Horizon Lectures

As a pupil, Francesca embraced every opportunity available to her. From Ross-hockey to archery, chamber choir to marching band, singing diploma to England hockey, her ‘yes person’ attitude meant that she was, as a pupil, busy day and night. After completing A-levels, Francesca studied a MA in Philosophy and English Literature at Edinburgh University, then embarked on her first teaching job in New Zealand and, as they say, the rest was history. Now in her eighth year teaching at King’s College, she hopes to reinforce the importance of these precious years and how best to balance the demands placed on students. The power of saying yes and approaching all things with enthusiasm (balanced with the occasional no) is what holds the key to a varied, interesting and successful life.

Nuria Capdevila-Argüelles is Professor of Hispanic Studies and Gender Studies at the University of Exeter. She is also a writer, translator and researcher, keen to bring hidden feminist legacies to the present and to make women’s history understood via her books, her talks and her audio visual project CartasVivas (www.cartasvivas.org). Her most important books are Autoras Inciertas, Artistas y Precursoras, El Regreso de las Modernas and El Camino es Nuestro. She is also the author of many articles written in English and Spanish as well as translations, critical editions and anthologies of avant-garde authors such as Isabel Oyarzábal Smith, Elena Fortún, Carmen Castellote and Nuria Parés. She frequently collaborates with the media and is a very enthusiastic public speaker.

Dr Isabel Santafé is a Lecturer in Hispanic Studies at the University of Exeter where she teaches Spanish to all levels, as well as teaching on undergraduate culture modules and postgraduate translation modules. She holds a PhD in Translation Studies from the University of Exeter and her main research interests focus on the translation of advertising material and gender representation in advertising. Currently she is the translation coordinator and production assistant for CartasVivas project.

After leaving King’s, Toby went to Bournemouth University to read Law. In his second year he became Secretary of the Law Society and the inaugural Bournemouth University Law Review was published. He also was a member of Bournemouth University Boat Club (Rowing) and enjoyed good levels of success; his crew finished seventh in the country in the 2019 British University and Collegiate Sport Regatta in the Lightweight Mens’ 8+ category. Also, whilst at university he became involved in politics during the height of the Brexit debate and attended a selection of events and affiliated himself to such groups as Dorset For Europe. When this involvement became more serious, Toby became more involved in various local political party platforms and the Student Union. At the start of his final year of university, Toby was elected to the Student Union’s executive body, serving for that academic year as the Union’s executive member for returning placement students. Shortly after the election, Toby was selected as a Liberal Democrat candidate for Alderney and Bourne Valley ward in the 2019 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole local elections; the inaugural elections for the brand new BCP Council. He was lucky enough to be elected, and serves on various Council committees and in early 2021 became the Vice-Chair of the Planning Committee. In late 2021, Toby crossed the floor to the Conservative Party, and shortly afterwards was made non-executive Lead Member for Levelling Up and Skills. In this position, he has worked closely with the Purpose Coalition as headed by the Rt Hon Justine Greening, John Woodcock and Baron Walney to bring the Council's issues into the national discussion, and to try and ensure that Levelling Up does not ignore the problems of southern England and BCP in particular. Amongst other things, Toby also implemented the BCP Skills Plan, which is a living document designed to help local education providers and businesses provide the best provision of education to those who need it most, and to communicate the needs of each other to help prevent skills gaps from appearing. Toby has also been re-selected to run in the 2023 local elections and has become Deputy Chairman (Political) of Bournemouth West Conservative Association, a position that oversees the campaigning within Bournemouth West Constituency.

Rick Findler (b.1984) is an award-winning photo journalist based in London. Rick’s work focusses on both domestic features as well as travelling to some of the most dangerous places on earth in order to document what is truly happening, whilst trying to shine a light on other people’s stories and tales. As an independent photographer, Rich is a regular contributor to The Guardian, The Times and The Telegraph to name a few. His images have been published across the world from publications such as The Washington Post to books such as Inside ISIS: The Brutal Rise of a Terrorist Army.

Initially being misdiagnosed with IBS, Adam and his girlfriend left the UK behind for a new life in Australia, and it was another 18 months before he was diagnosed with PMP. After the discovery of his rare and life-threatening illness in 2013, they flew home to go to Christie Cancer Hospital in Manchester, one of the worlds best centres for the treatment he needed. Aiming to remove as much of the tumour as possible, the surgeons came to the conclusion that the operation was just too risky and therefore had to tell Adam that there was nothing they could do. Never described as patient, he could not settle for this news and Adam began researching into different procedures. This is when he discovered Brendan Moran, a surgeon from North Hampshire who was looking to find a cure for the disease rather than prolonging lives. After months of persuading hesitant doctors, deteriorating health, tests and waiting for a donor, Adam finally had the surgery in 2015. After 17 hours and 30 people working shifts, they managed to remove the ten-kilogram tumour, his stomach, large bowel, small bowel, gallbladder, pancreas, appendix, spleen, abdominal wall and most of his liver. They then transplanted multiple abdominal organs. The operation was deemed a success and Adam survived the three month recovery period. During his participation of the Mongol Rally 2017 alongside his wife and two friends, he was flown home after developing dehydration in Kazakhstan. Precautionary checks were carried out to check that it was nothing more harmful. Even though he was determined to cross the finish line with his team, his condition meant this was impossible. However, participating in the challenge raised over £20,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support and the Steve Prescott Foundation. Adam is fourth in the world to survive such an operation designed to beat incurable cancer. He as inspired by England Rugby League player Steve Prescott who underwent successful surgery for PMP but unfortunately did not survive the recovery stage. Adam has defied the odds and proved all doubters wrong. With an inspirational story and a determined mindset, Adam is fully equipped to deliver a motivational speech at any corporate event.

Denise spent a number of years building industry experience in her chosen field of marketing. However, four years ago, she took the opportunity to re-train and gain a better understanding of the body and mind. There is no question that this is the beginning of a very long journey however, within her coaching and massage practice, she has developed a number of skills that helps people move forward with tools to cope with whatever life throws at them.

Marcus attended King's for five years and on leaving, taught for a few years in Worcester before completing a stint with the Army in Hong Kong, London and Belize. In 1987, he became Chief Instructor at an outdoor pursuit centre in Scotland before returning to teaching in a prep school in 1988 in Bromley, Kent and married in the same year. He started teaching geography, headed the first IT department, was appointed Director of Studies, Deputy Head and had two spells as acting or caretaker head. During that time, Marcus also ran survival courses at Loch Nevis and later altered these courses to walking the full length of Offa’s Dyke, with Year 7 and Year 8 students. These later became their version of the Three Peaks Challenge. Marcus retired in 2019 and moved to Shropshire where he now seems to be busier than ever, working in a variety of voluntary occupations including a Covid vaccinator, a minibus driver and Treasurer of a local charity, as well as running mock interviews for Year 11 in the local school.

Callum Brown is a former King's College pupil of Woodard House. Having left in 2007, Callum went to Southampton University and joined Hampshire Constabulary in 2009. As a Police Officer, Callum worked in Southampton city before moving to the pro-active drugs enforcement team in Aldershot. In 2015 he joined the Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit and moved to Thames Valley Police, based out of Slough in Berkshire. In 2018, Callum moved back to the South West and transferred to Devon and Cornwall Police, continuing his work on the Roads Policing Unit. Callum is a Police Motorcyclist and specialises in attending serious injury and fatal road traffic collisions, and bringing offenders to justice before criminal court.

Wildlife advocate, Rebecca Hosking is a woman of many talents. From filmmaking and campaigning to wildlife videography and regenerative farming, Rebecca’s career is driven by her life long love of animals, wildlife and the planet. Her knowledge of environmental issues and sustainability is unrivalled, and is a key topic of her passionate keynote speeches. Her early foundation in environmental care was the inspiration for her successful career. One of the first women to film Sir David Attenborough’s iconic BBC documentaries, Rebecca soon found herself produced the BBC’s first ever factual programme exposing marine plastic pollution. From one inspiration career change to another, she turned her attention to climate change and the threat of mass food production. In 2009 she produced the BBC’s first documentary on the energy consumption in British farming, titled ‘Farm for the Future’. Rebecca pairs eloquent storytelling with practical advice to inspire her audiences, and motivate them to change their habits for the greater good on an individual and company-wide scale.

Chris Hines is a leading pioneer of sustainability, famed as the Sustainability Director of The Eden Project. Dedicated to delivering positive change, Chris is also famed as the Founder and Director of Surfers Against Sewage and the Owner of A Grain of Sand, both companies dedicated to saving the environment. Shortlisted for the 1999 Green Politics Award and having provided evidence to Commons and Lords Committees, Chris is passionate about preserving our planet and shares this avidly with audiences worldwide. Chris is also widely known for his role as Special Advisor to the Rt. Hon Michael Meacher MP Minister for the Environment. He has also been heralded for commissioning the Blue Gym project, which earned him a Royal Television Society Award, and for joint-winning the first International Surfers Path Green Wave Award. Appointed MBE for Services to the Environment in 2008, Chris was also recognised as one of the Daily Telegraph’s Eco Heroes. Equally impressive was his help in delivering £5 billion spend on UK coastlines, campaigned for clean oceans and sewage treatment works.

Faye is buzzing to share her story of how, together with partner Jake, they brought their (admittedly niche!) idea to life, from a coffee table in their lounge to a studio and team of five. Since launching their business Beevive in 2019 they have welcomed 28,000+ members to their worldwide online community, planted over 1,500 trees, received two highly commended Gift of the Year Awards, waved the Holly & Co flag for UK small business and been featured in multiple publications for the work they are doing. When they are not busy in their studio, Faye visits schools, hosts workshops and collaborates with other organisations including the Wildlife Trust and Kew Gardens, sharing her knowledge and passion for the importance of bees. Creating a product that doesn’t exist yet comes with its challenges, so Faye will be sharing some of the lessons she’s learnt along the way and advice she would give to anyone else who dreams of running their own business one day.