Association of Secretaries and Administrative Professionals in Asia Pacific (ASA)

The Association of Secretaries and Administrative Professionals in Asia Pacific (ASA), formerly known as the Association of Secretaries in Asia, was established in 1974 in Manila during a formal session of the Congress of Secretaries. The initiative was led by Ms. Virginia P. Elbinias, then President of the Philippine Association of Secretaries and Administrative Professionals, Inc. (PAS). PAS hosted the inaugural Asian Congress of Secretaries in Manila that year, with participation from secretarial associations across Asia and Australia.

In September 1998, during the 13th ASA Congress held in Bangkok, the organization adopted its current name to align with the United Nations' definition of Asia as a vast region, encompassing Russia and the Pacific Rim countries. ASA is affiliated with the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), headquartered in Kansas City, USA.

The formation of ASA has provided a vital platform for secretarial associations to collaborate, fostering growth and advancement for both individual associations and the profession at large. Presently, ASA comprises 14 member-country associations. The Distinguished Secretaries' Society of Pakistan (DSSP) has proudly been a member of ASA since 1982. Every two years, the ASA Congress is hosted by a member country on a rotational basis.

DSSP had the privilege of hosting its first ASA Congress in May 1990 in Karachi, Pakistan, which marked the 9th, ASA Congress.

We were further honored to host our second ASA Congress, the 22nd ASA Congress from September 13 to 17, 2014, at the Avari Towers, Karachi, Pakistan. Themed “Standing High in Challenging Times,” the event highlighted significant progress in the 25 years since our first Congress. The event was a resounding success, bringing together approximately 150 local and international delegates. For further details, please refer to the Congress Issue of the Secretary’s Digest.