Tara Phillips

Background

About Tara Phillips

Ever had a 'sliding doors' moment? A seemingly inconsequential moment that nonetheless alters the trajectory of future events. I did, when I was 16. But first, I'm 9. In London, balancing on a log, in a pond. I have a fishing net in my hand, catching frogs, newts and the odd beer can;) I don't need lions or tigers or whales, I'm happy with butterflies, worms and frogs! I'm 16. Biology is my favourite subject. I'm in the classroom, hearing details of the new A-level course. To my horror and disgust the teacher informs us we'll be dissecting a frog in the next term. For frog-loving, vegetarian Tara this is unacceptable. I leave the course. Sliding doors moment - where would my career have gone if I'd stayed. I'm 38. I have finally found out what I want to do when I grow up! I'm in a theatre in Amsterdam, furiously clapping 'my' speakers after my first TEDx event as a speaker coach. Working with these dynamic speakers is the best thing I've done professionally and I'm bursting with pride. Over the next 10 years I help hundreds of international professionals become happier and more successful by guiding them to be clear, confident and compelling in their communication. I'm 48. It's the pandemic; not much call for a public speaking coach (!) so I'm at my desk doing an 'Introduction to Ecology' course from the University of Leeds. I do a project on the Niobe Fritillary butterfly in the North Holland dunes. It's on the IUCN Red List as ‘Endangered’. I want to find out why. Mainly because of loss and degradation of habitat due to intensive agriculture, leading to a substantial loss of herbs and nectar sources that the butterflies rely on :( This starts my investigation of the biodiversity crisis facing our planet. I end up in the dirt. Literally. I learn that healthy soil underpins our health, helps combat climate change and biodiversity loss, prevents drought and floods. I also learn a lot of soil is not healthy; it is degraded and needs our help to heal. I meet my soil heroes: Helen Browning CEO of The Soil Association, Charlie Burrell of Knepp Wilding Estate & Iain Tolhurst organic farming innovator. Through these chats, I realise I'm best suited to help by giving soil a voice. I’m 52. I help soil professionals, be that scientists, academics, farmers, Ag-tech innovators, policy advisors, entrepreneurs, charities & NGO’s and rewilders harness the power of the spoken word to raise awareness, advocate, share knowledge & expertise, and ultimately inspire urgently needed action. It's time for Rooted Speaking!