Culture & Humanities speakers

Described as the "peoples' philosopher", Alain has written a panoply of successful books, ranging in topics from love, architecture, travel, literature, and religion. His books have gone on to be best-sellers in 30 different countries. When Alain is not writing, he can be found at 'the School of Life', a book store and workshop dedicated to a new vision of education, which aims to expand on his mantra that our purpose can be found in seeking answers to intellectual questions.

Alan’s history, as a rock ‘n’ roll promoter from the 1960′s to the present day, lends a unique understanding and experience of this particular field, as well as specialising in early tinplate toys.

Baroness Nuala O’Loan, former Ireland's Special Envoy for Conflict Resolution, is an inspirational woman whose message of justice, reconciliation and peace is truly powerful. Baroness Nuala O’Loan DBE is a member of the UK House of Lords. She was also Ireland’s Roving Ambassador for Conflict Resolution and Special Envoy to Timor Leste and for UNSCR 1325, Women, Peace and Security. In June 2013, Baroness O'Loan was conferred with membership a member of the Royal Irish Academy due to her significant contributions to life in Ireland.

The humanitarian activist and former Health Minister Bernard Kouchner is widely admired in France, not least for his passionate, often outspoken declarations on human rights and the need to intervene to protect them.

An amazing story of triumph over adversity and cultural criticism, driven by a positive mental attitude and a phenominal comic talent, Brendan O’Carroll has enchanted audiences with his creation “Mrs. Browns Boys”. His control of an audience and motivational rise to success make him the perfect speaker for your corporate events.

Captain Brian Nibbs draws upon his several years’ experience of a sea-going career and his marine-related experiences in positions ashore. His talk is specifically tailored to the audience and is interspersed with maritime anecdotes and memories.

As founder of two leading children's charities, the Place 2 Be and the now defunct Kids Company. Place 2 Be is continuing to deliver services and Kids Company closed "following false sexual abuse allegations, which were taken to the media. The police investigated, and found no crime had been committed. They stated they "found no fault with Kids Company's safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults". Camilla continues her pioneering work in collaboration with several charities and her new book 'Kids' also a collaboration will be out soon.

Christopher is a leading voice on the potential for new energy technologies and strategies to replace fossil fuels - increasing energy security and avoiding dangerous climate change. Christopher’s two decades of energy research and writing encompasses solar energy, wind power, bio energy, geothermal power and energy efficiency. He is President of the Worldwatch Institute, a Washington-based international research organisation focused on energy, resource and environmental issues.

Clemency presents Breakfast on BBC Radio 3 and numerous other arts and music programmes for TV and radio including The Culture Show, the Proms, BBC New Generation Artists and BBC Young Musician of the Year, which she has fronted since 2010. In the current affairs sphere, she is a reporter on Channel 4’s award-winning documentary strand Unreported World and a regular commentator on Sky News Sunrise and BBC Radio 4.

Dallas is one of the most versatile and well travelled factual presenters working in the industry. He has filmed in some of the most extraordinary & challenging locations all over the world - Sewer diving in Mexico City, scaling the world’s tallest building in Dubai, exploring secret chambers in Egypt’s Great Pyramid, filming rocket launches to the International Space Station in Kazakhstan and diving for lost Spanish treasure off the coast of Cuba.

David Aaronovitch is one of the best-known journalists and current affairs broadcasters in the UK, winning awards for political journalism and being named 'Columnist of the Year' by What The Papers Say. David’s fascination with some of the more arcane aspects of public life and debate led to the Voodoo Histories book on the impact of conspiracy theories.

Deeyah Khan is the founder and CEO of the production company Fuuse, which creates works in the intersection of art and activism, as well as the co-founder of the Honour Based Violence Awareness Network, an international digital resource centre working to advance understanding and awareness of Honour Killings and Honour Based Violence.

Comedian, speaker and author Dominic Frisby is well versed in economics, politics and current affairs – as well as being an extremely charming comedian and compere.

Fiona is one of the BBC's most experienced and high profile news presenter, being named the 'Newscaster of the Year' in 2003 at the Television and Radio Industry Awards. Since joining the BBC in 1989, Fiona has presented multiple programmes, including BBC News at Six, BBC News at Ten, CrimeWatch, and most recently the Antiques Roadshow.

Fons Trompenaars is a Dutch organizational theorist, management consultant, and author in the field of cross-cultural communication, known for the development of Trompenaars' model of national culture differences.

Gilly is a Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Cambridge; she is also a Fellow of St Catharine’s College. She has published widely in the fields of history, archaeology and the heritage of the German occupation of the Channel Islands, 1940-1945. She also regularly speaks at international conferences in these areas. She is particularly passionate about victims of Nazi persecution and has pioneered the concept of ‘Occupation Archaeology’, the archaeology of military occupation during WWII. She is a firm believer in the role of academics as activists and interventionists in the memory and heritage of those they study.

Hardeep Singh Kohli was born in Glasgow in 1969. A BAFTA-winning broadcaster, he was the writer of the Channel 4 hit Meet the Magoons, a presenter of Radio 4's Saturday Live, Midweek and The Food Programme, as well as contributor to numerous radio programmes such as Radio 4's Front Row and Radio 3's Nightwaves, and a movie reviewer on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Hayley is the renowned Fairy JobMother, who takes on the challenge of getting the unemployed of Britain back into work. Appearing on a Channel 4 series 'Benefit Busters' projected Hayley into the limelight and public domain. Since then, she has travelled across the UK and over the water into the USA to pass on her advice and help people back into jobs.

With over 25 years experience in future analysis, James is a remarkable record as a writer, analyst, and presenter. James is also a leading futurologist and author of considerable reputation. James has a zealous interest in key trends and statistics facing current and future businesses. James' work challenges organisations to better anticipate change and adapt faster.

As the founding editor of Loaded, James Brown redefined magazine publishing and set the cultural agenda for a generation of young men.

Jo Fairley is co-founder of the pioneering organic chocolate company Green & Black’s, which has gone from a niche organic and Fairtrade brand to a global chocolate name - voted ‘Coolest Food Brand in the UK’ for the sixth year running, by Coolbrands. Engaging and passionate, Jo never fails to inspire – and is always happy to network with attendees, offering more direct input to individuals.

The inimitable Joan Collins is, quite simply, a legend. Actress, author, producer, entrepreneur and devoted mother, Joan has been successful in whatever she does. Nominated for an Emmy award and winner of Golden Globe and People's Choice awards, as well as numerous other awards worldwide, Joan has appeared in more than 55 feature films and dozens of television programmes. She has acted with many screen legends, including Richard Burton, Bette Davis, Kirk Douglas, Gene Kelly, James Mason and Paul Newman.

John is best known for his role as the BBC's chief political correspondent, a position that he held from 1992-2000. John was voted the "Best Individual Television Contributor of the Year" at the Voice of the Listener and Viewer Awards for 1999. John's long dormant career in comedy was revived in 1998 when he appeared in an edition of "Have I Got News For You" on BBC 2. Ian Hislop said he had been one of the funniest guests in the history of the program. John is a highly acclaimed corporate speaker, brilliant awards host, challenging conference chair and excellent anecdotal after-dinner speaker.

John has worked for BBC all of his life, and since becoming the BBC News World Affairs Correspondent, he has reported from more than 120 countries, including thirty war zones, and has interviewed many world leaders. His impressive reporting career has seen him avoiding bullets in Tiananmen Square Massacre, being one of the first reporters in Afghanistan in 2001 disguised by wearing a burka, and being hunted by Robert Mugabe's forces in Zimbabwe. With over 40 years experience in international journalism he has the ability to cover topics from highly factual and intense World Affairs to more light-hearted and amusing tales from his extensive travels.

Kanya King CBE is the founder and CEO of the MOBO Organisation, launched in 1996 to celebrate and celebrate urban music. She now employs hundreds of people and The MOBO Awards is Europe's largest urban music awards show, attracting the largest primetime multicultural audience of over 250 million people around the world.

Kay Alexander MBE was a BBC Midlands news presenter, working as Anchor on the Midlands Today flagship programmes. She is very proud to have been the face of Midlands Today News for 40 years. In 2013, Kay was awarded an MBE for services to broadcasting and charity, and given an Honorary Doctorate by Birmingham University, recognising services to broadcasting. Kay won the Royal Television Society Award in 2003 which marked 30 years in the business. In 2016 she presented a feature film "The Path of Inspiration" premiered at the Venice Film Festival.

Kirsty Wark is a Scottish journalist and television presenter, best known for fronting Newsnight since 1993, and its weekly arts spin-off Newsnight Review from 2002 to 2014.

Kristiane Backer is one of the very first presenters of MTV Europe. For years she lived and breathed the international music scene, quickly gaining a cult following amongst viewers and becoming a darling of the European press.

Lenny Henry is the founding member of Comic Relief and an award winning comedian. His media career spans over 30 years as a documentary maker and communicator. Lenny has recently completed a BA Honours in English Literature with the Open University.

Liz Bonnin has worked on television in both Ireland and the UK and currently presents Bang Goes the Theory and Countrywise.

Lorraine is a British former model and television cook and is very supportive of the charities Barnardos and Tact which both deal with fostered and adopted children. She is also an ambassador for Rays of Sunshine, The Prince’s Trust and Sutton Community Farm. At the end of last year, Lorraine was also named as the government’s first Fostering Ambassador.

Louise Minchin is a British journalist and news presenter who currently works freelance within the BBC.

Majora Carter is responsible for the creation & successful implementation of numerous green-infrastructure projects, policies, and job training & placement systems.

Margaret Mountford is a British lawyer, businesswoman and television personality best known for her role in The Apprentice. Returning to education later in life, she completed her PhD in 2012 at University College London. Margaret also chairs the Bright Ideas Trust. BIT was set up by the first Apprentice winner Tim Campbell, and helps young people start their own businesses.

Mariella has firmly established herself at the top end of opinion forming journalists and TV presenters in the UK. Defying any attempt to pigeonhole her skills and talents Mariella has made her mark on a wide variety of programmes and writes regularly for the Observer, and other publications.

Maurice Glasman is an English academic, social thinker and Labour life peer in the House of Lords. He is a senior lecturer in Political Theory at London Metropolitan University and Director of its Faith and Citizenship Programme. He is best known as the originator of Blue Labour, a term he coined in 2009.

Michael Buerk is a British journalist, who has internationally won multiple television reporting awards . He presented BBC Television's flagship news programme, The Ten O'clock News and he also presented the peak-time BBC 1 programme about emergencies, 999. He is chairman of the BBC's discussion programme on moral and ethical issues The Moral Maze (BBC Radio 4), and, also for Radio 4, presented The Choice, a single interview programme about individual dilemmas.

Nick's passion for running is clear, but his meaningful topics are the basis of some truly inspirational messages too. He covers areas such as understanding potential; embracing failure; perseverance and determination, and how to value the time we have on our planet. His personal stories bring these issues to life with enthusiasm and character. Nick may be a runner first and foremost, but his messages reach further. He’s not on a crusade to get everyone into lycra, but simply to spread the message that everyone, regardless of age, background, and commitments can excel at anything they put their minds to.

Nigel writes and presents on food and especially drink. He also narrates power boat racing for Channel 4 and occasionally acts as rugby correspondent for BBC London. His passion for all kinds of booze has even taken him to the Edinburgh Fringe in a theatrical mission to make sherry trendy.

Paul is the founder of Intelligencr, an innovation scouting firm he started in Tokyo in 2008. He has recently been at the helm of the road-to-market strategy for the Ubuntu phone OS, in Europe and China.

Ravi, a former Chairman of Tata Group companies, is an author, speaker, mentor, and strategy advisor to corporations, civil society, governments, and families, on 'asking the right questions, and nurturing a new AWARENESS to revamp strategy'. A fellow of World Business Academy, he is the founder Chairman of CeNext Consulting Group.

Following their successful pitch in the BBC’s Dragons Den, Richard decided to turn down the deal and move on to bigger missions. 6 years World travel focused on researching and interviewing World experts for Enrichd.org has grown into the book he is co-authoring with fellow celeb trainer in Hollywood. Just before pitching in the BBC’s Dragons' Den, Rich was on the operating table having a tumor removed from his left shoulder - oh and the BBC said ’no’ for a week before they did the shoot - overcoming adversity, motivation and making it happen is this mans' game!

Richard is the UK's most celebrated nature writer and a major voice in promoting environmental issues. He is an experienced speaker on topics such as the Environment and Nature. As well as delivering regular lectures, he contributes frequently to BBC radio.

Roger Steare is an acknowledged expert in the development and delivery of transformational Leadership, Corporate Culture and Ethics.

Having started his career as an actor, Ross Kemp has gone on to prove himself as a successful documentary maker having received a BAFTA for his series on gangs and many other nominations and awards for his television work. Ross now has his own production company so if you're looking for a speaker with a diverse career experience and equipped with motivational and teamwork skills, then Ross will be the perfect speaker for you.

Shiulie Ghosh is based at the Al Jazeera English main bureau in Doha in Qatar. She is an anchor on the flagship programme Newshour and also hosts the programme Inside Story.

Simon Schama, CBE is an English historian specialising in art history, Dutch history, and French history. He is a University Professor of History and Art History at Columbia University, New York.

Sir Bob Geldof is one of the most fascinating public figures of our time. He's both an astute business mogul and one of the greatest humanitarians the world has ever known. As a tireless campaigner for numerous good causes and charities throughout the world, Sir Bob Geldof is able to use his high profile to great effect. From African famines and aid organisations to business, global politics and communications, Sir Bob has raised awareness of a wide range of causes.

Born and educated in Trinidad in the West Indies, Sir Trevor McDonald began a career in media as a radio reporter, news presenter and sports journalist. In 1969 Trevor worked as a Producer in the BBC Overseas Regional Service. He then went on to produce Current Affairs programmes for the BBC WORLD Service and in 1973 he joined the ITN as a General Reporter. After travelling all around the globe covering sports and politics, Trevor became the Diplomatic Correspondent and Presenter of Channel Four News in 1982 for which he has received many awards

Sophie has enjoyed a long globetrotting career as a travel journalist but moved closer to home when she trained as a London tour guide and wrote a book on the English summer season. She now combines writing and guiding with travelling at home and abroad and spends as much time as she can in her home town of London.

Steve Wells advises global corporations on the transformative potential of disruptive technologies and how brands can leverage them to create distinctive identities in a fast changing world and drive exponential growth and improvement. He has a particular focus on the new models of leadership, collaboration, and innovation required to sustain and differentiate brands in a rapidly changing reality. Steve delivers fully researched and customised client presentations for each keynote.

Susie Dent is an author, linguist and resident expert in Channel 4’s long-running game show Countdown. Susie is a charming and sharp-witted presenter, host and after dinner speaker.

The author of Neuroscience for Leadership: Harnessing the Brain Gain Advantage and The Source. Tara examines the science behind leadership as well as offering fascinating insights in to resilience, performance, bias, stress and change. She considers what individuals and teams can achieve once they understand why they think, feel and act the way they do.

Terry spent 1760 days in captivity in Beirut. Twenty years later he has travelled back to meet his jihadist captors. With spirit and humour intact, Terry shows that hardship can often be a source of strength; he also recalls how one guard unwittingly gave him a copy of The Great Escape.