Speaking on inclusion, public space and participation
Public speaking, panels and events
Alongside my consultancy and engagement work, I regularly speak at conferences, festivals, professional events, and public forums. My speaking focuses on inclusion, public space, play, participation, and how decisions about places are made and by whom.
I work across professional, civic, and public contexts, contributing as a keynote speaker, panel participant, and facilitator.
Approach
My speaking brings together lived experience, research, and practical insight gained from working directly with communities, councils, and organisations.
I am particularly interested in how power, voice, and belonging shape who feels welcome in public space, and whose needs are prioritised in design, planning, and policy. My work is rooted in real places and real people, and aims to support more inclusive, informed, and equitable decision making.
Experience and formats
I am experienced in speaking to a wide range of audiences, including professionals, policymakers, practitioners and the general public.
My experience includes:
-Workshops and engagement sessions alongside speaking events
-Keynote talks and panel discussions
-In person and online events
-Contributions to local and national radio
Some examples of events I have been involved in are below…
Architecture, design and the built environment
I have contributed to professional architecture and design events focused on inclusion and the built environment, including panel discussions with Royal Institute of British Architects networks.
This includes Voices in Design: Inclusion and the Built Environment, organised by Building Female and the RIBA Young Architects Forum in Leeds in October 2025, and work with RIBA Europe in Copenhagen in March 2025. These conversations explored who public spaces are designed for, whose voices shape decisions, and how inclusive engagement can inform better design outcomes.
Planning for play and policy
In October 2025, I was a speaker at the Planning for Play conference organised by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. My contribution focused on co creation, participation, and inclusive engagement, and how these approaches shape play and recreation spaces that work for children and young people in everyday contexts.
I have also presented to the Midlands Parks Forum and the North Yorkshire Women’s Health Hub, sharing learning from community led projects and engagement with young people.
International Women’s Day and international events
I have spoken at a range of International Women’s Day events, including at the Mansion House and with architects in Copenhagen. These contributions formed part of international conversations about gender, space, inclusion, and lived experience in public life.
WOW! Women of the World, York
In October 2024, I appeared on stage with Jude Kelly as part of the Women of the World programme at York Theatre Royal. The event explored women’s experiences, power, and voice, and the importance of cultural and civic spaces that reflect diverse lived realities.
Festivals and public dialogue
In summer 2025, I took part in a panel discussion on play at the Here is Hope Festival in York. The event brought together practitioners, artists, and communities to explore hope, care, and collective futures, with play positioned as a vital part of public life.
My speaking work often draws on the Make Space York project as a live example of how grassroots, community led work can influence culture, practice, and policy.
Example themes
I am comfortable contributing to strategic discussions as well as grounded, practical conversations. I can also run workshops or engagement alongside speaking events.
If you are interested in inviting me to speak at an event, join a panel, contribute to a conference, or take part in a public conversation, I would be very happy to hear from you. Please get in touch to discuss your event, audience and themes – I look forward to hearing from you.