Jio Yim, Kate Barry, Lucy Carlisle (Year 12) and Poppy Cheek (Year 11).
PLC Sydney students have made history once again. This time, it was on the global stage of public speaking and debating. Four of our talented students represented Australia at the 2025 World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships (WIDPSC), held in Kuala Lumpur from 30 March to 7 April. Among a competitive field of 124 students from 14 nations, PLC Sydney made an extraordinary impact.
Selected to represent Australia as part of a 15-member national team, our students included Kate Barry (Public Speaking Captain 2025), Lucy Carlisle, Jio Yim and Poppy Cheek (Year 11). Each went head-to-head with the world’s best young communicators and achieved exceptional results.
Lucy Carlisle delivered a standout performance, reaching the semi-finals (Top 32 globally) in every discipline: Reading, After Dinner Speaking, Debating and Impromptu Speaking. This feat was accomplished by only five students worldwide. Lucy went on to place 4th overall, securing her place in the school’s rich history of public speaking excellence.
Jio Yim also impressed with three semi-final appearances and a final world ranking of 16th, jumping 35 places from her 2024 performance. She delivered an unforgettable impromptu speech, crafted in just two minutes without notes, which earned her second place in the world for the discipline.
Grand Finals action: Gio, 1st in the world for After Dinner Speaking.
In an unprecedented moment for both PLC Sydney and Australia, Lucy and Jio made history by sweeping the top awards in After Dinner Speaking. In front of a 400-strong international audience, the pair secured 1st and Runner-Up in the Grand Finals.
Beyond their competitive success, students embraced cultural exchange and service. Alongside their international peers, they constructed 32 wooden chairs for a local Malaysian school. This hands-on project was a powerful display of leadership and empathy.
Kate Barry and Poppy Cheek gained invaluable international experience. They built confidence, formed global friendships and developed a broader world view. These are skills that will serve them well long after school.
Grand Finals action: Lucy, 2nd in the world for After Dinner Speaking.
PLC Sydney’s world-class speaking and debating programs, based in Lyons House, consistently produce national champions and global contenders. A dedicated team of coaches bring passion, expertise and encouragement to every training session.
Their guidance, combined with the drive and resilience of our students, continues to establish PLC Sydney as a global leader in student voice and confidence.