You never know, but my instinct is a complimentary upgrade is unlikely, depending of course on your expertise with "the speech". I don't buy Y/B fares, so I don't know how often such upgrades happen with paid fares.

What the standard award does is open up inventory, so, if there's an economy seat on the plane, you're in. It doesn't necessarily mean the pax has access to E+ (if it's full), but you'd have that amount of access anyway, due to your elite status, regardless of award type.

Pat