Speaking

Conferences, panels, literary festivals, dinners

Christina has been described as a “spellbinding” and “inspirational” speaker, often praised for her honesty, warmth and wit. In her speeches, as in her book and her journalism, she certainly tries to keep it real. Life, she believes, is too short for bullsh**. Let’s try and look at things with a cool, fair eye, but let’s also try to have a nice time.

She has given keynote speeches on nursing and healthcare, and has talked - in venues ranging from the House of Commons to the Cambridge Union - about many of the issues she has raised in her columns, from gang violence to multiculturalism and free speech. She has also chaired and taken part in hundreds of literary events, at the Southbank Centre, the Poetry Society and at literary festivals around the country.

She is an expert on resilience, the central theme of The Art of Not Falling Apart. She has spoken at the Bath Literature Festival, the Cheltenham Literature Festival, the Charleston Festival, Ways with Words (Dartington), The End of the Road Festival, Folkestone Book Festival, Surrey University, Worcester College, Oxford, the Samaritans and at think tanks, charities and businesses.

She can give talks on:

  • How to pick yourself up when life knocks you down
  • How to cope when you lose your job
  • How to cope with illness

She thinks it’s always a good idea to have a nice glass of something chilled and some classy crisps on hand, but doesn’t insist on it. If you would like to ask her to speak, or book her as a conference chair, contact her here.

You can watch the panel on Stop the press: the media after Leveson at the Battle of Ideas, thanks to online Citizen TV station, WORLDbytes.

Here's Christina taking part in a panel at the Cambridge Union on YouTube.

Here's Christina talking about her adolescent experiences as a born-again Christian, and about what she has learnt about religion.

People Say:

Christina's keynote speech at the Chief Nurse of Wales's annual conference was spellbinding. It takes great courage to speak to 300 nurses and midwives about the failings in their care but she did that with such honesty, wit and sensitivity. The feedback from the delegates was that she was touching, tender, inspiring, articulate, intelligent and brave.

Polly Ferguson Nursing Officer Maternity Services and Early Years, Wales

Christina gave the keynote speech at our annual conference, held in Edinburgh, to an audience of over 400. It was a tremendously poignant,moving, passionate speech centred around Christina's own health and healthcare experiences, which captivated and moved us all.

Giles Webster Chief Financial Officer Benenden

Christina Patterson is an eloquent and sensitive speaker and writer who has a passion for people. At the core of her, beats the passion and heart of someone who understands people, their nuances, their differences and most of all, their emotions. She moves with her unique speaking style.

Fiyaz Mughal OBE Founder and Director Faith Matters

Christina has been a very engaging and elegant host of our intimate salon suppers, bringing a great mix of insight and opinion alongside sophisticated chairing of discussion.  In addition, as a speaker at one of our conferences, she imparted knowledge and experience in an accessible way, appreciated by our diverse audience.

Emma Fisher Managing Director Editorial Intelligence

You were brilliant. Many people commented on how good your speech was.

Donna Green Chief Operating Officer Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

I have heard nothing but praise for the way in which you got such a disparate bunch of varying backgrounds, intellect and capacity for self-reflection to think seriously about what they do and how they do it. It was such an inspiring session and inspiration is a rare quality in the current REF obsessed climate in University land.

Carl Thompson Professor, Department of Health Sciences University of York

We keep asking Christina Patterson to speak at Institute of Ideas events because we know she will be not only be intelligent and articulate, but bring a different, nuanced and thoughtful approach to a wide range of issues.  Christina is passionate about a range of topics, and has a real warmth and empathy with audiences of widely diverse backgrounds.  Book her now if you want a speaker who will make an impact and make your audiences think and smile.

Claire Fox Director Institute of Ideas

It was standing room only in the Council Chamber to hear Christina speak. People have been buzzing all week and spreading a kind of 'viral fun', picking up on the mood Christina set. One line manager even went out and bought some (non-alcoholic!) cava and dips for her team after the story Christina told. It was such an inspiring, simple, cost-free message and if everyone did just one little thing each day, the work place would be a much nicer place to be in.

Carmel Millar Director of People & Development East Sussex and Surrey County Councils