Podium Academy

Develop a deeper understanding of the world around you! Our speech courses cover everything from international trade and global economic systems, to everyday social issues and historical conflicts.

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Who Are We?

5 years ago, we began as a small academy that offered just one course – Competitive Debate. We trained and nurtured young minds to not just compete in debate and public speaking competitions, but to fall in love with the art of speaking and the benefits of critical thinking.

Today, Podium Academy offers a robust, comprehensive syllabus covering everything from academic writing to Model United Nations. Each of our programs are immersive, and filled with stimulating activities with an emphasis on speech, writing, and deep critical thought.

We now work with over 250 students from across the globe with a dedicated coaching team to provide the best student experience within the field!

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We offer a wide array of courses aimed at improving your English

Competitive Debate

Global Thinkers

English Writing

Model United Nations

Juniors Storytelling

Our company’s mission is to exceed expectations

In the beginning, we imagined a country where young, eager minds could openly and bravely engage in public discussions – discussions that would nourish, nurture, and above all, instill an unwavering sense of compassion towards those that need it the most.

This year, we are proud to announce that that dream is closer than ever before. Podium now boasts some of the finest, most accomplished young debaters and public speakers in Malaysia.

Meet The Team

Our Guarantee

Like anything worth striving for, there are no shortcuts to becoming a revered orator. We can, however, ensure that your students receive the very best of what our coaches and mentors have to offer.

At the end of every camp or weekly class, we can confidently say that every scholar will be able to leverage their tertiary-level knowledge to craft powerful arguments and engage in the art of speaking to large crowds with absolute confidence!

See What We're About

Our team is comprised of genuinely gifted minds

We’ve scoured the globe (literally) for the brightest minds! Today, our team comprises dedicated, passionate trainers from the U.K., Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. With years of experience within their respective education industries, our team forms the basis of what we do, and where we are headed!

Co-Founder

Nigel Amritch

Nigel has coached a Malaysian WSDC (World Schools) team member and judged two national varsity competitions!

Nigel Amritch

• 2015 Inaugural Teo Soo Pin Debating Championship Champion, Overall Best Speaker
• 2015 MCMC Debating Championship Open Grand Finalist
• 2014 International Borneo Debating Championship Open Semi-finalist
• 2014 Russell McVeagh International Australian-Asian Debating Championship KDU Representative

Nigel has coached a member of Malaysia's WSDC (World Schools) team and has served as Chief Adjudicator at two national level varsity tournaments! He has also served as a public relations executive at the Global Entrepreneurship Movement

Trainer

Adam Mohd Hafiz

SMK Kota Kemuning has beaten every public school in Malaysia. Adam has built a reputation for himself on the national circuit.

Adam Mohd Hafiz

• 2019 Sunway Interschool Debate Championship Novice Champion, 5th Best Speaker
• 2019 T.S. Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Abdul Rahman Arshad Debate Cup National Champion (Selangor Rep)
• 2019 Brickfields Asia College Battle of The Wits Champion
• 2021 USIM Inter Foundation Debate Competition Runner-up, 2nd Best Speaker

Very few can say they are champions of the largest English debate competition in Malaysia. Having bested every public school in the country representing SMK Kota Kemuning, Adam has made a name for himself in the national circuit.

Trainer

Ming Ee Tham

She is now Vice President of the MUN Club at NYUAD. Economist and mathematician.

Ming Ee Tham
2019 MUN Club, NYU Abu Dhabi, UAE Vice President
2018 America University of Sarjah MUN Best Speaker
2017 Fairview International School MUN Secretary General
2016 Nexus International School MUN Disarmament and International Security Committee Best Speaker
Ming Ee has been an avid MUN-er since 2015. She has directed a secretariat of 20 to lead one of the most successful Model United Nations Conferences iin 2017, with a participant turnout of over 450. She currently serves as Vice President for the MUN Club at New York University Abu Dhabi, majoring in Economics and Math.
Co-Founder

Sharwin Mohan

He has coached two KDU Kids British Parliamentary Bursary winners and two members of Malaysia's elite WSDC (World Schools) junior squad!

Sharwin Mohan

• 2020 Asian British Parliamentary Open Quarter-finalist
• 2020 Australasian Debating Championship ESL Runner-up
• 2020 World Universities Debating Championship ESL Semi-finalist, 4th Best ESL Team
• 2019 Cambridge IV Debating Championship ESL Grand Finalist

One of Malaysia's finest varsity debaters, he has trained 2 recipients of KDU's Kids British Parliamentary Bursary as well as 2 members of Malaysia's prestigious WSDC (World Schools) junior team! He is currently pursuing his Master's in Finance at the National University of Singapore.

Trainer

Muhammad Afiq

Afiq was part of the first Sunway team to ever break in ABP, UADC, and Oxford IV.

Muhammad Afiq

• 2021 World Universities Debating Championship ESL Semi-finalist, 5th Best ESL Team
• 2020 Asian British Parliamentary Open Quarterfinalist
• 2020 Malaysian National Intervarsity Debating Championship Open Grand Finalist, 4th Best Speaker
• 2020 Oxford Intervarsity ESL Grand Finalist

His love for debating is only matched by his love for K-Pop. Afiq is one of the most accomplished debaters from Sunway University and was part of the first Sunway team to ever break in ABP, UADC and Oxford IV ... and he did it all in the same year!

Trainer

Safra Vazeer

Safra is passionate about her pupils' linguistic growth and raising public awareness of speech impairments.

Safra Vazeer

• 2020 Teaching English as a Foreign Language Certified The TEFL Org
• 2017 -'20 B.A. in Criminology and Applied Linguistics - Second Class Honours Upper Division University of Melbourne
• 2017 -'20 Private English tutor University of Melbourne
• 2021 - '22 Master's in Speech Pathology National University of Singapore

Safra is immensely dedicated to the Linguistic development of her students and seeks to improve the public awareness on speech disorders. She was also an English drama champion and writes creatively, a hobby she started at 14 and carries until today.

Co-Founder

Ahmad Irfan

He mentored three other Sunway Oxford & Cambridge Public Speaking Bursary winners after winning it himself at 16!

Ahmad Irfan

• 2021 World Universities Debating Championship ESL Semi-finalist, 5th Best ESL Team
• 2021 Malaysian National Universities Debating Championship Open Semi-finalist, 3rd Best Speaker, Overall Best Reply Speaker
• 2020 Malaysian National Intervarsity Debating Championship Open Grand Finalist, 4th Best Speaker, Finals Best Speaker
• 2020 Oxford IV Debating Championship ESL Grand Finalist

After winning it himself at the age of 16, he coached 3 other recipients of Sunway's Oxford & Cambridge Public Speaking Bursary! He has also represented Malaysia at the 2018 International Public Speaking Competition, London.

Trainer

Kyle Boonwaat

Kyle, a first-year pre-university student, reached the quarterfinals of a national varsity competition!

Kyle Boonwaat

• 2017 T.S. Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Abdul Rahman Arshad Debate Cup States 2nd Runner Up, Best Speaker
• 2018 Malaysian National Universities Debating Championship Quarterfinalist, 6th Best Speaker
• 2018 Sunway's Oxford & Cambridge Public Speaking Competition 2nd Runner Up
• 2018 Malaysian Universities Economic Conference (MUEC) Guest Debater

With his charm, Kyle reached the quarterfinals of a national level varsity tournament as a first year pre-university student! He currently reads Economics at The University of Queensland, Australia.

Trainer

Rinakshie Rams

Rina has reached the grand finals of national tournaments both at the high school level and as an undergraduate!

Rinakshie Rams

• 2018 Taylor's University Interschool Debating Championship Champion, 8th Best Speaker
• 2018 Malaysian National Schools Debating Championship Runner Up
• 2019 Malaysian National Universities Debating Championship Runner Up
• 2019 Sunway Interschool Debating Championship Grand Finals Adjudicator

Not many people can say they got into the grand finals of both the schools' and universities' national championships! Rina currently reads Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at The University of Warwick.

Co-Founder

Nigel Amritch

Nigel has coached a Malaysian WSDC (World Schools) team member and judged two national varsity competitions!

Nigel Amritch

• 2015 Inaugural Teo Soo Pin Debating Championship Champion, Overall Best Speaker
• 2015 MCMC Debating Championship Open Grand Finalist
• 2014 International Borneo Debating Championship Open Semi-finalist
• 2014 Russell McVeagh International Australian-Asian Debating Championship KDU Representative

Nigel has coached a member of Malaysia's WSDC (World Schools) team and has served as Chief Adjudicator at two national level varsity tournaments! He has also served as a public relations executive at the Global Entrepreneurship Movement

Co-Founder

Sharwin Mohan

He has coached two KDU Kids British Parliamentary Bursary winners and two members of Malaysia's elite WSDC (World Schools) junior squad!

Sharwin Mohan

• 2020 Asian British Parliamentary Open Quarter-finalist
• 2020 Australasian Debating Championship ESL Runner-up
• 2020 World Universities Debating Championship ESL Semi-finalist, 4th Best ESL Team
• 2019 Cambridge IV Debating Championship ESL Grand Finalist

One of Malaysia's finest varsity debaters, he has trained 2 recipients of KDU's Kids British Parliamentary Bursary as well as 2 members of Malaysia's prestigious WSDC (World Schools) junior team! He is currently pursuing his Master's in Finance at the National University of Singapore.

Co-Founder

Ahmad Irfan

He mentored three other Sunway Oxford & Cambridge Public Speaking Bursary winners after winning it himself at 16!

Ahmad Irfan

• 2021 World Universities Debating Championship ESL Semi-finalist, 5th Best ESL Team
• 2021 Malaysian National Universities Debating Championship Open Semi-finalist, 3rd Best Speaker, Overall Best Reply Speaker
• 2020 Malaysian National Intervarsity Debating Championship Open Grand Finalist, 4th Best Speaker, Finals Best Speaker
• 2020 Oxford IV Debating Championship ESL Grand Finalist

After winning it himself at the age of 16, he coached coached 3 other recipients of Sunway's Oxford & Cambridge Public Speaking Bursary! He has also represented Malaysia at the 2018 International Public Speaking Competition, London

Trainer

Adam Mohd Hafiz

SMK Kota Kemuning has beaten every public school in Malaysia. Adam has built a reputation for himself on the national circuit.

Adam Mohd Hafiz

• 2019 Sunway Interschool Debate Championship Novice Champion, 5th Best Speaker
• 2019 T.S. Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Abdul Rahman Arshad Debate Cup National Champion (Selangor Rep)
• 2019 Brickfields Asia College Battle of The Wits Champion
• 2021 USIM Inter Foundation Debate Competition Runner-up, 2nd Best Speaker

Very few can say they are champions of the largest English debate competition in Malaysia. Having bested every public school in the country representing SMK Kota Kemuning, Adam has made a name for himself in the national circuit.

Trainer

Ming Ee Tham

She is now Vice President of the MUN Club at NYUAD. Economist and mathematician.

Ming Ee Tham

• 2019 MUN Club, NYU Abu Dhabi, UAE Vice President
• 2018 America University of Sarjah MUN Best Speaker
• 2017 Fairview International School MUN Secretary General
• 2016 Nexus International School MUN Disarmament and International Security Committee Best Speaker

Ming Ee has been an avid MUN-er since 2015. She has directed a secretariat of 20 to lead one of the most successful Model United Nations Conferences in 2017, with a participant turnout of over 450. She currently serves as Vice President for the MUN Club at New York University Abu Dhabi, majoring in Economics and Math.

Trainer

Safra Vazeer

Safra is passionate about her pupils' linguistic growth and raising public awareness of speech impairments.

Safra Vazeer

• 2020 Teaching English as a Foreign Language Certified The TEFL Org
• 2017 -'20 B.A. in Criminology and Applied Linguistics - Second Class Honours Upper Division University of Melbourne
• 2017 -'20 Private English tutor University of Melbourne
• 2021 - '22 Master's in Speech Pathology National University of Singapore

Safra is immensely dedicated to the Linguistic development of her students and seeks to improve the public awareness on speech disorders. She was also an English drama champion and writes creatively, a hobby she started at 14 and carries until today.

Trainer

Kyle Boonwaat

Kyle, a first-year pre-university student, reached the quarterfinals of a national varsity competition!

Kyle Boonwaat

• 2017 T.S. Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Abdul Rahman Arshad Debate Cup States 2nd Runner Up, Best Speaker
• 2018 Malaysian National Universities Debating Championship Quarterfinalist, 6th Best Speaker
• 2018 Sunway's Oxford & Cambridge Public Speaking Competition 2nd Runner Up
• 2018 Malaysian Universities Economic Conference (MUEC) Guest Debater

With his charm, Kyle reached the quarterfinals of a national level varsity tournament as a first year pre-university student! He currently reads Economics at The University of Queensland, Australia.

Trainer

Rinakshie Rams

Rina has reached the grand finals of national tournaments both at the high school level and as an undergraduate!

Rinakshie Rams

• 2018 Taylor's University Interschool Debating Championship Champion, 8th Best Speaker
• 2018 Malaysian National Schools Debating Championship Runner Up
• 2019 Malaysian National Universities Debating Championship Runner Up
• 2019 Sunway Interschool Debating Championship Grand Finals Adjudicator

Not many people can say they got into the grand finals of both the schools' and universities' national championships! Rina currently reads Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at The University of Warwick.

Trainer

Muhammad Afiq

Afiq was part of the first Sunway team to ever break in ABP, UADC, and Oxford IV.

Muhammad Afiq

• 2021 World Universities Debating Championship ESL Semi-finalist, 5th Best ESL Team
• 2020 Asian British Parliamentary Open Quarterfinalist
• 2020 Malaysian National Intervarsity Debating Championship Open Grand Finalist, 4th Best Speaker
• 2020 Oxford Intervarsity ESL Grand Finalist

His love for debating is only matched by his love for K-Pop. Afiq is one of the most accomplished debaters from Sunway University and was part of the first Sunway team to ever break in ABP, UADC and Oxford IV ... and he did it all in the same year!

Why Online Learning?

Reason One

For the best trainers!

Being online, we’ve been able to transform the learning sphere by bringing in highly-skilled debate and speech coaches from Europe, Asia, and Australia. Our students also benefit from being able to compete and collaborate with students from across the globe!

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Reason Two

Maximum Engagement

We understand the plight of parents and teachers! It’s easy for students to get distracted when learning in an online classroom and we are only too aware of the horror stories when students are unsupervised (YouTube videos, online games). To ensure maximum class engagement and learning, we immerse students in a variety of critical thinking exercises that are attention-grabbing and intellectually stimulating. Our experienced trainers are also on-hand to monitor all students’ speech activities and debates, offering detailed, constructive feedback after every session.

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Reason Three

Competitive Pricing

We pass on ALL of our cost savings directly to our students, teachers, and parents. Our courses offer the same (if not higher) level of quality and specificity as the larger speech academies here in Malaysia, but at a significantly lower price thanks to our online model.

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Here’s a Showcase from a Variety of our Classes

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@podium_academy

Collaborate with us!

If you are a teacher, parent, or school principal who wants to bring the benefits of persuasive speaking and critical thinking to your students/children, we want to work with you!

Podium Academy partners with academic and non-academic institutions to create tailor-made programs that fit your goals, time zone, and group size.

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