SIXTH FORM GUEST SPEAKER PROGRAMME The Year 12 Guest Speaker programme is designed to educate, inform and entertain, but most importantly to encourage students to appreciate all aspects of their lives. Our programme attracts a diverse range of excellent speakers. Our students really benefit from the opportunity to discuss ideas and debate with experts in their field. Previous speakers have included: Adrian Hayes - Adventurer and Polar explorer; Colin Leggo - stand up comedian; Nathalia Cohen - Pacific Rower; Jenny Fernandez from Animal Aid and National Citizen Service to name but a few.
ABOUT ALEX HIBBERT Alex Hibbert is the world record-holding polar traveller who has skied further on an unsupported Arctic journey than anyone in history. Alex is a prolific speaker and an author of four books. He has appeared on primetime Sky News, BBC, Channel 4 and FIVE. He has written guest columns for national newspapers and his photographs have been published in every corner of the globe. He has been a BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year finalist three times – this passion for the natural world led to a degree in biology from Oxford University. Alex has been described as “ground-breaking” by Sir Ranulph Fiennes ABOUT JILLIAN HASLAM Jillian Haslam is an author, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Jillian’s life story is amazing. Born in Calcutta, Jillian faced a childhood of extreme poverty, malnutrition and disease but despite this managed to set up multiple businesses and six charities. Her story won the best screenplay award at the Monaco International Film Festival and she received the Mother Teresa Memorial International Award in 2017. Jillian likes to tell her story to students at schools and universities as she knows how hard it can be for young people. One of her blessings was her access to education and making the decision to take every opportunity that came her way - she hopes to inspire her audience to do the same. ABOUT EMMA COLE Emma Cole has been diagnosed HIV positive since 1991 and has chosen to speak publicly about living with HIV for over 25 years. In that time she has undertaken over 2,500 public speaking engagements to a wide variety of audiences. She launched her “Positive Voice” Education and Awareness talks to schools in 2002. Emma made a decision after her diagnosis that she was going to speak out publicly as an HIV positive woman in an attempt to break down the misperceptions that many had, and still have, about HIV. In delivering her Positive Voice talks she not only continues that commitment but also can now bring the perspective of a long-term survivor. 14
