The London Brilliant Communicators’ Conference

How can I get good at public speaking?

You’re invited to the UK Speechwriters’ Guild/European Speechwriter Network London Brilliant Communicators’ Conference.

We bring together people who are interested in acquiring knowledge and expertise in speechwriting and public speaking.

Why attend?

Our conferences make learning about communication fun.

Knowledge of how language works can give us the power to shape social conversations, identify misleading arguments and fulfil our personal potential.

We give a platform to the people who work behind the scenes.

Not everyone can become a speechwriter, but anyone who understands how speechwriting works, will improve their employability, their relationships and their ability to get what they want out of life.

You will hear their stories, meet others interested in language and communication and come away with practical ideas you can apply at work and at home.

The context

During the past decade we have become accustomed to conducting arguments on screens, rather exchanging views in public meetings.

This has impoverished our public life.

Technology has given us a myriad of ways to be digitally connected, but somehow we’ve managed become more socially disconnected.

If we take part in ‘live’ meetings we can appreciate the true richness of communication: the subtleties of body language, the tone of voice, clever phrasing and ironic humour.

But you need knowledge, training and rehearsal to put these skills into practice.

We want to address the theme of how to become more tolerant of dissenting opinions and how to use words and arguments to build consensus despite the complexity that characterises modern political life.

In a democracy, we’re all entitled to an opinion, but we need to adapt our words and ideas to the audiences we want to influence.

Public life is a competition. Whoever tells the most compelling stories, gives the most convincing explanations and offers the best vision of a prosperous future, has the best chance of winning elections and shaping public opinion.

This conference gives you the practical tools to take part.

Who should attend?

Normally our events are for people who work as professional speechwriters, but this conference is tailored for people who have leadership positions within corporations, civil servants, business owners, candidates for next year’s General Election, professional writers, teachers and social media influencers.

The benefits

• Acquire insights into the art of speechwriting
• Hear stories of how learning to speak in public can improve your life
• Listen to outstanding public speakers
• Experience interactive sessions with top trainers
• Connect with people who want to be involved in politics and business

Programme

Friday 18 November 

DAY 1 – Pre-conference Training

Friday 18 November – Delegates can choose from two pre-conference training workshops

10.00am – 4.00pm – John Bowe, The Art of Effective Speaking and Presenting, Say what you mean without the stress.
Click here for a more detailed summary of the workshop

10.00am-4.00pm – John-Paul Flintoff, How to talk in front of people and actually enjoy doing it. An indispensable guide to giving an unforgettable speech.
Click here for a more detailed summary of the workshop

Lunch will be provided

DAY 2

Saturday 19 November – Full Conference

10am – 4.30pm

Speakers: Professor Richard Toye, Professor Alan Finlayson, Josh Molofsky, Edmund Hall, Laura Dodsworth, John Bowe, John Paul Flintoff.

Lunch is not included. We will go to a local restaurant in Bayswater.

5.00pm Informal drinks

What you will learn and leave with

• Why public speaking is so important
• An understanding the techniques you can use to persuade others
• Insights on how Governments and institutions use language to influence
• Guidance on how to improve your speechwriting
• A connection with a network of people interested in improving the quality of public life

Friday Trainers

John Bowe

John is the award-winning author of I Have Something to Say. He’s a speech and presentation consultant specialising in corporate and individual presentations. He has worked with students, business and charity leaders, entrepreneurs and executives from all over the world. He has given talks at the New York Public Library, the 92nd St. Y in New York City and many other companies and organisations.

John-Paul Flintoff

John-Paul Flintoff, author of seven books in 16 languages, including How To Change The World and A Modest Book About How To Make An Adequate Speech. A writer for two decades on the FT and the Sunday Times, John-Paul has spoken on four continents, to as many as 5,000 people at once; and trained in theatrical improvisation with the late Keith Johnstone.

Saturday Speakers

Josh Molofsky

Josh is a speechwriter and strategic communications advisor with more than a decade of experience working for clients in the public and private sector, including U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the CEO of Ford Motor Company, and the U.S. Ambassador to the UK. He’s managed messaging campaigns for elections, impeachment trials, and vehicle launches; and written everything from nationally televised convention addresses to sparsely attended middle-school graduations (and one, actual car commercial).

Linnea Swedenmark

Linnea served as the speechwriter for two Swedish Prime Ministers during historic crises such as the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. She has a Master of Law degree and has worked as an editorial writer for several newspapers.

Professor Richard Toye

Richard is an expert on the life, career and reputation of Winston Churchill. He is the author of Rhetoric, A Very Short Introduction published by the Oxford University Press. He is Professor of History at the University of Exeter.

Laura Dodsworth

Laura is a writer, photographer and commentator. She is the author of the Sunday Times’ bestseller A State of Fear: How the UK Government Weaponised Fear During the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Bare Reality series and the forthcoming Free Your Mind: The New World of Manipulation and How to Resist It.

Laura will be talking about the psychological techniques of verbal influence and how to protect yourself against them.

Professor Alan Finlayson

Alan is the Professor of Political and Social Theory at the University of East Anglia. He is a leading advocate of rhetorical political analysis and of its importance for the study of British politics. He is co-founder of the Rhetoric and Politics Group of the UK Political Studies Association.

Edmund Hall

Ed has been making trade union campaign and exhibition banners for 30 years. He recently designed the banner for the European Speechwriter Network. He has worked for Stop the War, The Palestine Solidarity Campaign, CND, the Anti Nazi League, Unite against Fascism and for the families and friends of those who have died in police custody. There have been times when he decorated Nelson’s column for Trafalgar Square rallies and made the banners to front large marches. His talk is titled: Why are protest banners, famously created in the 1820’s, so relevant now ?

John Bowe

John contributes regularly to CNBC about public speaking. He has written for The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, GQ and is the author of numerous books. His work has been featured in the Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, and he has appeared on CNN, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, the BBC, and many others. He lives in New York City.

John will be delivering the closing keynote: How Speech Education Can Glue a World That’s Falling Apart (and Make You Happier at the Same Time).

John Paul-Flintoff

John Paul’s book, A Modest Book About How To Make An Adequate Speech, shows that you don’t have to be slick and “powerful” to speak effectively. We can all do it.

John Paul’s confidence has come from doing improv workshops with the great Keith Johnstone. John Paul will be doing a breakout session on how improv can help you become a better speaker.

Guy Doza

Guy is an author, speechwriter, and TEDx speaker. He has a degree in education from Cambridge and a Masters in rhetoric from Royal Holloway. He has worked for members of both The House of Commons and The House of Lords. He’s run his own speechwriting consultancy and been a leading member of the European Speechwriter Network for ten years.

Outside of Parliament, he’s worked with numerous companies ranging from BP to the BBC. Beyond the UK, he’s worked as consultant to a range of governments across Europe and Central Asia.

Guy won awards for speaking at Toastmasters International. In 2019, he was invited to give a TEDxTalk at the University of Cambridge about how rhetoric influences the decisions that shape our lives. He has also lectured at Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard and Caltech.

Accommodation

If you want to find an inexpensive place to stay near the venue, we recommend the Lancaster Hall Hotel in Paddington.

Tickets

This conference is aimed at reaching beyond our members who are professional speechwriters.

We want to involve people who are aspiring to political office, those working in general communications, teachers, university lecturers, business owners and civil servants.

For this reason, tickets are substantially discounted.

An ticket for the pre-conference training on the Friday and the conference for the Saturday costs £399 (inc VAT).

A early-bird ticket for just the conference on the Saturday costs £75 (inc VAT).

If you prefer not to pay through Eventbrite, we can send you an invoice and you can bay by BACS.

Recent Graduates/Students

This conference will be of particular interest to anyone applying to university, to students who are seeking to acquire an edge to impress employers, or anyone who has to speak in public as part of their job.

If the cost of taking part is a problem, you are welcome to get in contact and negotiate a discount on the basis of your circumstances.