About Me
I was inspired to get into public speaking after making friends with three times New Zealand’s public speaker of the year, Allison Mooney who simply said you have a powerful story you must tell it to the world. Sharing stories and strategies validates those who are listening and has the potential to make a difference to the lives of my audiences. This is a powerful gift.
Now I have retired from the department of education my professional speaking career is starting to gain traction and I seem to be creating and positive and lasting impression with my audiences. There is wit and word-play, humour and humbleness, fun and folly but most of all there is memorable message.
I am a retired principal and educator who has transitioned into professional speaking. My two subject areas revolve around trust, both in professional and personal contexts, as well as the critical impact of the early years of a child's life on brain development. I use my personal story and experiences, to engage the audience and impart valuable strategies. Come with me on the informative yet enjoyable journey.
What my talks are about?
Trauma and Young Child
I look at the effects of trauma on a young child's brain and the incredible potential for healing and growth. I begin with my own powerful story which makes it more relatable.
I explain the science and provide a clear and concise overview of the science behind trauma's effects on a young child's brain and the impact of early experiences on long-term development.
I highlight the consequences and discuss the potential negative consequences of early trauma, such as emotional and behavioural challenges, learning difficulties, and mental health issues and I use statistics and real-life examples to illustrate the point.
I discuss the role of support and intervention and emphasize the importance of early intervention and supportive environments in helping children heal and develop resilience.
I hopefully empower the audience and motivate the audience to take action, by supporting children whenever they can.
I do conclude on a positive note and emphasise the incredible potential for healing and growth, underlining that it's never too late to make positive changes and overcome the effects of early trauma.
Trust in Today’s Society
I focus on the importance of trust in today's society, especially in the context of a never-changing world and the prevalence of fake news. Here are some key points and strategies that I address when talking about trust.
Understanding the Significance of Trust: I explain why trust is fundamental personally and professionally and I highlight the impact of trust on relationships, businesses, and communities.
BuildingTrust: I discuss the principles of building trust, such as honesty, reliability, and consistency and share real-life examples and success stories that demonstrate how trust can be established.
Trust in a Digital Age: I address the challenges of maintaining trust in the age of social media and fake news.
RestoringTrust: I acknowledge that trust can be broken, and it's possible to rebuild it and I share strategies for apologising, making amends, and regaining trust after a breach.
Effective Communication: I emphasize the role of clear and open communication in building and maintaining trust. I provide communication techniques that foster trust in relationships and professional settings.
Community and Social Trust: I discuss the significance of trust in communities and society at large. I explore examples of trust-building initiatives in your organisation.
Personal Stories: And I do all this by sharing my personal experiences and anecdotes and what has happened in my life to make the message more relatable and authentic.