Awards and Scholarships

The Nevin Award

The Nevin Award is our association’s most cherished honour. It is awarded annually to a member whose outstanding contribution to Professional Speakers Australia and to the speaking industry over the years have earned the utmost respect, honour and admiration in the Association and the profession. They are a Professional Speakers hero.

Nevin Award Recipients

Keynote Speaker of the Year Award

This award acknowledges speakers who have the capacity to engage a diverse variety of audiences, captivate them with their style, delivery and humour and deliver a message that conveys their expertise.

Keynote Presenter Award for Excellence Winners

The Educator of the Year Award

This award acknowledges presenters who have continued to reach diverse groups with deep content through diverse methodology over many years in a training, facilitation and one-on-one format.

Educator Award for Excellence Winners

• 2023 – Phill Nosworthy
• 2022 – Leanne Faraday-Brash CSP
• 2021 – Amanda Gore CSP, CPAE, Global Speaking Fellow
• 2020 – Ian Stephens CSP
• 2019 – Keith Abraham CSP
• 2018 – Alison and Darren Hill
• 2017 – Andrew Horabin
• 2016 – Max Walker CSP
• 2015 – Steve Simpson CSP
• 2014 – Lisa McInnes-Smith CSP
• 2013 – Michael Grose CSP
• 2012 – Ian Hutchinson
• 2011 – Matt Church
• 2010 – Terry Hawkins
• 2009 – Allan Parker
• 2008 – David Penglase CSP
• 2007 – Colin James
• 2006 – Glenn Capelli CSP

Presenters Award for Excellence Winners

Key role models and pioneers of the the industry who were recognised at Professional Speakers’s 20th Birthday celebrations in 2007.

• Walter Dickman CSP
• Doug Malouf CSP
• Ron Tacchi CSP
• Winston Marsh CSP
• Lisa McInnes Smith CSP, CPAE
• Allan Pease CSP

National President’s Award for Outstanding Contribution

This award acknowledges and appreciates a member of our speaking profession who has contributed beyond any reasonable expectation during the previous 12 months.  The recipient may be a member at any level either of PSA or of any other GSF Association. This Award may not be given every year.

• 2023 – Kim Seeling Smith CSP
• 2022 – Ian Stephens CSP
• 2021 – Nina Sunday CSP

Breakthrough Speaker of the Year Award

This award is designed to recognise and identify emerging speakers who have achieved recent extraordinary prominence and/or major transformation and success.

Nominees and Awardees are individuals who have captured the attention and fascination of the marketplace. More than simply an overnight success or flavour of the moment, the winning speaker may well have been speaking for an extended period of time but has recently gained traction or achieved a breakthrough. Alternatively, they may be a new-comer emerging in the industry who displays great potential as a future thought-leader/influencer.

• 2023 – Tracey Ezard CSP & Dr Kristy Goodwin – joint recipients
• 2022 – Warwick Merry CSP
• 2021 – Scott Dutton CSP
• 2020 – Sally Foley-Lewis
• 2019 – Daryl Green
• 2018 – Mykel Dixon
• 2017 – Rabia Siddique CSP

Industry Partner of the Year Award

This award recognises a bureau consultant, PCO, meeting planner, AV provider or other industry partner who goes above and beyond.

• 2022 – The Good Work Group
• 2021 – HOUSE of O
• 2020 – Wise Connections
• 2019 – Saxton Speakers Bureau
• 2018 – Claxton Speakers
• 2017 – Celebrity Speakers

The Kerrie Nairn Scholarship for Public Speaking

In May 2005 our much loved and respected member Kerrie Nairn passed away. In her honour and with generous Australian Government funding, The Kerrie Nairn Scholarship for Public Speaking was established.

The Kerrie Nairn Award is worth more than $15,000 to boost the Scholar’s professional development.

The Kerrie Nairn Scholarship Scholars