Awards Categories

In 2027 Professional Speakers Australia Awards will consist of four key annual awards and one scholarship:

The Kerrie Nairn Scholarship was inaugurated in 2005 by the Australian Government in honour of Kerrie Nairn who was the founder of the ACT chapter
Next Level Speaking Award inaugurated in 2017
The Educator of the Year Award inaugurated in 2006
Keynote Speaker of the Year Award inaugurated in 2006
The Nevin Award for outstanding service to both Professional Speakers and the speaking profession inaugurated in 1991. Our most cherished honour.

Read on for more information and links to nominate for each Award category…!

The Nevin Award

Please consider nominating a PSA Member for our most prestigious Award, The Nevin Award. It is our most cherished honour, reflecting unconditional commitment and service in the spirit of John Nevin. It is awarded each year to a member whose outstanding contribution to PSA and to the speaking industry over the years have earned the utmost respect, honour and admiration in the Association and the speaking profession.

If you would like to nominate a Professional PSA member who you believe has demonstrated worthiness for PSA’s most treasured accolade, the Nevin Award, then please read the criteria and complete the online nomination form by 13th January 2027.

Nominate a Professional PSA Member for the Nevin Award

The Kerrie Nairn Scholarship

Open to associate members only. This self-nominating scholarship was developed in honour of our much loved and respected member Kerrie Nairn.

If you would like to self- nominate for the Kerrie Nairn Scholarship, please complete the online nomination form by 13 January 2027 (open to Associate members only).

Self-nominate for the Kerrie Nairn Scholarship here

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 memorable message. Being a professional keynote speaker means being able to sound the ‘key note’. This means they deliver a message that engages an audience at an emotional level, but which is built around the broader theme of the event and the client’s objectives of content and outcomes.

Nominate a PSA Member or Self-nominate for the Keynote Speaker of the Year Award here

Educator of the Year Award

This award acknowledges presenters who have continued to educate groups with deep content through diverse methodology over several years in presentations, large and small group training. Their knowledge and expertise is used to facilitate thinking and to stimulate ideas.

Nominate a PSA Member or Self-nominate for the Educator of the Year Award here

Next Level Speaking Award

This award is designed to recognise and identify speakers who have achieved recent extraordinary prominence and/or major transformation and success. Important to note that this award is open ONLY to Professional Members of PSA.

Catherine Palin-Brinkworth Scholarship: In 2024 PSA introduced the Catherine Palin-Brinkworth Scholarship, awarded as part of the Next Level Speaking Award. Catherine’s history with PSA dates back to being one of the founding members. Catherine is a PSA hero and treasure. She has been a Chapter President, served as our National president for 2-years in 1993/94, and has served in the past as a board member of PSA, and in 1996 received the Nevin Award, our association’s most cherished honour. The Catherine Palin-Brinkworth Scholarship is highly valued and aims to support the Scholar’s professional development. The Terms and Conditions for the Scholarship will be made available here shortly*.

*Scholarship inclusions may change without notice- recipient will be informed directly of any changes.

Nominate a PSA Member or Self-nominate for the Next Level Speaking Award here