STRIKING GOLD ON STAGE
When Gold Industry Group launched a light-hearted debate on ‘who could find gold faster: geologists or AI’, the organisation set out to create more than just a playful showdown.
It was designed to help exploration managers and mining professionals discover their voice.
The catch was neither team had debated on stage before, let alone present to an audience of more than 150 people.
This is where SPOKE came in, supporting the two teams with a customised public speaking training session, designed to instil preparation confidence and boost performance.
In just one hour, the first-time debaters learnt the basics of presenting, techniques to connect with the audience, and tips to manage nerves before they take hold.
Our experienced media and presentation trainer Emily Evans worked with each debater to maximise their speaking skills through body language, facial expressions, tone and inflection, making sure they felt natural in their presenting style by amplifying their genuine and authentic self.
Presenting their argument was only one part of the training. The session worked with both teams to think on their feet, respond to curveball questions, and handle light-hearted banter with poise by leaning into humour.
Fundamental to all of these techniques was a direction to simply have fun. At the end of the day, if a speaker is enjoying themselves, the audience will too.
To reinforce the training exercise, a concise fact sheet packed with tips for presenting, public speaking and media engagement was provided post-session, allowing participants to continue refining their skills in the lead-up to the event.
On debate night, the results were golden. The teams delivered a lively, entertaining discussion that captured the audience by highlighting geological expertise and exploring the cutting-edge capabilities of AI.
More importantly, each participant walked away with newfound confidence on stage, practical skills in public speaking, and a toolkit to better handle presenting opportunities.
Whether it’s for a first-time debate, a panel discussion, or a media appearance, SPOKE’s mission is to turn nerves into confidence, hesitation into clarity, and potential into performance.
With the right training and tools, anyone can shine and these first-time debaters truly struck gold.