Rikki Arundel

At the height of a successful career as an international technology speaker and having founded the UK PSA, Rikki Arundel faced their greatest life challenge when in 2002 they decided to change their gender.

Faced with considerable discrimination, Rikki changed their field of expertise, completing a master’s degree in Gender Research and establishing themselves as a diversity expert.  

Rikki delivers keynote presentations and workshops on both gender equality and presentation skills, including two TEDx talks, and has developed a reputation for engaging audiences through the use of entertaining and inspiring stories.

2020 has ironically brought Rikki back to technology, where their experience has enabled them to adapt quickly to delivering engaging and interactive speeches and workshops online using a variety of technology platforms.

Rikki Arundel is openly and proudly Trans - but that has not been an easy life path. After keeping their identity a closely guarded secret for 50 years, Rikki "came out" in 2002 at the height of their career as a technology speaker, bringing it to a dead stop.

Rikki went to Hull University completing an MSc in gender research and then founded a social enterprise to support trans and gender variant people in Yorkshire.

At the same time Rikki became very active in contributing to the rapid changes brought about by the development of the Equality Act 2010.

Now in 2020, with another period of dramatic change thrust upon us, Rikki has once again embraced the changes. They are now helping organisations to become more inclusive of the increasingly complex array of non binary identities.

Drawing on their many years experience working in technology, Rikki is very comfortable and skilled in delivering their speeches and training via a variety of online platforms.

Founder, first president and fellow of the Professional Speaking Association; Founder of three Toastmasters Clubs; Twice voted top Speech Evaluator (coach) in Britain and Ireland; British Speaking Champion; Associate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts with hons; a multitude of awards, medals and accolades in speaking, performing and acting; and a successful voice actor, storyteller and online presenter.

Rikki Arundel has been speaking and performing since the age of 10 and is still speaking today at 70, often about speaking and to audiences of professional speakers and on two occasions to TEDx audiences.