When creative leadership needs a clear voice
I speak on creative leadership, team wellbeing, and the realities of leading in-house creative functions
My talks draw on nearly 30 years in the industry, including over a decade leading creative teams through transformation, growth and uncertainty.
As a former journalist, copywriter and brand leader, I bring story-telling, honesty and battle scars to my speaking and writing engagements.
I’m generous in sharing what I’ve learned, warm in delivery, and willing to bring humour to topics that can feel heavy.
Recent themes
✦ Breaking the cycle of overworked creative teams
✦ Burnout and building sustainable creative cultures
✦ What keeps creative leaders awake at night
✦ The future of creative operations and AI
✦ Hybrid working and cross-team collaboration
✦ Goal-setting and stakeholder alignment
✦ Psychological safety + Leading through change
Recent engagements
Conference speaker & webinar host
IHAF, Henry Stewart Events, Inside Out (“Breaking the Cycle of Overworked Creative Teams” was Henry Stewart Creative Operations’s third-most-viewed session of 2024.)
Thought leadership for creative professionals
Advisor for Inside Out creative leaders community, hosting skills- and knowledge-sharing sessions
Early career talks
University of Hertfordshire, Coventry University, Savills Design Academy
Contributor to industry reports
InnerIndex global survey (2025) (author), EKCS overwork paper (2024) (contributor), AAR “Right-Housing” paper (2020) (contributor)
FAQs
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Doing more with less while protecting the quality of the work. Building sustainable cultures in an industry with a burnout problem. Navigating AI and what it means for creative teams. And making the case for creativity inside organisations that are increasingly focused on efficiency.
None of these are new—but the pressure behind all of them is higher than it’s ever been.
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By being honest as well than aspirational. The talks that resonate most are what people are actually experiencing—not what the industry pretends is happening.
I draw on nearly thirty years of real experience, and I don’t smooth the edges off it.
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One that leaves the audience with something they can actually use—a different way of seeing their situation, a question worth sitting with, or a clearer sense of what needs to change.
Interesting, yes, but also something that they take away afterwards.
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By being honest with them. By putting them in the picture. By motivating them. By recognising their concerns. By empowering them. People don’t need to be told everything is fine when it isn’t.
They need to understand what’s happening, why it matters, and what their role in it is. Inspiration built on clarity and shared ownership lasts. Inspiration built on optimism or business goals alone doesn’t.
Reading widely. Thinking deeply.
Nearly 30 years in the industry and I’m still feeding my head. I’ve devoured books as long as I remember—always several on the go, each one for a different mood.
History, philosophy, fiction, geopolitics, psychology, business, the Classics—it all ends up in the mix somewhere, popping up in a talk, a conversation, a piece of writing. Here are a few books currently in my pile…
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Whether you’re organising a conference, webinar, round table, university event or executive session, let’s talk.
I’m happy to discuss topics, format, and what might work for your audience.
Speaking fees depend on format, location and audience size.
Education and non-profit engagements are often complimentary or reduced rate.