Verity Price, DTM, AS, 2021 World Champion of Public Speaking
What does it take to be the first?
Way back in 2005, Verity started her journey as the first South African musician with the tenacious foresight to get online crowdfunding for an album she hadn’t even recorded yet.
Then in 2021 and Verity’s had another big first – first speaker from Africa to ever be crowned the World Champion of Public Speaking and the 6th woman in history.
In 2023, Verity achieved another first when she became the first speaker from Africa and first female World Champion to ever be awarded the Accredited Speaker designation.
Her talent for ‘acting out the box’ rather than merely ‘thinking out’ of it, has brought international success for Verity, speaking globally on innovation and thinking differently, which includes two TEDx Talks.
As the Toastmasters 2021 World Champion, Verity captured the judges, and thousands of people’s imagination with her winning speech ‘A Great Read’ – an inspiring invitation to improve our lives by “writing a different story”. Helping people do just that is Verity’s passion.
Website: www.verityprice.com
Jean Gamester, DTM, International Director Region 10
Jean Gamester, DTM, of Cardiff, Wales, is a business school lecturer at The Open University in the United Kingdom. She educates on leadership, strategy, change, creativity, and innovation. This work builds on her international, multicultural, and multi-sector corporate change and leadership experience that includes company-wide strategy development, consulting, and implementation.
Gamester earned master’s degrees in Human Resource Management and Economics, the former from the University of Bedfordshire in the UK, the latter from University College Dublin, Ireland. She additionally has an ACCA certified diploma in accounting and finance, and certification in the fields of program management, project management, information technology, coaching, psychology, literature, creative writing, and yoga. She is currently pursuing a professional doctorate in organizational change. She is a past Interim CEO of Charity Speakers Trust and Founding Director of Semaphora Consulting in the United Kingdom.
A Toastmaster since 2006, Gamester is a member of Cardiff Toastmasters. She has held a number of high-profile leadership positions within Toastmasters and has attained the Distinguished Toastmaster designation—the highest level of educational achievement in the organization.
She reflects that Toastmasters has helped her gain communication and leadership skills that have empowered her to lead complex strategic change in organizations and helps her inspire as a speaker and university lecturer. She says, “People tend to join Toastmasters because they want to become more confident and capable speakers. We tend to stay for a variety of reasons—because we connect with the creative joy of speaking in public, we develop the skill of leadership, we build great friendships. Subtly over time, we become better versions of ourselves—we communicate, listen, care, and contribute more richly to our families and communities.”
As a member of the Toastmasters International Board of Directors, Gamester is a “working ambassador” for the organization. She works with the Board to develop, support, and modify the policies and procedures that guide Toastmasters International in fulfilling its mission.
Ali Parandeh Zandpour
Ali studied Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering at university and he always kept his passion for the world of computers and programming. Over the past 25 years, he has started, sold and closed several businesses. Ali is a serial entrepreneur who believes that passion and vision are the two most important ingredients for a successful startup.
Today, Ali uses his experience in IT and Public Speaking to help entrepreneurs in their journey, building successful businesses and raising millions of euros in fundraising rounds.
He is currently mentoring at numerous incubators/accelerators, and board advisor at several Startup companies. He is a motivational speaker and covers topics of entrepreneurship and startup.
Ali is an advocate of free movement and a world without borders for refugees and immigrants. Ali dedicates a portion of his time to supporting migrants and refugees.
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliparandeh/
Website: www.AliParandeh.com
Margherita Brodbeck Roth, DTM, District Director
Margherita Brodbeck Roth, DTM holds an MSc UZH in geography, political sciences, and history and an MBA. She currently works as a data quality program manager and is fluent in five languages.
Margherita has been a Toastmasters member since 2016. She currently serves as the District 109 Director, has served as District 109 Program Quality Director, Area Director, Club President, VP Education, VP Membership, VP Public Relations, Secretary and Sergeant at Arms, and as a mentor, club sponsor, and trainer. She loves travelling around the world virtually and, time permitting, in person to experience the many vibrant and diverse Toastmasters communities.