Presenter Network Conference 2024

Dr Claire Malone holds a physics PhD at the University of Cambridge analysing data from CERN. Now she is an established public speaker as well as a freelance science journalist. Due to Claire’s passion for making science accessible to as wide an audience as possible, she frequently delivers public lectures on subjects ranging from particle physics to AI. Claire has delivered keynote addresses at conferences across Europe and America, in addition, her TED Talk has over 2 million views. Throughout her career, she has had to devise techniques to negotiate not being able to use a pen/keyboard directly due to her physical disability. 

Watch Me, I'm an AI! (Talk)

From content creation, real-time analytics, and automated editing to personalised viewer experiences, AI offers numerous tools to augment the craft of presenting. But it cannot substitute the human touch—embodied in genuine passion, personal anecdotes, and authentic audience connections- which make storytelling compelling and relatable. If future news events are to be presented by AI rather than someone experiencing emotional reactions alongside the audience, how will journalism change?

Find Dr Claire Malone:
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Khalil Thirlaway is a science communicator, creative producer and award-winning presenter (including co-hosting the Natural History Musuem’s podcasts Wild Crimes and Our Broken Planet). He finds creative and unexpected ways to connect audiences with science and nature, integrating social and cultural narratives alongside fun and humour to open up new avenues of thought. Building understanding of the interconnectedness of science, nature, politics, history and culture is a key part of Khalil’s mission to help us build better relationships with ourselves, each other, the planet and everything on it.

Handling Contentious Topics (Workshop)

At a time of environmental and societal crises, along with a crisis of trust, the topics that are most important to discuss can be difficult to engage with productively. How can we engage audiences beyond “preaching to the choir”, and have inclusive conversations about difficult issues?

Find Dr Khalil Thirlaway:
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Dr Rachel Williams is a neuroscientist interested in the science of the senses, currently researching hearing at the UCL Ear Institute. As well as hosting and programming science communication events at festivals and venues across the UK, Rachel has featured in broadcast, live, and livestreamed projects for clients including the BBC, Wellcome Collection, and Cheltenham Science Festival. She also shares science through tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) such as Dungeons and Dragons as part of Science and Sorcery.

The Perfect Panel Does Not Exist

Chairing a panel involves balancing multiple skills that are important for any presenter: timekeeping, active listening, audience engagement, and (potentially!) de-escalation. In this session, we’ll explore ways that you can prepare to chair, support and showcase your panel members, and successfully navigate unexpected circumstances.

Find Dr Rachel Williams:
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Presenting at Grown-Up Events 

In this session for new presenters we'll look at public speaking for non-specialist adult audiences, whether it's for a museum late, TEDx, Pint of Science or other popular format. We'll focus on getting audiences to care about what we're saying, and holding that engagement once we've got it.

Using Comedy to Improve Engagement 

In this session for experienced presenters, Steve Cross, the founder of the UK Science Comedy Festival, will help you sharpen your jokes and use laughter to keep your audience connected to your core message. Steve has been making scientists funny since 2009 and probably trained that one you like. 

Please note - all our talks will be live-streamed for online conference participants to enjoy too.  Workshops will only be available to onsite conference attendees and are bookable on arrival on the day.

Find Dr Steve Cross:
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Dr Louise Croft trained as a Developmental Cognitive Neuroscientist, and presented her research findings worldwide.  During her PhD she began her entrepreneurial journey as Founder of London Brain Project.  She has since founded and scaled dotte, the UKs market leading circular platform for kids fashion, and is now building an AI startup focused on supporting children's speech.  Through pitching her vision, she has raised over £1m of investment.

How to Perfect your Pitch

One of the most important skills for an entrepreneur is storytelling.  It's how they get investment, attract talent, and change the world. But when you've only got someone's attention for 10 minutes, how do you leave a lasting impression?  How do you condense highly complex, in-depth topics, into a simple, gripping narrative?  Find out how entrepreneurs pitch their vision.

Find Dr Louise Croft:
LinkedIn  Instagram

Charlie Sells is the Joint MD of TBM Group, a creative collective she co-founded to fill a market gap for integrated content through design and animation. With two decades of experience, Charlie has led global expansions and established the company as a women-led powerhouse. Passionate about creative collaboration, she provides strategic production solutions for agencies and brands. Charlie champions shared values, driving initiatives like employee ownership, B-Corp certification, and the 'Futures' talent program. Dedicated to making the industry more accessible and equitable, she’s committed to supporting underrepresented talent and fostering a diverse creative community.

Pitch Magic: Mastering the Art of Winning Every Room

Unlock the secrets of impactful pitching with practical techniques, from preparation and timing to building personal connections. Learn how to tailor your message, engage your audience, and leave a lasting impression that leads to actionable outcomes.

Find Charlie Sells:
Website  LinkedIn