09/09/2026
Last night I attended my first Toastmasters meeting at the Karaka Chapter, alongside fellow adviser Devin Gregory.
I went along not really knowing what to expect, and certainly wasn’t expecting to be standing up and speaking as a guest at my very first meeting!
What stood out straight away was the incredibly supportive and diverse group of people in the room. There were people from different backgrounds, professions, ages and levels of public speaking experience, but everyone was there to learn and grow.
Part of the night was Table Topics, where you’re given a completely random topic on the spot and have to get up and speak with zero preparation.
My topic? Deliver my first speech as the newly appointed Minister of Sheep.
Safe to say there was absolutely nothing in my career to date that had prepared me for that one, but it was a lot of fun and definitely pushed me outside my comfort zone.
Public speaking is something I want to continue getting better at. Whether it’s presenting to clients, our team, at industry events or simply communicating an idea with confidence, it’s a skill that can always be sharpened.
Sometimes the best way to get better at something is to put yourself in a room where you’re slightly uncomfortable and have a go...... Although I’m not sure my political career as Minister of Sheep has much of a future.
