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.
Politics and democracy
Experts have shared knowledge on topics including gender inequality, elections and human rights.
Malala Yousafzai
Education activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner
Jeremy Paxman
Broadcaster and journalist
Dr Ibram X. Kendi
Leading expert and speaker on anti-racism
Richard Nash
Senior Global Advisor for Corruption, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems
Reggie Love
President Obama's former personal aide
Emma Barnett
Broadcaster and journalist
Tim Marshall
Author of Divided: Why We’re Living In An Age Of Walls
Jérôme Mangelinckx
Global Policy Manager at Penal Reform International
Peter Tatchell
Human-rights campaigner
Science and tech
Experts have shared knowledge on topics including AI, innovation and space exploration.
Chris Hadfield
Astronaut and engineer
Dr Kenny Harris
Senior Project Engineer and worked on the James Webb Space Telescope, NASA
Dr Mamta Patel Nagaraja
Associate Chief Scientist for Exploration and Applied Research, NASA
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
Editor-in-chief at The Economist
Robert Guest
Deputy editor at The Economist
Rachel Burden
Newsreader, reporter and presenter
Evan Davis
Broadcaster and journalist
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
Former American vice-president and founder of The Climate Reality Project
Gillian Burke
BBC wildlife presenter and biologist
Pete Pearson
Global Initiative Lead for the Food Circularity program, WWF
Caroline Hickman
Psychotherapist and international authority on climate psychology
Erling Kagge
Norwegian explorer
Photo credit: Simon Skreddernes
Liz Bonnin
Science, wildlife and natural-history presenter
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
Actor, author, screenwriter and director
Tina Brown
Journalist, author and former editor in chief of Tatler, Vanity Fair and The New Yorker
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
President of the Enhanced Games
Geordie Greig
Editor at the Daily Mail
