Our Team
Stacey Karue
Meet Stacey, a dedicated wife and a proud mother of three wonderful boys, who has embarked on a remarkable professional journey. Her career began in the legal field, where she initially worked as a legal secretary and later earned a promotion to the role of Paralegal. After a brief hiatus to spend quality time with her eldest son, she re-entered the workforce, this time specializing in Family Law as a secretary, where she showcased her meticulous nature and keen eye for detail.
With the birth of her other two sons, Stacey's expertise continued to evolve, expanding into administrative support for marketing companies. Her diverse background and unwavering commitment to going above and beyond for her clients and employers laid the foundation for her entrepreneurial venture, The Practical Secretary, where she has been a co-founder since 2019.
At The Practical Secretary, Stacey's mission is crystal clear: to empower businesses to thrive by providing top-notch administrative support. Her passion lies in streamlining operations, allowing businesses to focus on their core objectives. Stacey specialises in streamlining financial processes, credit control, and proofreading, which are essential aspects of business success.
With Stacey's expertise, businesses can simplify their operations, save time, and enhance their overall efficiency
Lucy Seaton
With over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry and as the co-founder of The Practical Secretary, Lucy is passionate about driving operational excellence and growth. Her journey through the dynamic world of entertainment has honed her skills in managing cross-functional teams, process improvement, and implementing cost-effective solutions. Now, her mission is to bring that expertise to businesses looking to optimise their operations.
Lucy's goal is to provide a solid foundation for success, streamline processes, and enhance productivity. She has spent years cultivating her problem-solving skills, and she relishes finding innovative solutions that drive efficiency, cut costs, and boost profitability. Challenges don't deter her; they inspire her.
As a collaborative leader, Lucy thrives on supporting high-performing teams and fostering a culture of innovation and excellence. Her ability to align the right people with the right processes ensures that every project she undertakes achieves its objectives.
Beyond work, Lucy is a parent who understands the juggling act of career and family life. That's why she's a strong advocate for flexible working to achieve a healthy work/life balance.
Vanessa Lam
Vanessa is an astrophysics graduate with a passion for education. As well as consulting with The Practical Secretary, Vanessa tutors a diverse range of students, spanning from 11+ and Year 6 SATS through to A-Level. Her primary areas of expertise lie in mathematics and science, and she takes pride in crafting engaging classwork, homework materials, and tests to facilitate the learning process. Effective scheduling is key in managing a substantial number of students. These key skills are utilised in many aspects of the work she does for The Practical Secretary.
Beyond teaching, Vanessa also plays a pivotal role in organising a team of tutors and coordinating their schemes of work at the tuition centre, which she actively contributed to establishing.
A key member of The Practical Secretary team, Vanessa has been working on projects with us for a while and relishes the dynamic nature of the work, where each day brings a new array of tasks, keeping her engaged, stimulated, and in a constant state of learning.
The thing that truly enriches her is the opportunity to collaborate with a remarkable community of inspiring and empowering women who share her dedication to hard work, problem-solving and creativity.
Laura Sherwood
Laura brings a wealth of expertise derived from her extensive career, facilitating the seamless execution of projects to the highest standards. Her exceptional communication skills foster strong relationships with consultants and clients, complemented by a steadfast “can-do” attitude that forms the bedrock for abilities such as fee negotiation, budget management, and meeting project deadlines.
With over 13 years of dedicated experience in events and project management, Laura possesses a rich arsenal of transferable skills honed in handling multiple projects from their inception to fruition. Her exemplary organisational abilities, combined with an acute appreciation for attention to detail, serve as the cornerstone of her commitment to delivering top-tier customer service.
Throughout her professional journey, Laura has offered guidance and influence at all organisational levels. Thanks to her innate curiosity and inquisitive nature, ensuring that she communicates effectively and to the most exacting standards she is an invaluable member of our team.
Kat Craggs
Kat earned her BSc (Hons) in Dietetics at Leeds Metropolitan University, laying the foundation for her successful career. Her journey began as a Dietitian for the NHS, where she made significant impact with her expertise and passion for nutrition.
Kat’s commitment to her field led her to Compass Group/Medirest and then Kings College Hospital where she showcased her dedication to healthcare and education. During this time, she also held the esteemed position of a guest lecturer at Kings College, imparting her knowledge to the next generation of healthcare professionals. Her contributions to the field were further recognised when she was published in the Manual of Dietetic Practice, cementing her status as a thought leader in her industry.
Following a short career break and wanting to find a more flexible working environment, Kat decided to use her meticulous approach and thoroughness in all her endeavours to come on board as one of our consultants. Kat is not only incredibly adept at research projects but her dedication and attention to detail, as well as her vast knowledge, make her a valuable asset to our team.
Kirstin Chu
Kirstin is a dedicated and versatile professional with an extensive skill set and diverse qualifications. She brings a rich blend of management, leadership, empathy, patience, and exceptional communication skills. Her passion for educational improvement and unwavering commitment shines through in her work. With a knack for child management and a collaborative spirit, Kirstin excels in the realms of business management, recruitment, mentoring, and coaching, consistently achieving KPIs. Confidence, innovation, and strong interpersonal skills set her apart, making her highly effective in support and soft skills development.
Kirstin’s qualifications include a range of achievements, such as the NCFE Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools and Colleges, ETA Awards in various domains, and a Diploma in Management. Furthermore, her educational background includes A-levels in Business Studies and Health and Social Care.
With a track record of professional experiences she has honed her abilities in team management, customer service, and financial administration. Kirstin is a dedicated and multifaceted professional, who has made a considerable and positive impact to our team.