PSA Awards 2026

It is time to Celebrate! – Not only our own achievements, but the outstanding performance and contribution of our colleagues and fellow members, who have inspired and encouraged us throughout 2025. PSA has a tradition of awarding excellence through its Annual Award Program, and we are delighted to announce that our Awards Program has commenced for 2026.

Please note the nomination period for the Next Level Speaking Award, The Educator of the Year Award and Keynote Speaker of the Year Award is now closed.

The Kerrie Nairn Scholarship and The Nevin Award are OPEN until the 13th January 2026 – please click here to learn more and nominate in these Awards!

The awards will be presented at the Global Speakers Summit 2026 (GSS2026) in Cairns 13-16 March. If you haven’t yet registered for GSS2026, now is the time. Registrations are open here!

Awards Information

Click on the image below to hear about the 2026 Awards program from the 2026 PSA National Awards Chair, Steve Simpson CSP!

Our suite of Awards for 2026 will consist of 4 key awards and 2 scholarships for PSA Members. (One of the scholarships is attached to the Next Level Speaking Award)

  1. Recipients can only receive the award once. Once you are a winner of any award category, you cannot be nominated, apply, or win the award again in subsequent years.
  2. Applications will only be accepted from people who have been members of PSA for more than 2 years of continuous membership preceding the date applications close (13th January 2026*).

*note: Nominees of The Next Level Speaking Award or the Kerrie Nairn Scholarship are not required to have held a financial membership for the 2-years. An exciting new Scholarship was announced as part of the Next Level Speaker Award. Read more below.

Self-nominations are accepted for some awards. Please read the terms and conditions against each Award category. In addition to nominations by peers and corporate clients, you have the opportunity to put yourself forward for consideration. This change is designed to make the process more inclusive and give more deserving members the chance to be recognised.

So now is your opportunity to nominate an outstanding speaker or consider self-nominating for one or more of the following awards which are open to all PSA members! – Go to the Awards categories here.

Our Judging Process

When the nominations period closes, nominations will be reviewed for eligibility against the respective Award criteria. Eligible Nominees for all awards, other than the Nevin, will have the opportunity to accept or decline their nomination and they will be required to complete a submission. The Nevin Award nomination form is completed by the nominator and must be kept completely confidential.

The applications for each Award will go to an experienced Convenor and panelists. Some panelists will be previous recipients. The judging process is extensive and as objective as possible.

Celebrating the Standard of Nominations

Professional Speakers Australia is the industry Peak Body for presenters who inform, inspire and influence through the spoken word. The meeting and events industry trust in the integrity and capability of Presenters and Suppliers that help ensure the success of every engagement. To this end, Professional Speakers Australia Award Nominees are of the highest standard, with demonstrated capability aligning with our PSA 8 Core Competencies and our Values.

We now invite nominations for the 2026 Professional Speakers Australia Awards. Click here for More Details on the Awards.

Closing Dates and Process:

Nevin Award (nominations close on the 13th January 2026)

Kerrie Nairn Scholarship (submissions close on the 13th of January 2026)

Keynote, Educator and Next Level (nominations for these Awards closed on the 2nd of December 2025)

  • Nominations are now closed.

Please direct any enquiries regarding the PSA Awards to the PSA team by phoning 1300 739 993 or admin@professionalspeakers.org.au.

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