Toastmasters DTAC 2025 in Dubai celebrates communication excellence, leadership growth, and inspiring speeches, headlined by world champion Ramona J Smith.
Dubai: At the heart of Toastmasters DTAC 2025 in Dubai, former World Champion of Public Speaking Ramona J Smith reminded a packed hall that “words are weapons.” Her powerful address urged aspiring communicators to speak with purpose, empathy, and audience understanding. “Speaking is not about you; it’s about the audience,” she noted, encouraging leaders to influence with intention.
The conference, organised by Toastmasters District 127, brought together 2,800 members from across 154 clubs in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Held under the theme ‘One District, One Family’, the event featured keynote sessions by global voices including leadership strategist Dr Loretta Sanders, fitness influencer Captain Sam, and seasoned Toastmaster DTM Balaji Nagabhushan.
Ramona’s message struck a chord: “If you are a leader, walk and talk like one.” Her story, from a Houston high school teacher to a global speaking champion, added authenticity to her insights. She reflected on her growth journey, saying, “I am glad to visit the UAE again and share my transformation as a speaker, mother, and coach.”
The two-day conference included high-level contests in International Speech, Table Topics, Evaluation, and Humorous Speaking. Sven D’Souza claimed the International Speech Champion title, while Raham Sithara won in Humorous Speech. Evaluation and Table Topics awards went to Nafisath T. Aslam and Vajaya Ratinam Ramah, respectively. The event also celebrated language diversity with top speakers in Arabic, Hindi, Malayalam, and Tamil.
DTM Shanil Palliyil, DTAC 2025 Chairman, highlighted the event’s impact: “We delivered a world-class experience that empowered attendees through learning, collaboration, and inspiration.” DTM Viji John added that the conference “provided a unique platform for celebrating excellence and nurturing confident speakers.”
DTM Dr Muneeba Ali emphasised the growing impact of Toastmasters in the UAE, with District 127 fostering confident communicators and leaders through self-driven development.
Toastmasters International, a global non-profit, continues to empower individuals to build leadership and communication skills. DTAC 2025 exemplified this mission, delivering a celebration of speech, skill, and personal growth.
