Your topic is called ‘How do we keep children safe online?’, can you describe this in more detail and share a bit about what you will be covering in your talk?

Preventing online harm to children is one of the biggest issues of our time. Products change rapidly, trends move quickly, and children’s experiences are very rarely heard in full. When the opportunity came up to apply for TED I realised that the children would want me to speak for them and that I had information it was too important not to share. 

Through the talk we will explore children’s current experiences and one really key change that needs to happen in the digital world to keep them safe (that everyone can help with). 

I hope everyone attending or watching online will leave with new knowledge and purpose around preventing online harm, and I really hope that this talk will create change that will keep children safer, here and around the world.

What has made you so passionate about this topic? How does it relate to you or your background?

I never expected to become a specialist in children’s online safety. I’ve always found it important to speak up for others, and I practiced as a barrister specialising in cases involving children, but it was only when I was working with the International Justice Mission that I began to understand the scale of certain online harms and the injustices that sit behind them.

I wanted to understand what effect these global challenges were having locally and across my country, and to learn that from the children rather than making any assumptions. 

I’m very aware of what a privilege it is to have been trusted by the children with their experiences on an ongoing basis. I am also very aware that we live in a world which is transforming digitally, and which they have a right to be fully involved with, but where their safety must be put first.

What do you think people will gain from listening to your talk?

I hope people will gain knowledge that will help them to protect children they know but also a clear understanding of what companies need to change to prevent harm to children online and how they can ensure that happens.

How has your TEDxAberdeen journey been so far? Is there anything you’ve learned that you didn’t expect, or any highlights?

Gosh, it really has been interesting! I love being an advocate, but writing a TED talk is a different experience altogether – you have a great sense of responsibility for your audience and the journey you are taking them on, and the significance of that.

I have felt frequently challenged by my hopes for the talk, the scale of the issues, and how to engage and take care of the audience as well as the children whose stories I am telling.

I’m incredibly grateful that we’ve had so much support and investment into us as speakers throughout the process, Derrick, Bob and Eric have been really wonderful. As have all the other speakers and the chance to see them on their journeys too.

What are you most looking forward on this journey? What are you hoping to get out of this?

I’m looking forward to getting on that stage and doing the best I can for the children who mean so much to me. I hope with all hope that this will help other children around the world too.

I hope that doing this will lead to change for children and young people: change by companies, people being inspired to build better products and understanding what that looks like, governments being emboldened to prevent harm, parents feeling more confident to talk with their children about online harm, and children feeling no shame about the things they have already experienced and confident to share their experiences going forward.

What does being part of TEDxAberdeen 2026 mean to you?

I love this City and I feel really excited to be sharing the work it’s been possible to do here with the help of a loving community. I would love for that community to grow.

Being part of TEDxAberdeen means having the opportunity to advocate for those who would otherwise have no voice, at a time and on an issue where they must be heard.