Public Speaking and Media Work
Inspiring audiences. Telling my story. Sharing the lessons I have learned as life didn't go according to plan. This is what I enjoy more than anything.
I have been invited to give key note speeches and talks at multiple high profile events including; Carers UK annual conference, RCPCH Annual Conference, Hospice UK Annual Conference, Lewis Headley Memorial Lecture (Institute of Medical Ethics), Great Ormond Street Bioethics Conference, Center Parcs Annual Ball, Together for Short Lives Annual Conference.
By talking about how I responded when life didn't go according to plan I encourage audiences to think about their own finite lives and what is important to them.
Some of the areas I have been asked to speak about include:
Was this in the plan? - how do you respond when life throws you curveballs.
Why it's important to have difficult conversations about death and dying in order to be able to get on living
Conversations between health care professionals and parents of children with complex needs - avoiding conflict, gaining trust
The lived experience of caring for children with complex needs - ethical dilemmas
Talking to children about death and dying
My aim is to inspire, but more importantly to make the audience reflect on what they have heard and how it might apply to their work or life.
I want them to leave determined to change behaviours and reframe how they respond to situations.
I am regularly called on by the media as a subject matter expert specifically in the areas of grief, paediatric palliative care, conversations about death and dying and communication around difficult subjects including talking about advance directions and end of life wishes.
I've been interviewed on BBC R4 Today, World at One, PM, The World Service, BBC LDN, BBC Breakfast, C4 & C5 News, ITN News, Sky Sunrise, Victoria Derbyshire. I have also provided quotes and content for print media included The Sunday Times, New York Times and most of the broadsheets.
You can sometimes catch me on BBC Radio Surrey where I review the papers on the Saturday breakfast show occasionally or provide comment on news stories.