Motivational Speaking
I was born in Yorkshire and grew up in a North Nottinghamshire mining town in the 70/80’s.
The first in my immediate family to go to University and get a degree, I trained as a designer and worked the packaging industry in retail, manufacturing, consultancy, brand management, teaching and research. I gained a PhD in sustainable design in 2007. I’ve also opened and run a new deli in 2009, set up my own design consultancy, and art/collectables pop–up shop.
I co-founded and was a Trustee for local community charity Beeston Rylands Community Association.
I’m also a selling artist and provide art workshops.
Since then, I’ve raised over £30k for Parkinson’s UK through various self designed challenges including a 24-hour danceathon, 20-day art retreat and 12-hour boxing challenge and I’ve written two books.
I co-founded a theatre group called Parky Players, and we’ve written and performed a three-day show at Edinburgh Fringe 2022 called Shake It Up. I co-wrote the lyrics to ‘The Road” an original song written for Shake It Up, which won the Worlds Parkinson’s Congress, World Parkinson’s Song Competition 2023
In 2024 I lead Parky Players on a further theatre tour of our original comedy sketch show “Shaken Not Stirred” culminating in a six run at the Edinburgh Fringe. We were awarded 4-star reviews and won the Garry Robson inaugural award for championing disability theatre.
A short film about me, my PD and Parky Players was made by Dave Macfarlane in 2023.
I am available to book for corporate / after dinner speaking and motivational talks. I talk candidly with humour about my experiences of change and reinvention, and my belief in the importance of acceptance, adaptation and ambition to live well.