Talks

Head here for a list of Tim’s upcoming talks.

Tim is in global demand as a public speaker and workshop leader, and has spoken at in-person events in six continents and over 30 countries. As befits these post-pandemic times, he is equally comfortable with online and in-person events. See below for a list of selected forthcoming events.  Contact Tim for more details, or to book him as a speaker or workshop leader.

Topics and audiences

• Child-friendly urban planning and child-friendly communities
• Taking a balanced approach to managing risk in children’s play and learning
• Risk aversion and childhood
• Walking, cycling and children’s independent mobility
• Reconnecting children with nature
• Creating and sustaining playful spaces
• Why children’s play and free time matter
• The Covid-19 pandemic and children’s learning, play and mobility

“Tim has delivered a range of services that have been eloquently tailored to our local context with an informed eye and agile mind… Tim’s ability to adapt his message and delivery-style to connect with a diversity of audiences was regarded as a key strength.” Testimonial from Fraser Keegan, former State Manager, Obesity Prevention and Lifestyle Program, South Australia

Tim is at home with audiences of academics, policy makers, public and NGO sector leaders, planners, designers, service managers, corporate clients, educators, playworkers, childcare practitioners, environmentalists, campaigners, community groups and parents and carers.

Knowledge partner for Urban95 Academy at LSE Cities
Tim is a knowledge partner for the LSE Cities Urban95 Academy global professional leadership programme for municipalities. This involves leading a walking tour of London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park neighbourhood, as well as providing online materials and interaction with participants. 

Online talks
Since 2020 Tim has given online talks and run virtual workshops for leading design practices, NGOs, cultural institutions and professional bodies including the Asian Development Bank, British Academy, Design Council, Foster + Partners Architects, Homes England, NACTO, Royal Town Planning Institute, The Crown Estates, World Resources Institute India and many others. These included events organised in major cities around the world, including Auckland, Barcelona, Belfast, Delhi, Dublin, Edinburgh, Helsinki, Jeonju, New York, Poznan, São Paulo, Stockholm, Sydney, Tehran, Toronto, and Vienna. 

In-person talks and workshops
Since 2004 Tim has presented in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Japan, Jersey, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, and the USA. In 2025 he was a panellist alongside Anne Hidalgo as part of a UN Climate Week event in New York. In 2017 he was the guest speaker at a seminar on early childhood development for executive leaders from South America hosted and organised by the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. In 2020 he attended COP26 in Glasgow, and took part in a Green Zone event on children and cities. He has also given talks and run workshops across the length and breadth of the UK: from Belfast to Shetland, from Truro to Newcastle, and from Swansea to Suffolk. 

Tim is a regular visitor to Australia, and made extended visits in 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 and 2023. He also gave talks in New Zealand in 2008, 2016 and 2017.

Tim has also gained a profile in Canada. He first visited in 2010, and in 2015 he undertook a nationwide series of talks and workshops. He has supported the Lawson Foundation in taking forward its ambitious play strategy, and has also spoken in cities across the country, from Vancouver to Halifax.

Here is a link to a video of a 16-minute online talk on child-friendly planning and design that Tim gave in 2022 for Public Health Network Cymru.

Here is a visual note of a talk on risk Tim gave in North Wales on 25 March 2015. Thanks to Fran O’Hara for permission to reproduce this.

Forthcoming talks and workshops

2026

Mon 9 February
Online, free, 7-8 pm GMT: panel discussion on play as part of Upstart Scotland’s Born To Play book discussion. Details to follow.

Tues 10 February
Online, free, 11 am Eastern Time (4 pm GMT): talk on children, streets and car culture for Gil Peñalosa’s webinar series. Register here.

Fri 20 February
Online, free, 12-1 pm Eastern Time (5-6 pm GMT): talk on child-friendly cities for Ohio State University. Free and open to all. Register online here.

Thurs 12 March
Bristol, in-person: Speaker at Playing Out conference and celebration. Eventbrite link here.

30 June – 2 July
Newcastle: tutor on 3-day in-person Foundation Certificate course on urban design organised by Urban Design Works.