Recognising our Speaking
Industry’s top achievers

Awards and Scholarships

PSA has a tradition of awarding excellence through its Annual Award Program, recognising our Speaking Industry’s top achievers across a range of expertise and contribution, with Award presentations taking place annually at our National PSA Convention. Of course Members and Guests are welcome to register for whole or part of Convention, ensuring they also secure their Gala Dinner and Awards Tickets for the Saturday Evening! Our Award nominations open in November of each year, and we encourage you to consider your peers or yourself for any of these outstanding achievements.

In 2026, Professional Speakers Australia has four key annual awards and two scholarships:

(The Catherine Palin-Brinkworth Scholarship is attached to the Next Level Speaking Award)

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.

Nominations are now closed for the 2026 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.

The Spirit of John Nevin

In 1986, John Nevin convened the first official gathering of speakers in Australia at the Wentworth Hotel in Sydney, after much urging by several local speakers including Doug Malouf, Ron Tacchi and Allan Pease. Many had been members of NSA US and had recognised the unquestionable value of membership of a professional speaker’s association with a spirit of growth through giving.

John was a person of strong principles and a total giver. He gave without expecting and received without forgetting. He was known as a leading driver of charitable causes, and as someone who not only got things done, but who got them done with style, energy, and effectiveness. He was an initiator, he did not wait to be asked, he was always finding ways to give, he was involved, he was spirited, and he was endlessly helpful.

Nevin Award Recipients

2026 – Denise Quinn CSP
2025 – Nina Sunday CSP
2024 – Russell Pearson CSP
2023 – Steve Simpson CSP
2022 – Warwick Merry CSP
2021 – Gary Edwards CSP
2020 – Ian Stephens CSP
2019 – Donna Hanson CSP
2018 – Graham Harvey CSP
2017 – David Staughton CSP
2016 – Helen Macdonald CSP
2015 – Michael McQueen CSP
2014 – Brad Tonini CSP
2013 – Rodney Marks CSP
2012 – Allan Parker OAM
2011 – Kevin Ryan CSP
2010 – Anne Riches AM, CSP

2009 – Lindsay Adams OAM, CSP
2008 – David Penglase CSP
2007 – Glenn Capelli CSP
2006 – Sarah Cornally CSP
2005 – Martin Grunstein
2004 – Colin Pearce
2003 – Matt Church CSP
2002 – Colin Bockman
2001 – Keith Abraham CSP
2000 – Robyn Henderson
1999 – David Julian Price CSP
1998 – Max Hitchins PM
1997 – David Griggs PM
1996 – Catherine Palin-Brinkworth CSP
1995 – Lisa McInnes-Smith CSP, CPAE
1994 – Walter Dickman CSP
1993 – Winston Marsh CSP
1992 – Doug Malouf CSP
1991 – Ron Tacchi CSP

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 Speaker Award for Excellence Recipients

2026 – Allan Parker OAM
2025 – Ian Stephens CSP
2024 – Peter Merrett
2023 – Julie Cross CSP
2022 – Anders Sörman-Nilsson CSP
2021 – Dr Louise Mahler CSP
2020 – Colin James CSP
2019 – Rowdy McLean CSP
2018 – Amanda Stevens CSP
2017 – Lisa McInnes-Smith CSP, CPAE
2016 – Jason Fox CSP

2015 – Michael McQueen CSP
2014 – Matt Church CSP
2013 – Glenn Capelli CSP
2012 – Keith Abraham CSP
2011 – Rodney Marks CSP
2010 – Catherine DeVrye CSP
2009 – Amanda Gore CSP, CPAE, Global Speaking Fellow
2008 – Allan Pease CSP
2007 – Bruce Sullivan CSP
2006 – Peter Sheahan

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 Recipients

2026 – Dr Neryl East CSP
2025 – Yamini Naidu CSP
2024 – Gihan Perera CSP
2023 – Phill Nosworthy CSP
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, CPAE
2013 – Michael Grose CSP
2012 – Ian Hutchinson
2011 – Matt Church CSP
2010 – Terry Hawkins CSP
2009 – Allan Parker OAM
2008 – David Penglase CSP
2007 – Colin James CSP
2006 – Glenn Capelli CSP

Next Level Speaker of the Year Award

(formerly 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.

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 worth more than $19,000 to continue the Scholar’s professional development.

2026 – Trudi Boatwright
2025 – Kevin Humphreys
2024 – Danielle Dobson
2023 – Tracey Ezard CSP & Dr Kristy Goodwin CSP – joint recipients
2022 – Warwick Merry CSP
2021 – Scott Dutton CSP
2020 – Sally Foley-Lewis CSP
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.

2025 – FineHaus
2024 – Susan Dean (Dean Publishing)
2022 – The Good Work Group
2021 – HOUSE of O
2020 – Wise Connections
2019 – Saxton Speakers Bureau
2018 – Claxton Speakers
2017 – Celebrity Speakers

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.

2026 – Alan Cameron-Sweeney
2025 – Mell ‘B’ Balment
2024 – Sally Foley-Lewis CSP and Denise Quinn CSP (joint recipients)
2023 – Kim Seeling Smith CSP
2022 – Ian Stephens CSP
2021 – Nina Sunday CSP

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 Terms and Conditions for the Scholarship can be viewed here.

The Kerrie Nairn Scholarship Scholars

2026 – Ali Ahmadi
2025 – Casey Squires
2024 – Alan Cameron-Sweeney
2023 – Alfred Chidembo
2022 – Ally Nitschke CSP
2021 – Daniel Bull CSP
2020 – Jenny Wynter
2019 – Sarah Morse
2018 – Daniel Merza CSP
2017 – Kirryn Zerna CSP
2016 – Chinmay Ananda
2015 – Daryl Green

2013 – Lachlan Cooke
2012 – Neryl East CSP
2011 – Sonja Falvo
2010 – Steve Francis CSP
2009 – Jason Fox CSP
2008 – Dale Elliott
2007 – Alicia Curtis
2006 – Jennifer Harwood CSP

^PSA Professional Members and CSPs are not eligible to apply (at the time of the awards).

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

Recognising our Speaking Industry’s top achievers