Michael Ronayne is your contest chairman for the Grand Final. Michael is a twice UK speech champion, taking the title in London 2007 and at York in April 2010. He is the designer of Edexcel’s BTEC Training the Trainer programme which he manages for the College of Public Speaking. He is a mentor and assessor for new trainers at the Speakers Trust and has worked with leaders across the spectrum of politics, industry, business and finance.

David Jones is a scientist at the Natural History Museum and Imperial College. His main areas of research are rainforest ecology and soil biology. He enjoys giving public lectures about his research.

Phillip Khan-Panni is the inaugural UK Business Speaker of the Year and a former runner up in the World Championship of Public Speaking. While at university in Calcutta, he won the All India Inter-Collegiate Debate. He is a co-Founder of The Professional Speaking Association, past branch chair of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, and CEO of PKP Communicators, a training company specialising in verbal communication, copywriting, salesmanship and cross culture. His business background is in sales, advertising and direct marketing.

Shaughan Dolan graduated from University of Aberdeen having read Genetics. He is very active in the Central London Debating Society as well as being involved in the world of politics. He is an active campaigner for many issues, including electoral reform.

Anthony Gell is Founder of Leaders In Business on bvo.com - a site allowing people, wherever they are in the world, to access thought leadership from some of the most famous CEOs and leaders in business today (at no cost). Anthony does the interviews and hopes to add another 'dragon' to his belt one day ;). Prior to bvo, he was the Regional CEO of a B2B conference and publishing company with experience in many emerging markets. Anthony is an enthusiastic member of Toastmasters (Athenians) and is very much enjoying taking up his new passion, speaking in public.

Dorothea Stuart Dorothea is highly involved in the field of professional development and public speaking. She heads Stuart Associates Ltd, is the former Club President of Excalibur Advanced Speakers Club and is also a Visiting Tutor at South Thames College.

Jason Ashwood is a Detective Superintendent at New Scotland Yard in London. His 22 year career as a police officer has spanned many areas of detective work, including his current responsibilities for delivering serious crime investigation functions across the Capital. A keen speaker, he has competed successfully in a variety of club and regional competitions over the past five years and now plays a central role in his own club's development. He holds an MSc from King's College, London.

Robert Noble is an Average Adjuster dealing with accidents at sea, including modern-day piracy. He's giving a talk on piracy at ESU on 14.12.11. A third of his career was in each of London, Hong Kong and Athens. A former rugby-playing yacht skipper, scuba-diver and free-fall parachute-instructor, his calmer interests now include public speaking (including helping beginners) military history, opera, books and Scotland. He was Chieftain of St. Andrew's Society in Athens and returns there late November as MC at their annual Ball for 400 people.

James Milton studied Arabic and International Relations at St Andrews University before attending Sandhurst Military Academy in 1998-1999 and commissioning as an officer in the British Army. He served for a total of eight and a half years, qualifying as an Arabic Interpreter and Intelligence Officer, in which roles he performed three tours of Iraq. His interests include running, public speaking, writing and history.

Andrew Chuks works for Winners Edge, a company that specialises in short-term mentoring for professionals and business owners who want to reduce nerves and improve at presentations fast. He has a passion for boxing, reading and travelling.

Mike Robinson works for Streamfisher and is involved in the design and manufacture of mechanical devices for cleaning industry tanks in the wine and brewing industry. Mike has three daughters and loves reading scripts and plays.

Chris Bates - Chris is famous for being runner-up in the Apprentice 2010. Chris now works for Hamilton Bradshaw, James Caan's company. I wonder if Lord Sugar ever reflects on his decision making process?

Caroline Sinclair has created and delivered customised training courses for the United Nations, the World Bank (IBRD) and the World Health Organisation, as well as corporate and other clients, all over the world. She was a director of Peace Not War for many years, helping activists to get their points across, and is on the committee of the world's oldest free-speech association, The City of London Cogers. Caroline won the Best New Speaker's cup in the Speaking Olympiad in 2010, in her first foray into speaking competitively.

Rod Sloane is the inaugural winner of the Corporate Challenge 2008. Rod is a member of Toastmasters, the National Speakers Association and he runs his own marketing company for small businesses.

Laura McCracken is a Consultant with Wrightson Wood, a boutique executive search firm, and serves as Chairman of Leaders Den LLC, a leadership development firm. In addition to executive search, she provides Board effectiveness evaluations and leadership coaching. Prior to entering the talent industry, she held executive roles with Citi, American Express, Lazard, and KPMG. Laura has significant international experience, having lived in UK, Singapore, and US and worked across over 25 countries in North America, Europe, and Asia. Laura was the Corporate Challenge Champion 2010.

Keith Dickerson was, until the end of 2009, Director of International Standards for BT, providing direction to all BT’s standards activities and working closely with senior management to identify the key technologies and standards required to support programmes such as the 21st Century Network. In this role he developed the BT Effective Speaking Programme to improve the effectiveness of presentations made by members of the BT Talent Pool, a group selected to be fast-tracked up the management chain. Keith is now a Director of Climate Associates Ltd, providing consultancy services to international companies on Climate Change, Green Agenda and Energy Efficiency issues, especially where the use of international standards is important. He chairs a UN/ITU working group on ICT and Climate Change.