My speaking draws on extensive experience, both academic and practical, in issues related to conservation and how to think about it–especially in the context of contemporary change (i.e., the current geological epoch recently dubbed the Anthropocene or ‘age of humans’).
I work hard to ensure that my talks are accessible, educational, entertaining and interactive–and I will develop a talk that helps meet your organization’s needs. My talks are guaranteed to make you think and to rejig your actions. People both enjoy them and learn a lot (see endorsements here). And, depending on your audience’s needs, I can incorporate experiential exercises including juggling (see sample video below).
My speaking draws on my experience as a teacher, including courses that help people develop their presentation skills. I have not only been a judge in our faculty’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition but in 2015 I was the TEDxUW Speaker Coach
I have given over 80 invited lectures, including over 25 keynotes and featured plenary lectures, to more than 6,000 people located in sixteen countries on six continents. In addition to invited lectures for academic workshops around the world, I have spoken to ‘public’ audiences ranging from high school students through to seniors’ groups (see my CV for details). I’ve given invited lectures/AGM keynotes for quite a few organizations, including the following:
Canadian Urban Forest Conference
Canadian Weed Science Society
Carolinian Canada Coalition
National Association of Biology Teachers
Nature Conservancy of Canada
Ontario Invasive Plant Council
Ontario Land Trust Alliance
Ontario Nature
Parks Research Forum of Ontario
Plant Canada
Royal Botanical Gardens
Society for Ecological Restoration – Ontario
Weeds Across Borders
I am available to give keynotes on topics related to the following themes:
- “Nature, Kids and the Anthropocene”
- “Redefining our relationship to nature: How to live in the Anthropocene”
- “Redefining our relationship to nature: Reconceptualizing how we think about and manage invasive species”
- “Metaphors we live by: Understanding the importance of metaphors in our day-to-day lives and in scientific and environmental thought”
For more on my areas of expertise, please peruse my bio, areas of research, and publications. Also see University of Waterloo Expert Speakers.
Please click below to see some sample portions of a recent talk of mine. And please contact me if you wish to discuss whether I might speak for your organization.
