SPEAKER AWARDS
TEAM & JUDGES
The Speaker Awards Ambassador
MARIA FRANZONI
Founder and Chief Mentor at Speaking Business Academy.
Maria Franzoni is one of the most experienced speaker bookers in Europe and recognised as a speaking industry expert. She supports speakers (established and new) to turn their speaking into profitable businesses.
The Judges
ADAM LEVITT
Founder and Director of the COVERED Speakers Bureau
As the Founder and Director of the COVERED Speakers Bureau, Adam Levitt is dedicated to connecting global corporate organisations and professional associations with the very best keynote speakers, hosts, presenters, moderators, and entertainment for their virtual and in-person events and conferences.
ANTHONY STEARS
Professional Speaker, Telephone Assassin
Anthony has been speaking for over a decade and is an active member of the PSA, Professional Speaking Association. He’s spoken all over the world in front of audiences of up to 4,000 people… some events with up to 11 different interpreters at the back of the room. This is his third year as a judge.
CHARLOTT FAGERGARD
Global Connector, Client Relations Specialist, Trademark Consultant
Charlott understands success in the speaking industry. With years of experience, she has helped countless aspiring speakers with powerful stories but no clear strategy to get booked. She knows a strong message, quality showreel, and solid social presence aren’t optional, they’re essential. As a judge, Charlott uses her expertise to identify speakers who are not only inspiring but also positioned for real success on stage.
CLAIRE YOUNG
Entrepreneur, Motivational Speaker
Made famous by her role as the highly driven runner-up of series four of ‘The Apprentice’ She beat 40,000 candidates to reach the final and this experience inspired Claire to set up her own business ‘School Speakers’. It is now the UK’s No 1 speaking agency working with schools, colleges and universities to provide talks to students. This is her second year as a judge.
DAN RISNER
Managing Director of Leading Authorities International
As the Managing Director of Leading Authorities International, Dan oversees the markets outside North and South America and works with his team to match their clients to the perfect speaker for their events. Dan joins us from another bureau in the UK and, with many years of experience in the industry, is excited to support his clients and the LAI team.
DEENITA PATTNI
Professional Speaker & Trainer
Having spoken on stages worldwide alongside leaders like Carrie Green, Lewis Howes, UK Dragons Den and Social Media Moghul Steven Bartlett, Deenita understands exactly how the skill of speaking can elevate an individual’s Personal Brand and position them as the expert in their niche. She has also been a judge for four years running.
DOMINIC ELDRED-EARL
Creative Speaker Consultant
Dominic started as a speaker consultant back in 2014. He has since risen the ranks working as a consultant at London Speaker Beaurea since 2021. Dominic has enjoyed working with many speakers across all sectors, at all levels from grassroots to the legendary Will Smith. Dominic is also an Audiobook Narrator, Producer and Voiceover Artist.
HELEN CHORLEY
Speaker, Host, TV Personality and Investor
Speaker, Host, TV Personality and Investor. Helen has spoken at and hosted many events. Recognised for her regular appearances on many Sky TV shows including Property Elevator, Property Graduate and Venture Visionaries. She’s also a seasoned judge for many industry awards bringing her unique blend of stage and screen expertise to the Speaker Awards. This is her second year with us.
JAMIE MCANSH
Professional Keynote & TEDx Speaker
As a motivational speaker, he spreads the message that disabilities shouldn't limit one's potential, earning numerous awards for his efforts. His impact as a motivational speaker reached people of all backgrounds, inspiring them to overcome challenges and embrace a life full of possibilities. It's his second year as a judge. Jamie is also the Head of Inclusion at Champions (UK) an Award-Winning Speaker Bureau and Entertainment Agency.
JAMIE STEWART
Business Growth Professional, Founder Circle Networks
Jamie has spoken worldwide with his signature message “Be More Buffalo". Jamie is a business growth professional, the founder of Circle Networks, and the leader of a global business networking organisation. He has extensive experience transforming businesses, having previously led a major acquisition as a FTSE 250 managing director.
KAREN WITCHALLS-PLUNKETT
Presenter / Broadcast Journalist
Karen is a presenter/broadcast journalist with an extraordinary skill set. Her impressive CV includes presenting credits in both the broadcast and corporate sectors. She has worked internationally, with high-profile VOs and news report production and is widely considered to be an invaluable production asset. Karen founded and runs Perfect Match Presenters (PMP) Agency, providing world-class presenters for clients.
KAYE FREEMAN
Founder and Talent Agent at Andromeda Talent
Andromeda Talent was founded by Kaye Freeman in 2018 when she saw a gap in the Speakers and Personal Appearances market for a more bespoke, personal approach to sourcing, suggesting and booking Talent, one that grew out of her Talent Management background and offers a one-stop shop for organisations across the UK, Europe, Australia and North America. It's her second year as a judge.
MARY TILLSON-WHARTON
Keynote Speaker Coach
As a driving force in Speaker Excellence, partnering with Maria Franzoni at Speaking Business Academy, Mary’s work as a strategic content strategist for speakers empowers speakers globally to create engaging and referrable speeches and masterclasses, delivering transformational results and ROI for their corporate clients. It's her third year as a judge.
MATTHEW FISHER
Managing Director at Scamp Speakers
2025 marks 25 years since Matthew Fisher started working in the speaking industry. After graduating from university, he started in the industry in 1999 when he worked for Performing Artistes helping to, not only book speakers for events, but also run their sporting dinners. Mathew Fisher is now the Managing Director at Scamp Speakers. It is his second year as a judge.
NIMA ABU WARDEH
Nima has spent decades on global TV & stages across the world. Her last stint was a weekly programme for 12 years on BBC World. Nima has worked with, developed, booked, interviewed, and shared platforms alongside the world's most influential people.
RIKKI ARUNDEL
Founder UK Professional Speaking Association
With over 50 years of experience in speaking, Rikki was inducted into both the PSA and Speakers Awards “Speakers Hall of Fame” and was recently honoured with the first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award by the Speakers Awards in 2024.
SARAH ARCHER
Sarah is a speaking and marketing coach, writer, comedian, performer, ex-HR Director, and host of The Speaking Club Podcast, (which is in the top 1.5% of podcasts and in over 190 countries). This mix means she is uniquely qualified to teach you how to create content that makes your audience stop, engage, and fall in love with your message.
STEPHEN WHITTON
Founder of [M]enable / Professional Speaker
Stephen is a Professional Speaker and founder of the global movement for Mental Wealth support and Development, [M]enable. After a successful career in the automotive industry, Stephen’s world collapsed due to unresolved mental health issues Stephen shines a light on these issues to international audiences. He is also a professional MC / Compere (Beyond Compere) and the 2024 London Region President for the Professional Speaking Association (PSA).
The Founders
ELLIOT KAY
EXPERT IN IMPACTFUL LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATION
Elliot Kay is a renowned expert in impactful leadership communication, empowering leaders and organisations to transform their communication strategies into: tools for innovation, alignment, and sustained growth. Drawing from his extensive experience as a speaker, trainer, and author, Elliot provides a roadmap for leaders to master communication that clarifies purpose, energises teams, and drives lasting success. His approach is not just about delivering a message but about creating a memorable, transformative experience.
LOVELDA VINCENZI
GLOBAL EVENT HOST & SPEAKER BUSINESS STRATEGIST
Lovelda Vincenzi is a globally sought-after event moderator and speaker business strategist, known for bringing humanity to the stage and helping women speakers turn their expertise into high-paying speaking careers.
As a seasoned moderator & host, Lovelda has hosted conversations for some of the world’s biggest brands including Heineken, Nissan, and Moët Hennessy, creating dynamic discussions that bridge perspectives and captivate audiences.
As a speaker strategist, she works exclusively with established women speakers who have plateaued at the 1K-2K mark and are ready to scale to 5K+ speaking fees. With a sharp commercial focus, she helps them position themselves as must-book speakers, without cold outreach.
LUCY McCARRAHER
CEO BookMagic AI, CO-FOUNDER Rethink Press & FOUNDER BUSINESS BOOK AWARDS
Lucy is the author of 14 books, including three novels, four self-help books and seven books on writing books, the latest of which, 'Book Magic' will launch in March 2025. Lucy mentors non-fiction and fiction authors through planning and writing their books and is the UK’s most experienced business book mentor. She runs the Mission Mastermind for women entrepreneurs, won a Stevie Award for Women Helping Women in Business; and the Great British Businesswomen’s Award for Creative Industries Businesswoman of the Year for her work with women in business.
SIMONE VINCENZI
SALES & CONVERSION CONSULTANT & SPEAKER
Simone Vincenzi is a sales and conversion consultant & speaker. He supports service-based businesses & speakers sell at scale using engaging webinars and presentations that CONNECT & CONVERT without making your audience roll their eyes.
He has run over 1000 live presentations and webinars, helped over 1500 businesses create presentations and webinars that convert over the past 10 years, helping his clients make over 10 millions $ from webinars and presentations alone.When he's not delivering presentations or running his companies, you can find him on a court playing basketball at a very high level.
JOE GREGORY
COFOUNDER OF RETHINK PRESS
Over the years, Joe has helped publish hundreds of business and self-help books. A central part of his work involves guiding authors in creating unique, well-packaged, and strategically positioned books that elevate their credibility and help them stand out in their industry.
As a three-time author himself, Joe has experienced firsthand the powerful impact a book can have on a business.
Whether an author is in the early idea stage and needs help with planning and positioning, requires support in writing, or has a completed manuscript and is searching for the right publisher, Joe and Re-think press is there to assist.