Topical Talk experts

To make informed opinions, students taking part in Topical Talk lessons hear from leading industry experts. Experts answer questions, set challenges and take part in live lessons – giving students access to reliable knowledge and inspiring role-models.

See our impressive list of Topical Talk experts below.

Our experts help students bring their learning to life. They hear from a broad range of professionals, directly. Here, Zanny Minton Beddoes Editor-in-chief, The Economist, talks about how journalism can help gender equality. 

Every Topical Talk Festival comes packed with experts. They help guide the discussion, answer questions and share informed opinions on the topical issues that students learn about in the classroom. 

Politics and democracy

Experts have shared knowledge on topics including gender inequality, elections and human rights.

  • Malala Yousafzai

    Malala Yousafzai

    Education activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner

  • Jeremy Paxman

    Jeremy Paxman

    Broadcaster and journalist

  • Ibram X Kendi

    Dr Ibram X. Kendi

    Leading expert and speaker on anti-racism

  • Richard Nash

    Richard Nash

    Senior Global Advisor for Corruption, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems

  • Reggie Love

    Reggie Love

    President Obama's former personal aide

  • Emma Barnett

    Emma Barnett

    Broadcaster and journalist

  • Tim Marshall

    Tim Marshall

    Author of Divided: Why We’re Living In An Age Of Walls

  • Jérôme Mangelinckx

    Jérôme Mangelinckx

    Global Policy Manager at Penal Reform International

  • Peter Tatchell

    Peter Tatchell

    Human-rights campaigner

Science and technology

Experts have shared knowledge on topics including AI, innovation and space exploration.

  • Chris Hadfield

    Chris Hadfield

    Astronaut and engineer

  • Dr Kenny Harris

    Dr Kenny Harris

    Senior Project Engineer and worked on the James Webb Space Telescope, NASA

  • Mamta Patel Nagaraja

    Dr Mamta Patel Nagaraja

    Associate Chief Scientist for Exploration and Applied Research, NASA

  • Matthew Ball

    Matthew Ball

    Author, leading theorist on the metaverse

News and media literacy

Experts have shared knowledge on topics including social biases, the power of the media and what it’s like to work in the media industry.

  • Zanny Minton-Beddoes

    Zanny Minton Beddoes

    Editor-in-chief at The Economist

  • Robert Guest

    Robert Guest

    Deputy editor at The Economist

  • Rachel Burden

    Rachel Burden

    Newsreader, reporter and presenter

  • Evan Davis

    Evan Davis

    Broadcaster and journalist

  • Amelie Zilber

    Amelie Zilber

    Activist and UNICEF ambassador

Environment and climate

Experts have shared knowledge on topics including the climate crisis, environmental legislation and eco-anxiety.

  • Al Gore

    Al Gore

    Former American vice-president and founder of The Climate Reality Project

  • Gillian Burke

    Gillian Burke

    BBC wildlife presenter and biologist

  • Pete Pearson

    Pete Pearson

    Vice President Food, Food Loss and Waste, WWF

  • Caroline Hickman

    Caroline Hickman

    Psychotherapist and international authority on climate psychology

  • Erling Kagge

    Erling Kagge

    Norwegian explorer
    Photo credit: Simon Skreddernes

  • Liz Bonnin

    Liz Bonnin

    Science, wildlife and natural-history presenter

  • Clover Hogan

    Clover Hogan

    Climate activist and the founding Executive Director of Force of Nature

Arts and culture

Experts have shared knowledge on topics including “cancel culture”, the British royal family and the arts.

  • Stephen Fry

    Stephen Fry

    Actor, author, screenwriter and director

  • Tina Brown

    Tina Brown

    Journalist, author and former editor in chief of Tatler, Vanity Fair and The New Yorker

  • Billy Brag

    Billy Bragg

    Singer-songwriter and activist

Sport and wellbeing

Experts have shared knowledge on topics including the Olympic games and performance-enhancing drugs.

  • Aron D’Souza

    Aron D’Souza

    President of the Enhanced Games

  • Geordie Greig, Editor at the Daily Mail

    Geordie Greig

    Editor at the Daily Mail