SPEAKER AWARDS
TEAM & JUDGES
The Speaker Awards Ambassador
MARIA FRANZONI
Founder and Chief Mentor at Speaking Business Academy.
Maria Franzoni is Ambassador for The Speaker Awards & Summit, working with speakers, agents, and bureaus to grow profitable speaking businesses through more bookings and higher fees. A former senior executive at CSA and London Speaker Bureau, she founded a multi-million-pound agency. With 20+ years’ experience, she’s worked with global icons including Richard Branson, Neil Armstrong, and Bob Geldof.
The Judges
ANDREA PACINI
Author & Speaker
Andrea Pacini is the author of Confident Presenter, a presentation coach and Head of Ideas on Stage UK. He specialises in working with business owners, leaders and teams who want to become more confident presenters. In 2024 he was awarded Best Virtual Speaker at The Speaker Awards. Andrea is on a mission to stop great ideas from failing just because of how they’re presented. This is his first judging
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 fourth 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. This is her 3rd year judging
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 third year as a judge.
DAVID STOLLMAN
Entrepreneur & Speaker
David Stollman is a serial entrepreneur and speaker industry leader, co-founding successful ventures including CAMPUSPEAK Agency and EVERGREEN Speakers. Over three decades he has spoken on more than 800 college and university stages, reaching over one million students across North America. Today he focuses on launching and developing speakers, bringing deep industry insight and a talent-spotting eye as a Speaker Awards judge. This is his first year judging
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 five 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 Bureau 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. He has been judge for 2 years
FRED AFRIFA
Speaker & CO-founder of Believe in Greatness
Fred Afrifa is an international keynote speaker and co-founder of Believe in Greatness. A former national sprint champion and BBC Apprentice candidate, he now works with organisations across the UK helping leaders communicate with clarity, confidence and impact. As a Speaker Awards judge, Fred brings the perspective of a high-performance speaker who understands what truly connects with audiences on stage. This is his first year judging.
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 third year with us.
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 and the founder of Circle Networks where he sees hundreds of speakers monthly. We are delighted to have the perspective of a speaker booker as a judge. This is his third year as a judge.
KAREN WITCHALLS-PLUNKETT
Presenter / Broadcast Journalist
Karen founded and runs Perfect Match Presenters (PMP) Agency, providing world-class presenters for clients. She has over 25 years of industry experience having started as a presenter/broadcast journalist with an extraordinary skill set. Her impressive CV includes presenting credits in both the broadcast and corporate sectors. This is her 3rd year judging.
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 third 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 fourth year as a judge.
MATTHEW FISHER
Leadership strategist & International Speaker
Michelle Raymond is a leadership strategist, HR futurist and international speaker with over 25 years advising organisations in complex, high-accountability environments. Founder of The People’s Partner LLC, she works with global organisations to strengthen leadership and talent strategy. As a Speaker Awards judge, Michelle brings a sharp eye for credibility, insight and real-world impact on the audiences speakers serve. This is her forth year judging.
RIKKI ARUNDEL
Founder UK Professional Speaking Association
In 2024, Rikki received the first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award from the Speakers Awards and was inducted into their Hall of Fame, recognition for a lifetime spent championing speakers.Rikki brings both a judge’s eye and a speaker’s heart to the conversation, having also judged Toastmasters contests and PSA Speaker Factor over many years while also winning major speech contests personally. This is their second year judging
SARA GRIFFITHS
Founder UK Professional Speaking Association
Sara is an international communication and presentation skills coach who helps leaders, speakers & professionals communicate with clarity, confidence and presence.Originally a professional actress for over three decades, Sara performed on television for the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, at the Royal National Theatre and in London’s West End. She later became a main presenter for QVC and is now an award-winning international voice artist and the current voice of Classic FM. This is her third year judging
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 be a Speaker Awards judge and is returning for the third year.
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. He is also a professional MC / Compere (Beyond Compere) and the 2024 London Region President for the Professional Speaking Association (PSA). This is his second year as a judge.
STEVE LINDSEY
Steve Lindsey is Event Director of the National Sales Conference, Europe’s leading event for revenue leaders and sales professionals. With nearly two decades in the global B2B events industry, he has worked with hundreds of speakers and business leaders across international stages. Steve brings a commercial event organiser’s perspective, understanding what makes speakers connect with audiences and deliver real business impact. This is his first year judging
The Founders
ELLIOT KAY
EXPERT IN IMPACTFUL LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATION
Elliot Kay is a dynamic speaker, entrepreneur, and the CEO of The Speaker Awards & Summit, a premier platform dedicated to recognizing excellence and elevating speakers and industry peers. With a passion for storytelling and empowering others to share their message, Elliot has built a reputation for inspiring audiences to step into their authority and communicate with impact.
Through his work, Elliot supports professional speakers, leaders, Olympians, and high-level experts across industries to build credibility and create meaningful influence. He is also the author of six books, two of which are bestsellers, and is currently writing his seventh.
As the visionary behind The Speaker Awards & Summit, he brings together some of the most powerful speakers and industry peers to celebrate achievement, foster community, and drive innovation in public speaking.
Known for his engaging presence and practical insights, Elliot speaks on topics such as leadership, personal branding, visibility, and the art of impactful communication. Whether on stage or behind the scenes, he is committed to helping others own their story and use their voice to create lasting change.
LOVELDA VINCENZI
MC AND MODERATOR FOR FLAGSHIP CORPORATE EVENTS
Lovelda Vincenzi is a professional MC and moderator known for bringing calm, clarity and just the right energy to high-profile, fast-moving events. She works as an extension of the team, keeping programmes on track, adapting as things shift, and quietly taking pressure off organisers so they don’t have to think about what’s happening on stage.
Trusted by organisations including Moët Hennessy, Nissan, Heineken, Novo Nordisk, the Prince of Monaco Foundation and La Roche-Posay, she guides engaging, thoughtful conversations with ease. Lovelda has moderated discussions with global leaders and cultural figures including Monica Lewinsky, Tom Daley and former Unilever CEO Paul Polman, and is known for her sharp listening, emotional intelligence and ability to read the room.
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 2000 live presentations and webinars, helped over 1500 businesses create presentations and webinars that convert over the past 10 years, helping his clients make over 12 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.
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' that launched 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.