James Child, a history-making rugby league referee, shares insights on resilience, inclusion, and thriving under pressure, inspiring organizations to build stronger, inclusive teams
5.00 of 5
Top rated!5 of 5
I am very satisfied with James’s performance. He did share what we discussed and what was relevant. He also answered to questions in the meaningful and impactful way.
Aleksandra
James Child, a trailblazer in sport and inclusion, inspires organizations with insights on resilience, diversity, and thriving under pressure for lasting success.
Keynote speaker James Child delivers powerful insights from his trailblazing career as a rugby league referee and LGBTQ+ advocate. With real-world experience officiating high-stakes games and navigating adversity in professional sport, James equips your team with practical tools for overcoming challenges, building mental resilience, and embracing allyship.
James’s inspiring keynotes combine stories of success, authenticity, and leadership, offering actionable strategies to create inclusive, high-performing cultures.
James Child keynotes include:
5 of 5
I am very satisfied with James’s performance. He did share what we discussed and what was relevant. He also answered to questions in the meaningful and impactful way.
Aleksandra
5 of 5
James’s talk was a real emotional journey that really resonated with our colleagues and clearly initiated lots of conversation. It was also great to see a diverse turnout with James’s story appealing to people who wouldn’t normally engage with our EDI events.
Alex Morris Arup
5 of 5
To mark Pride Month, Pitch Marketing Group had the pleasure of hosting an inspirational session led by James Child, the first openly gay rugby league referee. James shared his journey with us, delving into his remarkable career and the personal experiences that have shaped him into the trailblazer he is today. James's story is nothing short of inspiring. He spoke candidly about the challenges he faced both on and off the field, providing an honest and heartfelt account of his experiences in an industry that has not always been welcoming to LGBTQ+ individuals. His resilience and dedication to staying true to himself despite the obstacles were truly motivating. His genuine and engaging storytelling made us reflect on our own experiences and encouraged us to think more deeply about inclusivity and acceptance in our personal and professional lives. His passion for creating a more inclusive and diverse environment resonated with everyone in the room. Thank you, James, for being a role model, reminding us of how we can all be allies, and for empowering us to embrace our true identities.
Shalini Moodle, People & Talent Manager pitch
5 of 5
James’s talk flowed really well, was engaging and covered the key topics that we wanted to focus on. He kept the audience engaged and interested with both his presentation slides and delivery.
Janice Hutton, Wellbeing Programme Manager pavelka
5 of 5
James' presentation was not only insightful but also deeply personal, sharing his journey as a former professional rugby league referee and his experiences with coming out, facing challenges, and advocating for mental resilience and LGBTQ rights. His story is testament to the power of living authentically and the importance of inclusivity and support in both personal and professional settings. James' courage to share his experiences with us and the positive impact of his advocacy work made him a remarkable role model and an inspiration to many.
Rebecca Thompson, Talent Assistant Shionogi Europe
5 of 5
James co-ordinated and spoke at a team event which was overwhelmingly well received and generated a lot of reflection from the attendees. James speaks clearly and powerfully about his lived experience, not shying away from the challenging experiences in his professional career but also celebrating the positives in an accessible and engaging way. Genuinely fascinating, thoughtful and wonderful.
Kat Denvir, LGBT+ Staff Network Chair Leeds City Council
5 of 5
James gave a valuable insight into the mindset and challenges faced by referees in professional sport. He offered powerful personal experience of standing up to critics at the same time as learning from mistakes. His account of his experience as an openly gay man working in professional sport was inspirational.
Leo Winkley, Headmaster Shrewsbury School
5 of 5
We thoroughly enjoyed having James join us for our Cundall Communities session. It was brilliant to see over 10% of our global business engage in the session. James delivered such an engaging and inspiring session and we hope to work with him again in the future. Here are just some of the comments we heard from our colleagues following the talk: Hearing James’ journey was both relatable and inspiring – it made me reflect a lot on my own journey. James - thank you for the powerful session and for giving us insights about your journey through life! I am still in awe of the stats you shared and will keep the conversation going. Thank you Amazing and insightful presentation – it has really made me think about how I can make a difference.
Lucy May, Head of DEI and Culture Cundall
5 of 5
The National Crime Agency marked the start of LGBT History Month on 1 February with a talk to officers from James. The NCA is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive culture in which individuals can be themselves and give of their best and it was a pleasure to listen to James' insight on decision-making, resilience, leadership and the power of role models and allyship which all resonated with officers.
Gareth Jones National Crime Agency
Keynote Speaker James Child is a trailblazer in the world of professional rugby and an inspiring advocate for inclusion and resilience. With a remarkable career officiating over 300 Super League matches and four consecutive Rugby World Cups, James brings unique insights into thriving under pressure, overcoming adversity, and building high-performing teams.
As the UK’s first openly gay rugby league referee, James shares a powerful story of courage, allyship, and navigating challenges in a traditionally ‘macho’ environment. His experience and openness resonate with organizations seeking to foster inclusive cultures, drive diversity, and build resilient leaders.
Book James Child for your event to gain practical tools for navigating adversity, creating inclusive environments, and inspiring teams to perform at their best. James’s engaging and authentic approach ensures your audience leaves empowered and ready to drive meaningful change.
Watch James Child in action
