Speaking Events

DateTimeLocationDescription
September 4, 20247pmLondon
British Cartographic Society

Private event for the British Cartographic Society, hosted at a major London bookshop, presenting ideas from Nine Quarters of Jerusalem and Daybreak in Gaza.

September 11, 202411amMaidenhead (UK)
Maidenhead Women's Group for European Friendship

In-person talk and discussion on the situation in Palestine and proposals for two-state and one-state solutions. Details to follow.

I’ve spoken to audiences large and small, in person and online, on stage at major cultural events or literary festivals and in modest local bookshops. I am happy to consider all invitations. Subjects could include the politics of Israel and Palestine, the history and communities of Jerusalem, my travels in and beyond the Middle East, why Antarctica matters, or the process and impact of writing. Please email me at [email protected] to discuss options and possibilities.

Past Events

DateTimeLocationDescription
July 9, 2024Oxford (UK)
Matthew Arnold School

Talk on Jerusalem and the wider Middle East for students at this non-selective comprehensive academy school in Oxfordshire. Private event.

July 6, 2024Bradford (UK)
Bradford Literature Festival

Presentation and discussion of Nine Quarters of Jerusalem with the British-Palestinian writer Selma Dabbagh and historian Abdul Rahman Azzam. Click for details.

April 18, 2024London
Guild of St John

Speech on Nine Quarters of Jerusalem for the annual charity fundraiser at Brompton Oratory in London supporting the Guild of St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group.

March 11, 2024London
Royal Geographical Society

In-person and online talk on Nine Quarters of Jerusalem for the RGS Monday Night Lectures series. Click for details.

January 21, 2024Leamington Spa (UK)
Justice for Palestinians

In-person talk for the “Justice for Palestinians” group about Nine Quarters of Jerusalem and the viability of proposals for two-state and one-state solutions.

December 8, 2023Belfast (UK)
Rethinking Conflict

Speaking at a cross-community dialogue conference in Belfast drawing lessons for Palestine and Israel from the Northern Ireland peace process, organised by Rev. Dr. Gary Mason of Rethinking Conflict. Click for details.

November 27, 2023London
Frontline Club

Moderating “Reporting Palestine”, a two-hour panel discussion at London’s Frontline Club for the Bethlehem Cultural Festival with journalists including Zena Agha, Hind Hassan, Chris Gunness, Aroub Abdelhaq and Amjad Iraqi. Click for details.

October 27, 2023London
Palestine Festival of Literature

One of the speakers at this PalFest event that also featured Ahdaf Soueif, Abdulrazak Gurnah, Tamim Barghouti, Rashid Khalidi, Mohammed Hanif, Soweto Kinch and many others. Click for Guardian report by Arifa Akbar.

October 5, 2023Edinburgh (UK)
University of Edinburgh

In-person and online book talk on Nine Quarters of Jerusalem, hosted by the Alwaleed Centre for the Study of Islam in the Contemporary World at the University of Edinburgh.

June 15, 2023London
Lancaster Hall Hotel

Book talk and presentation on Nine Quarters of Jerusalem for the cultural programme of the German YMCA in London.

May 2, 2023Jerusalem
Paulus-Haus, Schmidt School

In-person presentation to launch the paperback edition of Nine Quarters of Jerusalem in Jerusalem, with the Educational Bookshop. Click for details.

April 26, 2023Jerusalem
Tantur Ecumenical Institute

In-person presentation on Nine Quarters of Jerusalem as invited speaker for the conference “Religious Renewal in Times of Crisis” organised by University of Nebraska and Tri-Faith Initiative, Omaha. Click for details.

April 5, 2023London
Palestine Exploration Fund

In-person talk on Nine Quarters of Jerusalem at this historic research institute based in Greenwich, London.

April 2, 2023Edinburgh (UK)
Edinburgh Jewish Literary Society

In-person presentation and discussion of Nine Quarters of Jerusalem with members of Edinburgh’s Jewish community. Click for details.

March 30, 2023Online
The Balfour Project

Online webinar and discussion on the subject “Jerusalem and the British: 200 turbulent years”, including issues around the two-state solution. Click for video.

March 23, 2023Online
Abraham Path Initiative

“Books from the Path”: webinar discussion with authors Stephanie Saldaña and Leon McCarron, hosted by Anisa Mehdi.

March 22, 2023Online
Royal Society for Asian Affairs, London

Members-only online discussion of Nine Quarters of Jerusalem, chosen as ‘Reading Room’ book choice for Spring 2023, with RSAA chair Sophie Ibbotson. Click for details.

March 14, 2023Bath (UK)
Christ Church

In-person talk on Nine Quarters of Jerusalem, to raise funds for the Spafford Children’s Centre in Jerusalem.

January 16, 2023Vienna (Austria)
Bruno Kreisky Forum for International Dialogue

In-person lecture and discussion on Nine Quarters of Jerusalem, hosted by Palestinian writer and theologian Viola Raheb.

November 23, 2022London
Kensington Unitarian Church

In-person talk on Nine Quarters of Jerusalem, to raise funds for the Spafford Children’s Centre in Jerusalem.

November 9, 2022Maidenhead (UK)
Maidenhead Women's Group for European Friendship

Book talk and discussion on Nine Quarters of Jerusalem.

November 3, 2022New York (USA)
Abraham Path Initiative

In-person talk on Nine Quarters of Jerusalem for private charity fundraiser.

November 2, 2022Washington, DC (USA)
Jerusalem Fund/Palestine Center

In-person book talk and discussion on Nine Quarters of Jerusalem, chaired by journalist Said Arikat.

October 31, 2022Providence, RI (USA)
Brown University

In-person book talk for Nine Quarters of Jerusalem, in conversation with Prof Nadje Al-Ali and Prof Katharina Galor. Click for video.

October 30, 2022New Haven, CT (USA)
Palestine Museum

In-person book talk on Nine Quarters of Jerusalem at this museum and cultural center outside New Haven.

October 29, 2022Boston, MA (USA)
Boston Book Festival

In conversation with Prof Joseph Sassoon, author of The Sassoons: The Great Global Merchants and the Making of an Empire, and Prof Amy Singer.

October 27, 2022South Hadley, MA (USA)
Odyssey Bookshop

In-person talk on Nine Quarters of Jerusalem at this well-known local independent bookstore.

October 26, 2022Boone, NC (USA)
Appalachian State University

In-person book talk on Nine Quarters of Jerusalem, chaired by Dr Curtis Ryan.

October 25, 2022Ann Arbor, MI (USA)
Schuler Books (ex-Nicola's)

In-person book talk on Nine Quarters of Jerusalem at this prominent independent bookstore.

October 24, 2022Indianapolis (USA)
JCC Indianapolis

In-person talk on Nine Quarters of Jerusalem at this Jewish cultural center, opening the 2022 Ann Katz Festival of Books and Arts.

October 23, 2022San Francisco (USA)
Congregation Kol Shofar

In-person book talk on Nine Quarters of Jerusalem at this synagogue and cultural center in Tiburon.

October 21, 2022Seattle (USA)
Elliott Bay Book Company

In-person bookstore conversation on Nine Quarters of Jerusalem with Pam Mandel, Seattle-based author of The Same River Twice.

October 20, 2022Seattle (USA)
Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral

In-person book talk on Nine Quarters of Jerusalem, chaired by the Very Rev Steven Thomason, Dean and Rector.

October 19, 2022Lincoln, NE (USA)
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

In-person book talk on Nine Quarters of Jerusalem hosted by Harris Center for Judaic Studies and chaired by Prof Bedross Der Matossian.

October 18, 2022Chicago (USA)
Northwestern University

In-person book talk on Nine Quarters of Jerusalem at the Crown Family Center for Jewish & Israel Studies, hosted by Dr Maayan Hilel and Dr Hanna Tzuker Seltzer.

October 6, 2022Canberra (Australia)
Australian National University

Online book launch for Australia, co-hosted by the Centre for Arab & Islamic Studies at the Australian National University in Canberra and the Alfred Deakin Institute at Deakin University in Geelong.

September 13, 2022Jerusalem
Council for British Research in the Levant

Conversation with artist/academic Bisan Abu Eisheh, hosted live online from Jerusalem by the Council for British Research in the Levant (CBRL). Click for details.

September 4, 2022New Haven, CT (USA)
Palestine Museum US

Online presentation and book talk on Nine Quarters of Jerusalem. Click for video.

August 1, 2022Leeds, UK
MiliM

Book talk on Nine Quarters of Jerusalem and webinar for a UK culture and ideas project. Click for video.

July 6, 2022Oxford, UK
Oxford Jewish Congregation

Online presentation on Jerusalem and book talk for the community’s Mosaic cultural programme.

June 2, 2022Groningen, Netherlands
University of Groningen

Online lecture and student discussion on Nine Quarters of Jerusalem, led by Dr Sasha Goldstein-Sabbah, professor of Middle Eastern Studies.

May 19, 2022Jerusalem
Swedish Study Centre

Book talk and discussion with a live audience in the Old City of Jerusalem.

May 18, 2022Jerusalem
St George's Cathedral

Lecture and discussion in front of a live audience, hosted by the Reverend Canon Richard Sewell, Dean of St George’s College, Jerusalem.

May 16, 2022Jerusalem
American Colony Hotel

Joint book launch and conversation with Palestinian author Raja Shehadeh, in front of a live audience in the American Colony’s historic Pasha Room.

May 9, 2022Ramallah, Palestine
French-German Cultural Centre

Book launch for Nine Quarters of Jerusalem, with live audience.

April 4, 2022Nottingham, UK
Five Leaves Bookshop

Online lecture and discussion on Jerusalem and Jewish identity, hosted by Ross Bradshaw. Click for details.

March 29, 2022Oxford, UK
Oxford Literary Festival

Book talk on Nine Quarters of Jerusalem at the Weston Lecture Theatre with live audience. Click for details.

March 16, 2022Jerusalem
Educational Bookshop

Online book launch and discussion with Mahmoud Muna of the Educational Bookshop, Jerusalem. Co-hosted by Bethlehem Cultural Festival and Balfour Project. Click for video.

March 10, 2022London, UK
CAABU & MBI Foundation

Online lecture and launch event for Nine Quarters of Jerusalem, hosted by Chris Doyle of the Council for Arab-British Understanding. Click for video.

December 16, 2021New Jersey & Jerusalem
Abraham Path Initiative

Illustrated talk and discussion with host Anisa Mehdi, plus guests joining live from Jerusalem. Click for video.

September 24, 2017Banbury, UK
The Big Feed

Organiser and speaker at local food and culture festival.

November 20, 2016Banbury, UK
Banbury Literary Live

Invited speaker on travel and travel writing.

November 10, 2016Banbury, UK
Town Hall

Speaker at major ticketed event for charity on travel to Antarctica.

May 17, 2016Cambridge, UK
British Antarctic Survey

Invited speaker at private event on travel to Antarctica and conditions at Halley base.

June 13, 2015Banbury, UK

Speaker at launch event for Rough Guide to the Cotswolds.

November 9, 2014St Albans, UK
St Albans Lit Fest

Speaker on travel and tourism in the Middle East.

September 22, 2013Banbury, UK
Banbury Lit Fest

Invited speaker on travel and travel writing.

November 6, 2012London, UK
Travel Blog Camp

Main speaker on challenges facing travel journalists and bloggers.

August 22, 2012London, UK
Royal Geographical Society

Keynote speaker at event marking the 200th anniversary of the rediscovery of Petra, Jordan.

October 16, 2011Thame, UK
Thame Literary Festival

Invited speaker on travel in the Middle East.

February 16, 2011Providence, RI, USA
Educational Travel Conference

Talks and panels over several days of the Educational Travel Conference.

October 31, 2010Amman, Jordan
Jordan Tourism Board

Invited speaker on media and tourism.

March 25, 2009London, UK
Abraham Path Initiative

Invited speaker on “Unknown Jordan”.

February 28, 2009London, UK
Royal Geographical Society

Panel discussion about Middle East tourism at the Travellers’ Tales Festival.

June 15, 2008Oxford, UK
Oxford Jewish Congregation

Talk and discussion about tourism in Jordan.

January 11, 2007London, UK
Destinations Travel Show

A series of talks about Jordan and Middle East travel.

November 20, 2006Switzerland

A week of travel talks about Jordan in cities around Switzerland.

January 15, 2006London, UK
Destinations Travel Show

Highlights of travel around Jordan.

January 14, 2005London, UK
Destinations Travel Show

Insights into travel in Jordan.