About Us
Our Journey
Founded on August 15, 2023, Sustainable Speakers Online equips individuals to become confident leaders and communicators in sustainability. By combining Toastmasters’ time-tested methods with a focus on essential soft skills, we cultivate the confidence and skills required to inspire action.
The seeds of this club were sown during the first Earth Day Event (2021) and a subsequent short public speaking course called Speechcraft (2022). This combined experience inspired the three founders to establish Sustainable Speakers Online the following year.
Sustainable Speakers Online demonstrates what can be accomplished when passionate individuals come together to leverage the well-established Toastmasters platform for meaningful change. With members from over 10 countries, we are a truly global community, inspiring action through impactful communication.
Join us and become part of a supportive network where passionate individuals hone their voices, share ideas, and drive meaningful change for a more sustainable world.
Meet Our Founders
Colette Ainscough
Co-founder
With expertise from the Saolta SDG Advocacy Programme, Colette brought vital knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and secured the funding that turned the club’s vision into reality. At every online club meeting, the interconnectedness of the SDGs shines through.
Kavita Dulai
Co-founder, Charter President
A CISL alumna, IEMA member, and mother of three, Kavita is dedicated to creating a sustainable future through meaningful action and collaboration. She believes, ‘on your own you can go first, together we can go much further’.
Dr. Shirley Gallagher
Co-founder
A circular economist and a fellow of IEMA with decades of experience, Shirley began her sustainability journey in 1990 with research on brownfield sites in Belfast. Her expertise anchors our club in real-world solutions.
Leadership
Where Leaders Are Made
It’s an age-old debate: are leaders born or made? At Toastmasters, the answer is clear. Leadership is cultivated through experience, practice, and growth. Step by step, our members transform into effective, inspiring leaders ready to make a difference.
Leadership 2025-26
Kaj Sennelov — President
The Adventurer
Advocate for Diverse Collaboration, and Champion of Growth
Kaj Sennelov embodies the Adventurer archetype: embracing challenges, exploring new perspectives, and thriving outside comfort zones. Reflecting on leadership, Kaj values working with people from diverse backgrounds — in Toastmasters, the variety of perspectives makes leadership more dynamic and rewarding. Kaj’s advice is clear: “Expand your leadership experiences to groups beyond your usual zone. Stepping out of your comfort zone fosters growth, broadens your mindset, and strengthens your ability to lead in any environment.”
Anis Rezaei — Vice President of Education
The Beacon
Advocate for Delegation, and Champion of Kindness
Anis Rezaei embodies the Beacon archetype: standing up for inclusion, inspiring others, and fostering a sense of belonging. Reflecting on leadership, Anis admires delegation and kindness. Leaders who create space for others empower members to contribute, gain confidence, and feel valued. Their kindness fosters a welcoming community, building relationships and strengthening the club. Anis advises leaders to embrace these qualities, as they create trust, growth, and a sense of shared purpose essential for any team.
Kavita Dulai DTM — Vice President of Membership
The Influencer
Dynamic Connector & Inspiring Leader · Advocate for Collaboration and Champion for Empowerment
Kavita Dulai embodies the Influencer archetype: charismatic, people-focused, and driven to inspire action. As a Toastmasters leader since 2023, she believes that leaders come in all shapes and sizes and that self-belief is essential. Her key lesson: stay open-minded, have a vision, and work with it. Influencers thrive on connection, motivating others through their example and network. Kavita’s ability to bring people together and spark change makes her a powerful force, encouraging growth, action, and a shared vision for success.
Colette Ainscough — Vice President of Public Relations
A Spark
A Collaborative Leader and Advocate for Inclusive, Sustainable Growth
Colette embodies the Spark archetype. She believes leadership is about inspiring others and making sustainability accessible — step up, share ideas, and support your team with patience. She says that “serving on this Toastmasters Club Committee has shown me that leadership thrives on collaboration and support. Working with fellow officers has strengthened my public relations skills and teamwork approach.” Leadership is about creating space for others to grow: stay open to learning, build connections, and enjoy the journey.
Claire Henriques — Secretary
The Influencer
Dain Son — Treasurer
A Spark
Marc Lottig DTM — Sergeant at Arms
The Beacon
Visionary Leader, and Advocate for Team-Driven Success
Marc Lottig embodies the Beacon archetype: standing up for justice, inspiring others, and galvanising teams with bold visions. Marc believes leadership is earned, not given — through building momentum and nurturing a committed core team. His approach links member engagement, educational progress, and collective effort, creating lasting impact. As Marc advises, “Leadership thrives on shared goals and solidarity. Every great achievement begins with a strong, unified team driving it forward.”
Mentors
Our highly experienced mentors specialise in public speaking, providing tailored guidance to help individuals excel. All new members receive personalised one-to-one support for their first four speeches in the Toastmasters education program.
Even as a non-member you can benefit from our expertise.
Need assistance with an upcoming speech or keynote? We offer affordable coaching options — don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for more information.
Ron MacTavish (Mentor Lead)
A sustainability expert, coach, and mentor for start-ups, companies, and Toastmasters. A Fellow of IEMA, Climate Reality Leader, and founding member of the Sustainable Speakers Club, he empowers others to find their voice and purpose. Using Toastmasters’ mentoring program, he ensures successful outcomes for his mentees.
Colette Ainscough
My approach to mentoring is characterised by developing an understanding of individual needs, a flexible coaching style, and a genuine appreciation for the reciprocal nature of the mentor–mentee relationship. My aim is to enrich the lives of others, while embracing the personal fulfilment and continuous learning these partnerships afford me.
Shanine Gill
Shanine plays a key role in onboarding new members and providing technical support for the platforms used for speech requests (Agenda Management) and Toastmasters International Pathways. She ensures that all new members receive thorough onboarding sessions and mentorship.
Chris Boden
Chris is a highly experienced mentor and Toastmaster. He regularly delivers courses on speechwriting and public speaking and has personally competed in numerous speech-writing contests.
Kavita Dulai
Brings over 30 years of experience in communication, sales, and marketing to enhance public speaking. For the last 10 years she has been running public speaking workshops, specialising in refining interpersonal skills and providing personalised coaching — helping individuals transform public speaking into a powerful tool for professional success and impactful interactions.
Marc Lottig
You want to communicate, to get your message across, to get people to act on your call to action — be in no doubt, you can do it! For more than 20 years, Marc has been part of a team helping hundreds of people overcome their fears, develop their fluency, and learn to command an audience.