Published on: 12/10/2026
We are delighted to announce that Laura Shaw has been appointed as Personal Assistant (PA) to the Bishop of Sheffield, the Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox. Laura starts her role today and joins Bishopscroft after 16 months working as PA to the Archdeacon of Doncaster.
Bishop Pete said: “I’m delighted that Laura has accepted my invitation to become my new PA. I am especially pleased that she is not only highly qualified for the role but also feels strongly called to it.”
Laura said: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining the Bishopscroft team and am excited about what this new season will bring. I have always felt incredibly blessed to work for the Diocese, and feel further blessed and privileged to be joining Bishop Pete as his PA. I believe my experience and skills will complement the great work and Kingdom building at Bishopscroft – and of course, I’m looking forward to the challenge of learning more.”
Reflecting on her time with the Archdeacons’ team, Laura added: “The past 16 months have been a joy. It’s a hardworking team which has given me so much experience and laughter along the way, and it’s a comfort to know I’ll still be working closely with the Archdeacons. I’ve also been blessed with relationships across the Diocesan Board of Finance (DBF) and at parish level, and I look forward to our paths crossing again.”
Laura was born and raised in Rotherham and studied Social Policy and Criminology at the University of Hull. Her career since has taken a few interesting turns: from Intelligence Analyst with South Yorkshire Police, to Complaints Investigator for the local authority, to running an industrial business.
She is married to Mike, and they have two teenage sons, Dexter and Edison plus two dogs, Coco Pops and Buster Moon, whose schedules Laura says are already putting her PA skills to the test.
Outside work, Laura is a keen sports fan, with a particular love of basketball and boxing. She also enjoys walking, cooking, gardening, music and travelling, and is looking forward to starting each day with a prayer-walk with the dogs.
We also want to thank Wendy Whitfield, who is stepping down as PA to the Bishop of Sheffield. Wendy will stay with the Bishopscroft team until the end of the year to help with the handover. Everyone who worked with her will know her professional efficiency and cheerfulness and we’re sure many will want to join us in thanking her for her work and wishing her well for what comes next.
