By Natalie Dawes, Editor, Professional Paraplanner
Stepping into the role of Editor at Professional Paraplanner, feels purposeful, and feels wholeheartedly right. I’m incredibly proud of the journey that’s brought me here and excited by what lies ahead. There is a real opportunity here to have more meaningful conversations, help shape discussions that matter to paraplanners, and for me to offer support and guidance at a much deeper level.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be working closely with Rob Kingsbury, now our Consulting Editor, who many of you will know well and quite rightly, have grown fond of. He’s a true gent, a real professional, and I feel utterly privileged to be stepping into his editorial shoes.
Rob has played a vital part in building something genuinely special at Professional Paraplanner. One of my biggest priorities is to continue what he and the team here have created over the last 12 years and to further build on these strong foundations.
Professional Paraplanner is immensely important to me – and actually, I firmly believe it’s played a part in me developing in confidence over the years. I’ve been an avid and loyal reader for a long time, going back to when I was paraplanning myself, when I quietly included myself within a community that has grown from strength to strength. This continued into the years beyond, although I think those that know me now will say I’m not as ‘quiet’ these days as I once was, hopefully in a good way!
In more recent years, I’ve been privileged to write a number of articles for Professional Paraplanner, as well as attend events up and down the country. As a result, I’ve connected with so many of you and have had some of the most inspiring conversations.
It’s through all of this that I have really developed, found my feet, and moved into roles that have allowed me to help others develop too. This next step in my career, feels like a very natural one and one that is going to enable so much more of this. It’s a real opportunity for me to give back, to support more and do so within one of the best communities within our industry. Not only that – I also get to do it alongside one of the very best teams, a team that already feels like home.
As Editor, it goes without saying that I’ll ensure we continue to keep you informed on the latest industry news, that we remain your online home for paraplanners and financial technicians, as well as your go-to for in-person events and webinars. Our community is full of talented individuals and that is reflected in the Paraplanner Awards, which mark their 10th anniversary in 2026.
My aim through all of this is to bring a deeper focus on connection, so that we can further develop as a community, create more space for meaningful conversations, the sharing of ideas, challenges, and successes. Above all, I want to make sure that paraplanning gets the proper support and recognition it deserves.
If there are topics you think deserve more airtime, stories you want told, or conversations you think we should be having, I’d genuinely love to hear from you, now and as we move forward.
This next chapter is very much one that we get to write together.
Main image; kelly-sikkema-0LhR05rkGHg-unsplash
