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Ria Jackson | Speaker. Veteran. Neurodifferent. Disruptor. Neuroinclusive Firestarter. No Filter. No Corporate faff.

Book Ria To Speak

Just real talk, lived experience, a mic and a mission.

If you want someone to sugar-coat it, I’m not your lass.


If you want someone who’ll walk into a room and say the thing no one else is saying, but everyone’s feeling, pull up a chair.

I’m Ria Jackson.

I founded Inclusive Minds UK. I’ve got ADHD, Dyspraxia, complex trauma, a neurofabulous mini-me, and more qualifications than I care to count.

I used to collect trophies, certificates, job titles. Thought they’d make me feel enough.

Spoiler alert. They didn’t.

I’ve got the credentials. But what’s shaped me more than anything is the life I’ve lived.

I’ve led teams, trained thousands, built award-winning communities, and had to figure it all out the hard way.

While juggling work, trauma, identity and parenting. All inside systems clearly designed by people who’ve never met an actual human.

I’m not here to deliver a lecture. I’m here to bring real stories, humour, fire, and the kind of honesty that makes people finally get it. The kind that makes the penny drop and the change stick.

Ria Jackson stands at The Big Festoon event, holding a microphone and speaking to a cameraman who is filming her. She’s wearing grey checked trousers, a burgundy top, glasses, and a lanyard, with short grey hair. The venue is decorated with fairy lights, balloon clusters, and large screens displaying “BIG FESTOON.” Round tables and other attendees are visible in the background. The cameraman wears a black hoodie that says “We Make Magic” and has a walkie-talkie clipped to his jeans.

 And just so you know what you’re getting. I may have served in the Royal Air Force, but I’ve absolutely got the mouth of a sailor.

I’m unapologetically me. Warts and all.

No, I don’t always get it right... but I own it.

I show up to learn out loud. To grow, stumble, get back up, and model what being human really looks like. Messy. Loud. Painful at times. But also beautiful, hilarious, exciting, and full of possibility.

Humour and music are my lifelines. I laugh hard. I sing often. Really often! 

I can’t promise perfection. But I will always bring my full self, show up real, and push for progress.

To me, that’s what neuroinclusion is. Not theory. Not ticking boxes. Just real people making space for other real people.That’s it.

If you want someone who shows up real, says the things that need saying, brings humour, heart, a bit of glorious chaos—and genuinely gives a shit—then I’m your lass.

I’m not here to behave. I’m here to be useful.

Lets Have A Chat
Ria Jackson at the Big Festoon wearing a bright yellow cowboy hat, pink-tinted glasses, and wide-leg checkered trousers poses confidently while holding a megaphone to their mouth. They are dressed in a burgundy top and a black crossbody bag, standing on a patterned carpet at an indoor event. Behind them, balloons in yellow, white, and black are tied together, and exhibition tables and lighting equipment are visible in the background. The overall vibe is bold, playful, and full of personality.
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Signature Talks That Land:

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Stop Pretending: Why Inclusion Starts With Us

 

We can’t support difference if we’re still rejecting our own.

This talk dives into how self-acceptance, not performance, is the foundation of real inclusion. If you don’t understand your needs, your wiring, your lens on the world, how can you support anyone else?

It’s raw, funny, and full of practical tools for working with your brain and showing up without the pressure to fit a mould.

Because when we stop pretending, we start including—for real.

Talk vibe: TED Talk meets kitchen-table truth. Honest. Human. Unapologetically real. 

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Lead Like You Mean It: What Don't Tell You in Management Training (If You Even Got Any)

 

Most leaders are winging it. Especially when it comes to difference.

This talk is for the ones who care but don’t know what the hell they’re doing and are brave enough to admit it.

It’s sharp, funny, and full of practical tools for leading real people—in real life, not just on paper, and definitely not just ticking boxes.

Because leadership isn’t about control. It’s about connection.

Talk vibe: Boardroom meets comedy club. Punchy. Practical. No Flip-charts. No Fancy Words. Just Facts.

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I’m Not a Charity Case: The Problem with Pity and Performative Allyship

We’re not inspirational. We’re not burdens. We’re people with value... whether or not you understand our experience.

This talk takes aim at box-ticking, saviour syndrome, and the kind of allyship that looks good on paper but changes nothing.

It’s sharp, funny, and built to challenge the ‘good intentions’ that keep us stuck.

Talk vibe: Sass meets truth bomb. Bold. Uncomfortable. The wake-up call your EDI strategy didn’t plan for.

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Different by Design: Lessons from a Neurodifferent Veteran

Try surviving a system that didn’t see you, then rebuilding yourself without a blueprint.

This talk pulls no punches. It’s about transition, trauma, and what happens when you're left to figure it all out yourself.

Perfect for anyone who’s had to claw their way back to identity, purpose, and power... on their own terms.

Talk vibe: Grit meets grace. Honest. Grounded. Leaves you thinking long after it's over.

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You Don’t Look Like a Veteran: Sorry, I Shaved My Beard

Apparently, if you're not a man with a beard and a 42-inch chest, your service doesn’t count.

This talk is a love letter and a call-out for every woman who served and is still serving in ways no one tallies.

It’s hilarious, a bit furious, and packed with truth people don’t expect but need to hear.

Talk vibe: Stand-up meets stand-your-ground. Fierce. Funny. Full of fight.

Want something a bit more specific?

No problem!

If you’ve got a particular theme, challenge, or audience in mind, I can tailor a talk to fit.

Bespoke sessions are available—just let me know what you're cooking up, and we’ll build something that hits the mark (and lands with impact).

Use the enquiry form to start the conversation, it will message me directly so don't worry if you're not quite sure what you need yet.

Book For Your Next Event Here

What You Can Book:

 

Keynotes (15–60 mins)  ✔️ 

Spoken Word ✔️ 

Panels / Fireside Chats  ✔️ 

Workshops (hands-on and honest)  ✔️ 

Team Days / Away Days  ✔️ 

Strategy Events  ✔️ 

Conferences & Summits  ✔️ 

Online or in person. UK and international.  ✔️ 

Also Super Available For Anything Karaoke Related or Musical Theatre! ✔️ 

Book Now

Melanie Bancroft

How Much?

Stylised illustration of a stack of four pound coins with a bold black outline and a shadow in pink and purple tones, giving it a modern, graphic look. The top coin displays a prominent pound symbol (£).

Speaking fees vary depending on the event—what you need, how long for, and where in the world you want me to show up!

There’s a sliding scale for charities, grassroots groups, and the good eggs doing the hard stuff with limited budgets.

Fill in the form below.

We'll get back to you. No sales team. No spammy nonsense. Just a quick chat to see if it’s the right fit—and a talk that actually makes people sit up and listen!

Ready to bring me in?

Let’s get the ball rolling.

Fill in the form with as much info as you can. It doesn’t need to be perfect—just give me a feel for what you’re planning and who’ll be in the room.

Once I’ve had a look, we can book in some time to chat it through properly.

No pressure. No hard sell. Just seeing if we’re the right fit to make something brilliant happen!



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