask her what the Queen kept in her handbag - she’s not telling.) Sam Cohen Career Bio: Sam Cohen has spent the last 30 years working to support leaders in the public and private sectors. Sam spent 18 years serving The Royal Household, as Deputy Private Secretary to Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Press Secretary to The Queen. Sam also served as Private Secretary to The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Following this time, Sam worked as Director of the Prime Minister’s Office at Downing Street under Boris Johnson and, most recently, was Chief of Staff to the global CEO at Rio Tinto. Source: ABC News - YouTube Channel. Facilitator The Confident Assistant - Speak Up, Go After What You Want & Create The Future You Deserve: Develop practical strategies to negotiate workload, boundaries, and career growth with confidence. Learn assertive communication techniques to handle challenging conversations effectively. Build self-advocacy skills to articulate your value and influence outcomes in the workplace. Monika Turner Career Bio: Monika Anna Turner is an ICF-certified Leadership and Executive coach with over seven years of experience helping professionals unlock their confidence, elevate their voice, and lead with authenticity. Before stepping into coaching, she built a successful career as a Personal Assistant, Executive Assistant, and ultimately Chief Of Staff —giving her a deep understanding of the unique challenges and strengths of support roles. Originally from Poland, Monika knows firsthand what it’s like to question your voice and your value—especially in a second language. Her journey from self-doubt to self-assurance informs everything she does today. Through her coaching, she empowers assistants and leaders alike to move beyond fear, speak up and create fulfilling careers they’re proud of. Panel Crisis Mode: What to do when everything goes wrong Master a step-by-step approach to prioritising and problem-solving under pressure. Strengthen emotional resilience and calm decision-making during unexpected disruptions. Learn how to communicate clearly and lead from behind in high-stress situations. Facilitator - PM: Justin Kabbani AI Is Not Here to Replace You. It's Here to Upgrade You. We'll explore Justin's proven 3P framework: Priming – How to set up AI like a strategic advisor by feeding it context, tone and mindset Prompting – How to craft clear, structured instructions to get consistently great results Producing – How to turn AI outputs into high-leverage work that makes you stand out Your session outcomes: Real examples from admin professionals already using AI to elevate their work Prompts you can copy, adapt, and test live Interactive exercises to build confidence fast A practical challenge to implement right after the session If you’ve been overwhelmed by AI, or underwhelmed by its impact, this session will change that. You'll leave with tools you can use today, and a mindset you’ll carry forward for the rest of your career. Justin Kabbani Career Bio: Justin Kabbani is one of Australia’s most in-demand AI trainers and keynote speakers, known for making AI feel simple, powerful, and immediately useful. He’s worked with brands like Uber, Treasury Wine Estates, and Udemy, helping their teams embed AI into daily workflows, strategic planning, and executive communication. Over the past two years, Justin has trained more than 2,000 professionals across Australia and beyond, consistently earning feedback like “mind-blowing,” and “game-changing”. His signature Prime, Prompt, Produce framework has transformed how business leaders, executive assistants, marketers, and teams think, work, and communicate with AI, without needing to be “tech people.” Justin believes AI isn’t here to replace people. It’s here to take the robotic work off our plate, so we can focus on what humans do best. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinkabbani/ Website: https://justinkabbani.com/ Speed Connections Networking Session Join us for Speed Connections, a lively 30-minute networking session designed to foster meaningful connections in a fun, fast-paced environment. Every 10 minutes, attendees will be placed into new breakout rooms with small groups, giving everyone the chance to meet a diverse range of peers. Each breakout session will feature engaging prompts to spark conversations and make networking enjoyable and memorable! Who will attend this event? Executive Assistant (EA) Personal Assistant (PA) Virtual Assistant (VA) Legal Secretary Legal Executive Assistant Administrative Assistant Office Manager Health Care Office Manager Chief of Staff Additional roles may be relevant depending on role responsibilities along with development opportunities. This workshop is open to females, male including trans women/males and non-binary professionals. Group Rate Discounts To discuss our group rates in more detail, please email support@elite-forums.com and provide the following: Group Number (How many would like to attend) Event Date (If numerous dates, please advise if we are splitting attendees across multiple dates) Attendee Contact details (Or request our Group Rate Document. Complete and return - we'll sort the rest.) Group discounts are on request - see below group rate discount brackets: 🧩 You just need one piece to come together - to unlock your Elite Potential. 🔑 Media outlets/organisations will not be permitted to attend this event.

LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION / NON-FICTION Ciara McEllin is building her list as a Junior Agent at Watson Little. She reads widely across book club, upmarket and literary fiction. Within these areas, she is drawn to novels that examine family and relationship dynamics, sexuality, identity, and vulnerability. Ciara is keen to hear from writers who take a fresh approach to these themes, whether that be a new perspective on a traditional narrative or a focus on characters and voices that remain underrepresented: think Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck, Asymmetry by Lisa Halliday or Monkey Grip by Helen Garner. She will always want to read beautifully written novels with a strong sense of place, tangible characters and an essence that stays with you – living deep in your bones – long after you’ve finished reading. Recent reads Ciara has enjoyed include: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad, Close to Home by Michael Magee, Siblings by Brigitte Reimann, Trespasses by Louise Kennedy, The Idiot by Elif Batuman, Highway Blue by Ailsa McFarlane and My Phantoms by Gwendoline Riley. At the moment Ciara is particularly eager to see: - Sexy, sensual and seductive stories that explore desire and sexual boundaries not often represented in literature such as Little Rabbit by Alyssa Songsiridej, Cleanness by Garth Greenwell and Mrs. S by K Patrick - An atmospheric and existential thriller in the vein of Intimacies by Katie Kitamura, In The Cut by Susanna Moore and Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk - An intoxicating coming of-age-tale that captures the aliveness, intelligence and wildness of girlhood like Brutes by Dizz Tate, The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides and The Girls by Emma Cline - Books that are joyful or brutal, particularly those that are both, similar to Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel, Kick the Latch by Kathryn Scanlan and Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan - Stories exploring an Australia or Ireland that is rarely seen in literature for example A Loving, Faithful Animal by Josephine Rowe and Wild Houses by Colin Barrett In non-fiction, Ciara enjoys narrative, memoir and essay collections. She is interested in hearing from experts, academics, critics and journalists writing about society, culture and food, and excited by writers seeking to revise, reshape or revolutionise the conversation in their area of expertise. Some of her favourite non-fiction titles include How To Survive A Plague by David France, The Transgender Issue by Shon Faye, the Living Autobiography Series by Deborah Levy, Last Witnesses: Unchildlike Stories by Svetlana Alexievich, King Kong Theory by Virginie Despentes; and she particularly enjoys the work of M.F.K Fisher, Annie Ernaux, Natalia Ginsburg and Helen Garner. Ciara is not looking for Children’s, YA or Fantasy. Ciara would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 -2 page synopsis and the first 5,000 words of your completed manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, Ciara is kindly offering one free session for low income/under-represented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print).  By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Wednesday 17th September