Sought-after speaker with deep knowledge and expertise
I speak and consult on a wide range of topics, always going the extra mile to create the perfect response to your brief. Whether you want me to inform and challenge your staff or fascinate, reassure and inspire your students or their parents, my words come with strong evidence, exceptional breadth of knowledge, a quiet engagement and a voice you’ll find easy to listen to. Please read the information on this page before contacting me.
Fascinating events tailored to your needs
Conferences
Fascinating keynotes
and thought-provoking
breakout sessions
INSET
Evidence-based, intelligent
training for professionals
working with young people
Schools
Empowering, informative
talks for students,
staff or parents
Festivals
Engaging, deep-thinking
events for adults, teenagers
and families
I have done hundreds of talks around the world on many aspects of adolescence, wellbeing, the reading brain and life online. My talks are delivered with authority, intelligence and sensitivity to audience understanding.
Inspire, challenge, engage, inform.
I give Keynotes, lectures, seminars and breakout sessions at conferences; INSET for school professionals; reassuring, informative talks for parents; and engaging, inspiring talks for young people. My events are packed with science, insights and connections. I do not do extrovert-biased activities, or ask audiences to perform a group activity of dubious value! There may be interaction (particularly with young people) but overall my aim is to inspire, challenge, engage and inform with words and ideas, so audiences go away with eyes opened and minds buzzing. We discuss what you want so that I pitch it perfectly.
My expertise covers these four areas:
- Adolescent Brains and Lives: teenage brain and psychological changes; specific stresses for teenagers; the learning brain; school, friendships and peer pressure, risk-taking. (See below for special Positively Teenage FLOURISH events.)
- Wellbeing and Stress Management: for all ages, but with a teenage focus; how to understand and control stress and have the best physical and mental wellbeing. Lots of strategies.
- The Reading Brain: science behind reading and what it does to us; differences between different types of reading, including digital/print and fiction/non-fiction; evidence for benefits of reading for pleasure; readaxation. How to develop a reading culture.
- Life Online: evidence-based positives and negatives of online and screen-based lives; distraction, over-use, addiction, self-esteem, competition, perfection etc. Book: The Teenage Guide to Life Online.
If you're interested in one of my new, lower-priced Positively Teenage FLOURISH events, see here. These are perfectly pitched to support and motivate students aged 10 to 13/14.
I have a new Event Highlights section, where I'll write about some events that I've done. See here.
I am UK-based but travel willingly. If you’re thinking about inviting me outside the UK, see here.
Please read the FAQs below before contacting me. Do contact me early: I am usually booked many months ahead.
Consultancy work
I advise organisations about all the topics mentioned above in the Speaking section. You will gain accurate, nuanced information and won't have to rely on unsupported, out-of-date or flimsy “knowledge”.
My rates and terms
- I generally charge a minimum £800 per day. That minimum tends to apply to work I can do in my office. No VAT. If it involves travelling, the fee is usually more. Very often, a day is all you need.
- I charge expenses if you want me to travel. (I am handy for Peterborough and Corby stations and can get to London easily.)
I work extremely hard for every client, following the brief precisely, and am very straightforward and flexible to work with. Above all, I pride myself on sharp intelligence and the standards of a perfectionist.
Do contact me if you are interested.
What people say about my work...
Frequently asked questions
I have been studying these topics for over 20 years, and read a mass of research, from different viewpoints. I have a classically trained and analytical mind and do not believe anything I read or hear unless well supported by robust research and fitting my existing understanding. Because I am not a research scientist, I have a wide overview: researchers tend to know more than I do about their particular area but if you want a wide range of insights and connections between them, I’m your woman.
I can adapt to your time-table. However, a session with adults really needs at least an hour and a half if you want to include Q&A and a talk for students really needs an hour. INSET can be anything from 1.5 hours to a whole day. A keynote is typically an hour and anything less is very difficult.
As big as you like! I do not charge more to speak to large audiences. Of course, if you want me to be interactive, larger audiences makes that harder. Also, it’s usually best not to mix ages – ideally no more than two consecutive years for student talks.
As far as you like! I live about 70 miles North of London and can reach Stansted and Birmingham airports and stations. Of course, all my expenses must be covered. I keep costs to a minimum with the exception of long-haul flights, which would usually be Business Class. Experience has taught me that this is necessary if I am to remain healthy and in the best condition to work for you. See the International Speaking page for some more details but still enquire in the same way.
It depends. I compute my fee based on the total time I think the work will take, including preparation, admin and travelling. I value my time and expertise highly and I hope you do, too. I believe you will get terrific value. Do discuss your budget with me, as there are often ways we can reduce costs.
To give you an idea, I tend to work on the following minimum guidelines for UK trips:
- A day or part day spent at home on preparation and admin – £280
- A day or part day spent travelling – £320
- A day or part day spent with you at your venue – £550
Expenses are extra and will be discussed in advance. See the International Speaking page for anything that might be different.
Certainly. They are here.
Don’t delay, especially for overseas trips. My diary is likely to be full 3-5 months ahead and I usually take bookings 6-12 months or more ahead. We can always make it provisional if you aren’t sure of your dates or budget. Because I have to keep enough time in my diary for writing and consultancy work, I can’t fill my diary too full with events so I do quite often have to say no. This is why getting in early will help you!
Contact me using the form. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t decided what you want: discussion is free!