Information for judges
Speak Up Year 6 is not just a competition; it's an opportunity to empower the voices of the future. Our judges play a crucial role in this transformative experience. Their expertise and insight contribute to the development of confident, articulate speakers who will carry these skills forward into their academic and personal lives.
Our judges are eminent figures and leaders in various sectors, who bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience gleaned from a diverse range of professional backgrounds. They are not just there to evaluate the performance of the speakers; they are mentors and champions of the power of effective communication.
Volunteer as a judge
To be a judge, you don’t have to be an expert in public speaking. You will be provided with essential information and guidance and will be briefed before the event to ensure an informed judging experience. Contact us to express your interest in joining us as a judge.
Meet Our Judges
Michael Ronayne - Head Judge
Michael Ronayne - Head Judge
Michael Ronayne - Head Judge
4 time UK National Public Speaking Champion, Michael is a director of The Art of Training and Public Speaking.
Anil Ranchod - 2023 Judge
Michael Ronayne - Head Judge
Michael Ronayne - Head Judge
Anil is an award-winning marketing, PR and Communications professional featured in PR Week’s Power Book 2018 to 2021.
Deborah Hall - 2023 Judge
Michael Ronayne - Head Judge
Justine Greening - 2024 Judge
Deborah read the news on Breakfast Time on BBC1 and was a news anchor on BBC World for 12 years. She now presents TV programmes for a variety of businesses.
Justine Greening - 2024 Judge
Justine Greening - 2024 Judge
Justine Greening - 2024 Judge
Justine campaigns for equality of opportunity. She has been a local MP, representing Putney until 2019 and a UK Cabinet Minister.
Fasayo Fadahunsi - 2024 Judge
Justine Greening - 2024 Judge
Fasayo Fadahunsi - 2024 Judge
Fisayo is the founder and managing director of Filmanthropy, an award-winning social enterprise, and is Vice Chair of the Merton Youth Partnership.
Manish Solanki - 2024 Judge
Justine Greening - 2024 Judge
Fasayo Fadahunsi - 2024 Judge
Manish leads European Operational Risk Consulting at Mercer Sentinel. A passionate music lover, he is a Trustee of the Merton Music Foundation.
What our Judges Have to Say
"It was so energising to witness how empowered the children were on stage - articulate, confident and proud. I was so impressed by the variety of subject areas and the different approaches to storytelling. I found myself in genuine laughter for at least 75% of the evening and close to tears on more than one occasion. The evening was a real exemplar of how powerful it can be to simultaneously give (young) people tools and the relevant platforms to use them." Fisayo - 2024 Judge
"Judging an event with so many talented young speakers is inevitably very hard. Not just that they all speak so passionately and so well (and would put most adults to shame), but how do you compare a speech on cats to one of women playing football to one on equality?
The real benefit for the young speakers however is not in competing, but simply by taking part they are making enormous strides in developing not just their own confidence, but also in developing a key life-skill that many of us try to duck until it is unavoidable.
The abiding experience of the event remains one of tremendous optimism and respect for the personal strength and common sense of all of these young people.
To listen to them is both humbling and a privilege." Michael - Head Judge