Meet Your Committee

Ifeoma

Gbemi Akojenu

President

The boss

  • Toastmaster since October 2019.
  • Why did you join? – To learn how to connect with audiences and improve public speaking skills.
  • Biggest Learning – Growth happens through feedback, observation and practice.

Carl Bradley

Carl Bradley

Deputy President

The boss no 2

  • Toastmaster since July 2014.
  • Why did you join? – I joined Toastmasters to develop my public speaking and meeting chairing skills.
  • Biggest Learning – Biggest learning for me is learning to enjoy being comfortable on stage, giving speeches and presentations.

John MacLean

Vice President – Membership

Helps guests and supports our members

  • Toastmaster since March 2019
  • Why did you join? – To overcome my fear of speaking to an audience.
  • Biggest Learning – Improving my public speaking has come with benefits which are transferable to so many other aspects of life

Eugene Brown

Vice President – Education

Assigns club meeting roles and speeches

  • Toastmaster since August 2019.
  • Why did you join? – I joined toastmasters to become an effective speaker and engaging communicator.
  • Biggest Learning – My biggest learning is real growth comes from continually practicing and incorporating constructive feedback in my speeches.

David Wilkinson

Deputy Vice President – Education

Assigns club meeting roles and speeches

  • Toastmaster since October 2017.
  • Why did you join? – I joined Toastmasters as I had a huge fear of public speaking, bordering almost on a phobia. I knew I required help. Toastmasters was the answer.
  • Biggest Learning – For me, the biggest learning is being able to manage fear and stressful moments. I know what I am able to do, so when the stress / fear kicks in I have learnt to push through and still perform. It’s a huge revelation and has instilled a new level of confidence throughout all parts of my life.

Lizzie Gull

Vice President Public Relations

Promoting the club

  • Toastmaster since August 2019.
  • Why did you join? – To become a more confident, engaging speaker.
  • Biggest Learning – I’ve learnt the most through listening to others, both their speeches and their feedback on mine. Every meeting I pick up tips and tricks to improve.

Mike Weston

Sergeant at Arms

Logistics for meetings

  • Toastmaster intermittently since October 2008.
  • Why did you join? – To help others find their true voice
  • Biggest Learning – If you don’t listen, you don’t learn

Andre Williams

Secretary

Manages the club files

  • Toastmaster since
  • Why did you join?
  • Biggest Learning

Michelle Senior

Treasurer

Take care of the money

  • Toastmaster since October 2016.
  • Why did you join? – To hone my public speaking, develop and portray confidence, and to widen my network.
  • Biggest Learning – Effective public speaking is a skill and to master it you must practice, practice, and then practice some more. I used to believe that impactful public speakers had a gift but now I realise that anyone can have that ‘gift’ if they’re willing to apply the tools and techniques we learn at Toastmasters.

Ifeoma Okafor

Immediate Past President

The last boss

  • Toastmaster since June 2017.
  • Why did you join? – To become more confident at public speaking.
  • Biggest Learning – I’ve learnt and still learning how to calm my nerves when speaking in public. I have also learnt that public speaking is not only about being confident but also about the message (the structure and delivery).