If you’ve attended a Drop-In session, watched a webinar recording, or benefited from Club Officer Training this year, chances are you’ve experienced the impact of Janet’s work, even if you didn’t realize it.
They say a Toastmaster wears many hats, and that is certainly true in Janet’s case.
From joining Farnham Speakers in 2012, Janet quickly stepped into leadership, taking on the role of Vice President Education and continuing to serve in at least one leadership role every year since.
Over the years, her journey has included:
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Two terms as Area Director
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Two terms as Division Director
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Club Mentor for Godalming Speakers
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Achieving Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) in 2020
After completing two years as District Administration Manager in 2025, Janet planned to take things a little easier.
That plan didn’t last long.
Following her appointment, Program Quality Director Seema invited Janet to take on the role of District 91 Training Lead, a role that has continued to evolve over time.
Working alongside a highly driven Program Quality team, Janet has been at the centre of several key initiatives aimed at improving education and training across the district.
One of the most visible and impactful initiatives this year has been the introduction of regular Drop-In sessions and webinars.
These sessions have given members:
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An informal space to ask questions
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Access to experienced Toastmasters
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Practical, topic-focused learning
The results speak for themselves:
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35 sessions delivered
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Most sessions recorded and shared
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Over 2,200 views on YouTube
For many members, these sessions have become a valuable and accessible way to learn and grow.
Janet has also played a key role in establishing the Trainers Bureau, a resource that connects clubs with experienced trainers for educational sessions and Club Officer Training.
District 91 also took part in beta testing new Club Officer Training material from Toastmasters International.
As Training Lead, Janet coordinated trainers across districts, including collaboration with District 74 (South Africa), helping to deliver sessions and gather feedback.
The result is improved training content that will benefit members across the district.
Another project close to Janet’s heart was improving the Club Officer Training reporting process.
Drawing on her experience as a Division Director, she understood how time-consuming the process could be.
Working with Rory Graves (ToastHost), Janet helped develop a COT management system designed to simplify reporting and reduce manual effort.
While there have been initial challenges, as with any new system, the long-term goal is clear: to make life easier for future leaders.
Beyond the visible initiatives, Janet has also supported the district in quieter but equally important ways.
From contributing to communications and supporting website updates to helping proofread district newsletters before publication, her attention to detail has consistently helped raise the quality of what members experience.
She also quickly developed her Canva skills and took ownership of designing the posters and visuals that accompanied many of the training sessions throughout the year, ensuring that each initiative was not only well delivered, but also clearly communicated and professionally presented.
For Janet, this year has been about more than just delivering projects.
It has been about:
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Learning new skills
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Working with dedicated team members
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Supporting the growth of others
Above all, it has been about contributing to a district that continues to evolve and improve.
Janet’s contribution is a reminder that behind every initiative, every session, and every improvement, there are people working quietly to make it happen.
And in this case, it’s someone wearing many hats and making a real difference.
Last Updated on 21st March 2026 by Allen Paul