Meet Your Trio 2026–2027: Leading with Purpose, Serving with Heart
A new Toastmasters year brings new opportunities, fresh energy, and a renewed commitment to member success. Leading District 17 in 2026–2027 is a Trio united by a shared belief: when we invest in people, we create stronger clubs, stronger communities, and stronger leaders.
Maree Pickens — District Director
A proud Distinguished Toastmaster of 23 years, Maree Pickens has dedicated her Toastmasters journey to empowering members, strengthening clubs and helping others discover their leadership potential.
As District Director, Maree brings extensive experience, passion, and a deep commitment to service. Before taking on this role, she served as Program Quality Director during District 17’s historic Smedley Distinguished year, helping support the success that placed District 17 among the highest-performing districts.
Maree has served in many leadership roles, including Club Growth Director, Program Quality Director, Division Director, Area Director, Administration Manager, Parliamentarian and Public Relations Manager. Her dedication has been recognised through several awards, including District Officer of the Year and Toastmaster of the Year.
As District Director, Maree’s goal is to build on the success of recent years by nurturing future leaders, empowering creative thinkers, and helping every club achieve its full potential. She is passionate about extending the reach of Toastmasters into new communities, businesses, and cultures so that District 17 can become bigger, stronger, and more sustainable for generations of members to come.
Desmond Miranda — Program Quality Director
Desmond Miranda is a passionate leader, communicator, and advocate for lifelong learning, dedicated to helping individuals discover their confidence and unlock their potential.
Through his leadership journey with Toastmasters District 17, Desmond has served as Club Growth Director, supporting clubs to grow, thrive, and create meaningful experiences for members. He now serves as Program Quality Director, where he continues to inspire excellence by strengthening education, leadership development, and member engagement across the district.
Desmond believes that leadership is not defined by a position, but by the positive impact we create in others. Through mentoring, training, and building connections, he strives to empower people to step beyond their comfort zones, embrace new challenges, and become confident communicators and leaders.
His vision is simple: when we invest in people, we create leaders who inspire others and make a lasting difference in their communities.
Souzy Theophilopoulos — Club Growth Director
Souzy Theophilopoulos brings a wealth of Toastmasters experience and a passion for helping clubs and members thrive. She has served in various leadership roles, including Division Director and club leadership positions, while supporting the growth of others.
As Club Growth Director, Souzy is focused on strengthening District 17 by building new clubs and supporting existing clubs to thrive. Through growth, engagement, and support, she is committed to helping every club achieve excellence. Are you interested in starting a new club? Do you know of an opportunity we can explore? Just contact Souzy on cgd@toastmastersd17.org
As Club Growth Director, Souzy’s focus is clear: “Lead with purpose. Serve with heart. Leave people stronger than you found them.”
Together, Maree, Desmond and Souzy represent the spirit of District 17 — service, leadership, and a commitment to helping every member find their voice.
Together, we grow. Together, we lead. Together, we succeed.
