Alexis Conran has launched a new Substack looking at the sharp rise in fraud across the UK. With 4.5 million incidents reported last year—up from 3.2 million in 2024. Losses hitting £14.4 billion, he explores what’s really going on behind the numbers, and why the true scale is likely even bigger.

Drawing on more than 20 years spent exposing scams on TV, Alexis shares practical advice, real stories, and insights into how fraudsters actually operate, helping readers better spot and avoid increasingly sophisticated scams.

https://lnkd.in/gQCcwBwP

In a recent conversation with The Health Review, Elaine explored how technology is reshaping our relationships, our attention, our sense of agency and even our understanding of what it means to be human.

Morgan McSweeney’s recent Financial Times interview offers a rare insight into the thinking behind campaigns, leadership and the realities of governing. It is a candid reflection on preparation, judgement and the decisions that shape political outcomes long before they reach the public stage.

While SXSW has spent nearly four decades bringing together leaders from business, technology, culture and the creative industries in Austin, its London edition is only in its second year.

As Co-Chair of the SXSW London Advisory Council, Eva Omaghomi CVO PhD (h.c.) has played a pivotal role in establishing the festival's identity. Working alongside fellow council members, she has helped shape this year's programme, exploring topics ranging from AI and the future of power to creativity, culture and the changing nature of society.

Vestpod founder Emilie Bellet joined #whattheeuros, the European Central Bank podcast hosted by Catherine Steer, to discuss how rising prices are shaping everyday financial decisions.

Financial literacy isn't simply about understanding markets or products. It's about helping people navigate uncertainty with greater confidence, make informed choices, and build long-term resilience.

Catherine Mayer's new book release, Divide and Rule: Royal Women and Their Battles.

Drawing on figures from Anne Boleyn to Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, the book explores how royal women have been cast in competition with one another—and what those stories reveal about power, gender and the narratives societies choose to amplify.

In conversation with editor-in-chief of The Observer, James Harding, and former foreign secretary David Miliband at the Royal Society Of Arts, John Kampfner explored how societies can respond to long-term challenges by looking beyond familiar assumptions.

Drawing on examples from countries including Japan, Taiwan, Finland, Canada and Austria, the discussion focused on practical ideas that have already been tested elsewhere—and what they might teach us about leadership, public policy and democratic renewal.

John's book A Braver New World is a timely addition to the debate, and a reminder that optimism is most credible when it is backed by evidence.

In her recent, wide-ranging conversation with Steve Usher on The Experience Designers Show, behaviour scientist and founder of Mindscope Lea Karam, challenges one of the most familiar assumptions in communication: that our attention spans are shrinking.

On the show she also explores other fascinating subjects such as how she works with the BBC to introduce its programme on YouTube, and the myths she wants to debunk about Gen Zs.

In a wide-ranging and candid conversation, the former Downing Street Chief of Staff reflects on Labour's time in government, discussing the challenges of preparing for power, the realities of delivering change at pace, and the lessons he has taken from one of the most turbulent periods in recent British politics.

Morgan also shares his thoughts on the future of the Labour Party, the importance of stronger regional leadership, and why he intends to step away from frontline politics for the next chapter of his career.

It's a fascinating insight from someone who has operated at the very centre of political strategy and decision-making.

Oliver Burkeman's launch on BBC Maestro is another sign that organisations are rethinking what productivity really means.

Best known for his bestselling book Four Thousand Weeks, Burkeman has challenged the traditional narrative of time management for years. Rather than offering another system to squeeze more into the working day, he argues that accepting our limitations allows us to focus on what matters most—a message that is increasingly resonating with business leaders.

In a recent episode of In Confidence with Lisa Sun, Dr Helena Boschi explores what burnout really looks like through the lens of neuroscience.

Rather than treating burnout as a sudden event, Helena explains it as the cumulative effect of sustained stress on the brain and body. She discusses why forgetfulness, irritability and the feeling of being constantly busy without making progress are often early warning signs, not personal failings.

We are delighted to welcome Morgan McSweeney to the Speaking Office roster.

From chief architect of Labour’s landslide general election victory in 2024 to the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, Morgan has spent his career at the sharp end of politics and power. He brings a rare understanding of how power is won, lost, rebuilt and exercised.

His keynote topics explore leadership in unstable environments, strategic risk, decision-making under pressure, the changing relationship between democracy and technology, and rebuilding credibility. He also addresses how leaders and institutions adapt when the old rules no longer apply.

We are very much looking forward to working with you, Morgan!

We are pleased to see that Nicolas Hamilton will be driving for the reigning BTCC champion EXCELR8 MotorsportVertu Motors plc in a Draper Tools car this year.

As the only person with a disability to have raced in the series since it was formed back in 1958, Nic's participation in the British Touring Car Competition has drawn attention to what living and performing with disability actually involves: adapting machinery, managing physical demands, and competing to the same standard as the rest of the grid.

It is true testament to Nic's discipline in preparation, precision in execution, and his willingness to work within — and gradually reshape — the systems around him.

Dr Elaine Kasket was a guest on the BBC's Woman's Hour earlier in the week, discussing reports by the National Crime Agency that offenders exploit AI technologies to target children in new ways. Elaine shared how she painstakingly removed photos of her child following a candid conversation with her about the lack of agency her child felt regarding Elaine's sharing; Elaine also emphasises how normalising privacy boundaries amidst peer pressure to agree to sharing is challenging but necessary in view of the abuses that have come to light.

We are delighted to welcome new speaker Lord Mark Malloch-Brown to Speaking Office.

Mark's career spans the United Nations, where he served as Deputy Secretary-General under Kofi Annan, the World Bank, the British government under Gordon Brown, and most recently the Open Society Foundations, the world's largest private funder of democracy and human rights.

Hospitality leader and keynote speaker Peter Avis features in the latest Fireside Chat from Hestia Guest Services, a wide-ranging conversation on culture, craftsmanship, and the human foundations of truly exceptional experience.

Dr Paul Redmond was a guest on The Jeremy Vine Show on BBC Radio2 earlier in the week offering a clear and practical view of how work is shifting with the advent of AI.

His view is that AI is reshaping tasks rather than replacing people outright, which puts the emphasis on how effectively individuals can work alongside it. At the same time, as intelligence becomes more accessible, distinctly human capabilities—judgement, communication, and the ability to navigate uncertainty—are becoming more valuable, not less.

His argument moves the focus away from traditional markers like job titles or qualifications, and towards where someone can add unique value in more fluid, less predictable environments

Ahead of the publication of his new book Braver New World: The Countries Daring to Do Things Others Won’t, John Kampfner was a guest on BBC Radio's Start The Week - Challenges and Solutions yesterday, to discuss the places and people that bravely and imaginatively confront some of our most pressing problems, from climate change to health, housing and education.

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Candice Brathwaite’s podcast Conversations with Candice has been featured in The Independent’s top podcast picks this week.

The show is exactly what it sets out to be: a straightforward, thoughtful conversation about real-life themes.

In the recent episode, Candice looks at how much weight we give to other people’s opinions—and how that can quietly shape our confidence, decisions, and sense of self. A familiar topic, Candice handled with clarity without overcomplicating it.

John Kampfner’s forthcoming book, Braver New World: The Countries Daring to Do Things Others Won’t, is out with Atlantic Books on 16 April 2026.

What makes John’s work distinctive is that he does not treat political and social paralysis as inevitable. This new book looks at countries trying to solve hard problems with seriousness, imagination and practical courage — from social care and housing to health, education and energy.

John brings a combination of political understanding, international perspective and editorial rigour to his work and the book is a timely new contribution to the wider conversation — and one that will add real depth to the discussions he is already leading.