MPSA's Third Professional Speakers Summit Begins Today

The Maldives Professional Speakers Association (MPSA) today commenced the third edition of its Professional Speakers Summit (MPSS 2026), bringing together more than 130 members for two days of learning, networking and professional development.

Held at the MNU Business School Auditorium, the summit has become one of the Maldives' leading platforms dedicated to advancing professional speaking, leadership and effective communication. This year's programme features internationally recognised keynote speakers and local experts who will share practical insights on leadership, innovation, artificial intelligence, personal branding and audience engagement.

The summit was officially inaugurated by Mr. Mufaddal Idris Khumri, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Maldives Islamic Bank (MIB), who attended as the Chief Guest. The opening ceremony also featured welcoming remarks by MPSA President Iyaz Waheed, who highlighted the association's continued commitment to building a stronger community of professional speakers and empowering individuals to communicate with confidence and purpose.

Setting the tone for the summit was internationally acclaimed keynote speaker James Taylor, who delivered a session on the intersection of creativity, innovation and artificial intelligence. Speaking on "SuperSpeaker – Building a One-Person Million Dollar Speaking Business," Taylor shared how rapid technological advancements, particularly AI, are reshaping industries and creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs, business leaders and professional speakers. He encouraged participants to embrace innovation while maintaining the uniquely human qualities of creativity, empathy and storytelling that continue to define impactful communication.

Professional speaking strategist Bavani Periasamy followed with a practical session on building a sustainable speaking career. Through her presentation, "Why Some Speakers Don't Get Booked (And What Can Actually Get You Chosen Again)," she explored the common pitfalls that prevent talented speakers from securing opportunities and shared practical strategies for building credibility, delivering consistent value and developing a reputation that keeps clients returning.

The morning programme continued with Sivakumar Palaniappan, who spoke on "Speakers Get Booked, Experts Get Sought." He encouraged participants to move beyond simply delivering presentations and instead establish themselves as trusted authorities in their respective fields. His session emphasised the importance of thought leadership, personal branding and demonstrating expertise as key ingredients for long-term professional success.

Leadership and personal transformation remained central themes throughout the day. International keynote speaker Olga Geidane presented "How to Become the Speaker Clients Remember, Recommend and Rebook," highlighting the importance of authentic relationships, self-leadership and delivering meaningful experiences that create lasting value for clients. Meanwhile, Dr. Surabh Patil encouraged participants to discover and develop their authentic voice through his keynote, "Your Voice Isn't the Problem – Your State Is," emphasising that confidence and effective communication begin with mindset and self-awareness rather than technique alone.

Technology and the future of communication returned to the spotlight in the afternoon as Zavier Coyne, a Generational Intelligence Expert, TEDx speaker and keynote speaker, delivered his presentation on "Generational Intelligence and Professional Speaking Landscape." His session examined how generational shifts are influencing leadership, workplace culture and audience expectations, encouraging speakers to better understand the values and communication preferences of different generations to increase their impact and relevance.

The summit also featured strong contributions from Maldivian speakers. Azaarath Rasheed inspired participants to "Speak Into Possibility," encouraging professionals to use communication as a catalyst for personal and organisational growth. Maadhih Mohamed explored the role of playfulness in building confidence and strengthening audience engagement through his presentation, "Playful Beginnings, Powerful Becoming." Leadership coach Asadika Kebbi concluded the local speaker sessions with "Alchemy of Becoming," sharing insights into leadership development, resilience and continuous personal growth.

The day's programme concluded with two internationally recognised keynote speakers. Anton Tharaka Appuhamy presented "The Voice of Impact Through Human Connection," demonstrating how authenticity and emotional connection enable speakers to inspire trust and influence audiences. Closing the first day, renowned keynote speaker Tim Gard delivered "The Brilliance of Humour and Excite Your Audience – Million Dollar Keynote," illustrating how humour can transform presentations by increasing audience engagement, improving message retention and creating memorable learning experiences.

Beyond the keynote sessions, the summit provided valuable opportunities for networking and collaboration among participants from diverse professional backgrounds. As communication continues to play an increasingly important role in business leadership, entrepreneurship and organisational success, events such as MPSS provide an important platform for professionals to strengthen their speaking skills, expand their networks and learn from internationally recognised experts.

The summit will conclude on Sunday with another full day of keynote presentations and masterclasses featuring internationally renowned speakers, including Fredrik Härén, Christian Chua, Eugene Seah, Vinay Pushpakaran and Andrew Chow. Participants will also witness the official launch of the MPSA Summit 2027 and the MPSA Mentorship Programme, reinforcing MPSA's long-term commitment to developing professional speakers and communication leaders in the Maldives.