Famous Names and Remarkable Individuals

Each half term ExpertEd:LIVE! will bring some famous names and remarkable individuals into classrooms and give pupils the chance to hear from, and put their questions to, a spectacular line-up from the worlds of business, academia and adventure. Schools joining this programme will get the opportunity to have these speakers connecting LIVE with their pupils.

Our Highlight Speakers

Highlight Speaker Events have now concluded for the 2025–2026 academic year. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all our inspiring speakers, whose expertise ranged from astronauts and marine biologists to members of the House of Lords. We will be back in the autumn of 2026 so watch this space!

 

 

 

 

If you are a school and would like to attend one of the above events, please use the ‘Contact Us’ form to register your interest.

 

Previous Speakers

Karen Vanterpool

Karen spent over thirty years in the police force retiring at the rank of Temporary Assistant Chief Constable. As one of the UK’s first black women senior officers, Karen champions diversity of leadership and this Q&A session will give children a chance to find out what it takes to become a leader of tomorrow.

Helen Sharman

What would it be like to board a rocket and fly into space? Meet Helen Sharman, the first British Astronaut, who will share her amazing experience of leaving earth to orbit our planet and visit the Mir Space Station.

Professor Robert Winston

Professor Winston has a distinguished career as a researcher into human reproduction and the early stages of pregnancy. He is familiar to households across the country through presenting numerous BBC television programmes, including Child of Our Time.

Rod Downie - WWF

Rod Downie is the Polar Policy and Programme manager at WWF-UK. He joined the organisation having spent 14 years at British Antarctica Survey working on environmental management and policy. He has also been part of the UK delegation on the Antarctica treaty consultative meetings for nearly a decade.

Events are pitched for children in Years 5-8 and usually take place early afternoon. Teachers can submit a question on behalf of their class to our speaker who will endeavour to answer as many as possible.