Paul du Toit is the first speaker on the African continent this century to be awarded the Certified Speaking Professional designation from the National Speakers Association (USA) in 2008, thereafter serving as Southern Africa’s CSP Liaison Officer, helping and encouraging over a dozen other Southern African speakers to achieve their CSPs. In 2013 he became a Global Speaking Fellow along with 21 other inaugural recipients at the Global Speakers Summit in Vancouver, Canada.

Born in Cape Town, his grounding in theatre and entertainment provided an ideal springboard for a career in facilitation, coaching and professional speaking. He founded Johannesburg based Congruence Training in 1995 which he runs to this day.

He is a founder member and Past President of the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa receiving their Founders award at the Global Speakers Summit in Cape Town in April 2009 for exceptional service to the speaking industry. He has since served as Secretary and Treasurer of the Global Speakers Federation. In 2017 he was inducted in to the Southern African Speakers Hall of Fame and the Southern African Educators Hall of Fame in 2020.

He has spoken to tens of thousands of people at conferences and corporate events globally. He is a business speaker, coach and authority on persuasion, customer experience and business presentations. He is the author of two other business books – “You Can Present with Confidence” and “The Book of Persuasion”. Paul continues to blog on speaking, presenting and customer experience and sends a regular email newsletter on presenting to 1,700 opt-in subscribers. His content-rich and often humorous interviews related to remote presentation during lockdown have been well received by the business and speaking community and since the publication of his most recent book on numerous podcasts. 

He is a retired marathon runner having completed 85 marathons of which 24 were ultra marathons including three Comrades.

He knows a fine wine when he smells one – his favourite reds finding temporary resting in his cellar. He also appreciates a good single malt. He keeps an eye open for suppliers of excellent coffee beans and establishments that can match his home brew, which he enjoys with a block of dark chocolate.

Paul plays guitar and hums a tune for relaxation, a pastime that once earned him a living, and occasionally posts a tune online. If you search YouTube you could be surprised.

He has 2 grown up daughters, Chanel and Jenna and lives in Sandton with his wife Trudi.

Paul can be contacted at pdt@congruence.co.za. Websites: www.pauldutoit.net,  www.congruence.co.za & www.presentationskills.co.za. For video – YouTube.com/pauldutoit1