I am absolutely delighted to share that I have been shortlisted for Best Motivational Speaker 2026 at The Speaker Awards & Summit.
This is a very proud moment.
Not because speaking has ever been about awards or titles, but because it means the message is reaching people.
And that message has always been simple:
There is love, life and laughter after abuse.
You are worth fighting for.
It just takes one person, one moment, one conversation, or one spark of belief to change the direction of a life.
A High-Calibre Field
What makes this shortlisting even more meaningful is the calibre of the speakers in this category.
The Best Motivational Speaker 2026 shortlist includes people with extraordinary careers, powerful messages and significant professional impact. It brings together internationally recognised speakers, authors, leaders, adventurers, campaigners, broadcasters, entrepreneurs and changemakers.
To be named alongside speakers such as Bruce Whitfield, Bonita Norris, Claire Boscq, Baroness Sue Campbell, Raj Hayer, Bruce Dickinson and Karen Farrell is a genuine honour.
Each of them brings something distinctive to the speaking world. Their work spans leadership, sport, adventure, business, customer experience, creativity, performance, resilience and personal transformation.
That is what makes this category so special.
It is not just about standing on a stage. It is about the ability to move people, challenge thinking, create belief and inspire meaningful action.
Why This Shortlisting Matters
The Best Motivational Speaker 2026 category recognises speakers who inspire audiences through authentic storytelling, powerful ideas and a message that helps people move forward with renewed courage and purpose.
For me, that deeply reflects the heart of my work.
My journey as a speaker has never been separate from my lived experience, my work with survivors, or my belief in the power of education.
Education became a lifeline. It helped me understand myself, rebuild my confidence and find the words for things I had carried silently for years.
As a result, speaking matters deeply to me.
Whether I am speaking in schools, workplaces, professional conferences, training rooms, community spaces or survivor-led settings, my aim is always to make difficult subjects human, relatable and accessible.
From Lived Experience to Professional Impact
I speak about resilience, trauma, abuse, safeguarding, recovery, self-worth, leadership, wellbeing and the long-term impact of lived experience.
However, more than anything, I speak about hope.
Not the fluffy kind of hope.
The practical kind.
The kind that reminds people they can rebuild, learn, grow and become more than what happened to them.
Over the years, my work has taken me into schools, Parliament, professional training spaces, charity settings and national conversations around child sexual abuse, survivor voice, trauma-informed practice and system change.
As Founder and CEO of Survivors Of aBuse, I developed and deliver the accredited Breaking the Cycle™ C.L.E.A.N.E.R.™ Living Programme, supporting survivors to understand the impact of trauma on the mind, body, behaviour and future choices.
However, my work as a motivational speaker also reaches beyond the charity.
It is about helping people understand that adversity does not have to be the end of the story. Instead, with the right support, language, education and belief, people can begin to rebuild their lives in a way that feels possible and real.
A Moment of Recognition
The Speaker Awards bring together professional speakers from across the industry and internationally. Public finalist posts have referenced hundreds of expressions of interest and completed submissions from speakers across multiple countries, which makes this shortlisting feel even more significant.
To be selected in such a strong field is a real privilege.
It is also a reminder that lived experience, when used safely, professionally and purposefully, can educate, challenge and inspire change.
A Thank You
I want to thank everyone who has supported, booked, recommended, encouraged or stood alongside me over the years.
Every school talk, training session, event, conversation and person who has said, “That helped me understand,” has mattered.
This shortlisting is not just a professional milestone.
More importantly, it is a reminder of why I continue to do this work.
Looking Ahead
As I continue this work, my mission remains the same.
I want to use my voice to educate, help people feel seen, challenge silence, support prevention and inspire resilience.
Most of all, I want to remind people that rebuilding is possible.
I am incredibly proud to be shortlisted for Best Motivational Speaker 2026, and I am even more committed to continuing the work.
Chris Tuck
Motivational Speaker | Trainer | Author
You’re Worth Fighting For