Frances Edmonds - Frances Edmonds is a presenter, best-selling author and an acknowledged expert in the business of cross-cultural communication. She specialises in working with multinational and multi-cultural organisations as both a keynote speaker and moderator. An inspirational, humorous and engaging presenter, Frances has also been voted Britain’s most entertaining female after-dinner speaker in a recent survey by The Times.
After graduating with a Masters Degree in Modern Languages from Cambridge University, Frances joined the Commission of the European Union in Brussels as an international conference interpreter. For over a decade, she worked to facilitate communication and cooperation within all the major international organisations and between the heads of state and government at their annual World Economic summits. Her years spent negotiating at the highest level fostered her expertise in cross-cultural communication and consensus creation.
Trained to perform under pressure, Frances transferred her facility with languages and her ability to master complex issues swiftly to her subsequent career in radio and television broadcasting. It is precisely these skills which she deploys when hosting demanding conferences and delivering high impact keynote speeches.
An international best-selling author, she was initially published in 1986. Her first book 'Another Bloody Tour' (an outrageously funny and highly controversial account of the England cricket team’s tour of the West Indies) created uproar in sporting circles. Her subsequent non-fiction titles cover sport, politics, marketing, self-help and motivation. Her internationally published works of fiction have all met with outstanding critical acclaim.
Frances’s understanding of business issues, gleaned from her own experience in creating a specialised construction company, led to her election as an Honorary Fellow of the British Association of Women Entrepreneurs. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Founder Member and Fellow of the Professional Speakers Association.
Her twin passions for music and business have recently found expression in her latest venture, Jazzbizz, a jazz band devoted to delivering powerful business messages through the medium of music and the metaphor of jazz.
Testimonials
"Thank you for your excellent presentation at our annual conference last week. You won the audience over early on and they loved your combination of humour, wisdom and outstanding storytelling. You really were very well received and I am very grateful to you. Thank you." Steve Munby, Chief Executive, National College for School Leadership
“Your presence in the Forum creates an unforgettable experience for the delegates and it is always a true pleasure to work with you. You were fabulous! Our star! Thanks again and we look forward to seeing you again soon.” Sharon Jeske, Director, CIES The World Food Business Forum, Paris
“From the start of the day to the end, Frances provided insightful and relevant links between the sessions and kept the audience both engaged and entertained. She worked exceptionally hard at getting to know both the speakers and their content and was able to provide seamless transitions between their presentations. Using her unique skills and her natural empathy, she was able to bring professionalism, gravitas and glamour to our international event. We are thrilled that she has agreed to come back next year and look forward to our conference knowing that the event is in the safest of hands. Dominic Tidey, EuRA , European Relocation Agents Association)
“Thank you once again for facilitating this year’s series of Butler Group symposia with your usual wit, élan and intelligence. Your ability to master complex issues swiftly, the clarity and elegance of your scripting and, of course, your own unique combination of charm, confidence and gravitas on stage are vital in the crystallising and communication of key messages. In addition, your continuous research to grasp our issues and ensure our desired outcomes make you so much more than an “external” facilitator, but an integral and highly values member of the Butler Group team. We all look forward to your working with us again next year.” Max Becker, CEO Butler Group, Europe’s Leading IT Analysts