Sought-after speaker with deep knowledge and expertise
I speak and write on a wide range of topics, always going the extra mile to create the perfect response to your brief. I aim to inform and challenge, fascinate, reassure and inspire, and my words come with strong evidence, exceptional breadth of knowledge, a quiet engagement and a voice you’ll find easy to listen to.
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 and insightful talks for staff, parents or selected students
Festivals
Engaging, deep-thinking
events for adults, teenagers
and families
Inspire, challenge, engage, inform
I give Keynotes, lectures, seminars and breakout sessions at conferences; INSET for 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.
*Please note that from April 2019 I will be cutting back my talks to young people and only doing these in exceptional circumstances. This is because I have to cut back on my travelling schedule somehow and I feel that the most useful and widely effective talks I do are for parents or professionals working with young people. I love the response I get from teenagers but I have to use my time wisely.
I cover these areas:
- Adolescent Brains and Lives: teenage brain and psychological changes; stress management for teenagers; the learning brain; screens, smartphones and social media.
- Wellbeing and Stress Management: how to have the best physical and mental wellbeing.
- The Reading Brain: science behind reading; differences between digital/print and fiction/non-fiction; benefits of reading for pleasure; readaxation.
- Life Online: positives and negatives of online and screen-based lives; distraction, over-use, addiction, self-esteem, competition, perfection, body image etc.
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 getting in touch. Do contact me early: I am usually booked many months ahead.
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. My talks and INSET tend to be theatre-style rather than group work. (I now usually don’t speak to large teenage audiences but I would consider speaking to a select group who have spent some time preparing to get the most out of my visit.)
As far as you like! I live about 70 miles North of London (20 miles from Peterborough, on the East Coast main line) and can reach Stansted, East Midlands, Birmingham, Heathrow and Gatwick airports. All expenses must be covered, but I keep costs to a minimum with the exception of long-haul flights, which would usually be Business Class, so that I am in the best condition to work for you. See the International Speaking page for more details but still enquire in the same way.
I compute my fee based on the total time the work will take, including preparation, admin and travelling. I value my time and expertise highly and I hope you do, too. I am not cheap but I believe you will get terrific value. Do discuss your budget with me, as there are often ways to reduce costs.
Please don’t ask me to speak for no fee or a very small fee unless you think there’s an incredibly good reason why I should/could work for little or nothing. If the other adults (caterers, electricians, teachers, tech people) are being paid, you can’t expect a professional speaker with years of expertise to be unpaid. However, if your budget is challenged, I will do my very best to help.
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 – £350
- A day or part day spent travelling – £400
- A day or part day spent with you at your venue – £650
Expenses are extra and will be discussed in advance. See the International Speaking page for anything that might be different for overseas trips.
Certainly. They are here.
Don’t delay, especially for overseas trips. My diary is likely to be full six months ahead and I usually take bookings 9-12 months ahead. We can make it provisional if you aren’t sure of 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 quite often have to say no. 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!
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 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 perfectionist standards.
Do contact me if you are interested.