Erica is an advisory member of the AI in Work & Skills Forum, a seasoned presenter who was shortlisted as Best AI Speaker in the 2025 Speaker Awards and an AI Strategist and board member for a leading European learning and teaching assessment organisation.

Erica’s sessions don’t just inform; they change behaviour. The audience leaves with:

• Greater confidence and willingness
• Clear, people-first use cases they can apply immediately
• Reduced anxiety and resistance
• A shared language

Whether delivering a keynote, an interactive workshop, or a keynote-plus-breakout experience, Erica translates complex AI concepts into practical, relatable insights that resonate with operational teams, leaders and people functions alike.

Her new book, ‘AI for People Professionals’ is available through Kogan Page

Erica Farmer | Signature Keynote 2026

“How To Take a People-First Approach To AI Implementation”

AI is advancing fast, but people’s confidence and capability to use it productively haven’t kept up.  And that’s killing your business. This is because you are not engaging people as people. You are engaging them as tech users.

It’s time to book a talk that actually changes behaviour.

After seeing leaders go AI first instead of people first, I realised that resistance to AI is really about confidence and capability, and that people need support to identify their own AI Dividend.

So are you ready to move beyond AI hype and actually help your people use AI with confidence, courage and impact?

Erica Farmer helps HR, L&D and business leaders engage people as people, not as reluctant tech users. She is an international keynote speaker and practitioner in AI and future skills who believes the real AI advantage isn’t productivity alone, it’s happier, more resilient people who know how to partner with AI in ways that genuinely improve their work and lives.

Drawing on 25 years’ experience across some of the UK’s largest brands, Erica brings a grounded, human-first perspective to AI adoption. After repeatedly seeing organisations go AI first instead of people first, she recognised that resistance to AI is rarely about the tools; it’s about confidence, capability and fear of being left behind.

That’s where the AI Dividend™ Approach comes in.

Through high-impact, interactive keynotes, Erica reframes AI away from fear, overwhelm and abstract potential, and towards clarity, confidence and practical human capability. Her talks help leaders and teams identify their own AI Dividend — the tangible benefits AI can bring to their roles, wellbeing and effectiveness — while also supporting organisational productivity and innovation.

Erica Farmer | Other Speaking Topics

– AI For the Average Joe
– Digital Learning Transformation and the Future of Work
– The Future of Work and Skills
– Apprenticeships, Careers, and Talent
– Mental Health and Wellbeing
– Neurodivergence in the Workplace
– Mental Toughness and Resilience
– Leadership and Management Skills
– Psychological Safety, Mindset, and High-Performing Teams

Erica Farmer | Author

Erica’s book, AI for People Professionals: Understand How to Use Artificial Intelligence in Your HR Role, will be released in May 2026.

AI for People Professionals is a practical guide for mid-level HR professionals that explains how artificial intelligence works and how it can add value to HR. The book explores how AI can save time, streamline processes, enhance recruitment, talent management, and learning and development, while boosting productivity, creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration. It also addresses ethical AI use and data protection, offering clear, jargon-free guidance for HR professionals looking to implement AI responsibly and effectively.

Erica Farmer | Quantum Rise Talent Group

Erica is passionate about providing opportunities in business, specifically driving innovation and thought leadership. Recent examples are the work around AI and hosting ‘AI for the Average Joe’ podcast show, making the complex, simple.

In 2021, she co-founded the Quantum Rise Talent Group. They collaborate with clients who wish to increase their impact and results in virtual, remote, and hybrid learning, coaching, and engagement. Former clients include Costa Coffee, McDonalds, National Grid, Fujitsu, and the NHS.

Why Book Erica Farmer?

From winning hearts and minds with her AI for the Average Joe interactive keynote address to inspiring audiences with her forward-thinking, Erica’s style strikes a brilliant balance between fun, being proactive and professionalism. 

She is refreshing, straight-talking, and walks the walk, having headed up many large learning and development functions and led large digital transformations.

Erica is often invited back to events and client locations to speak over and over again!

Call +44 1753 439 289 or email Great British Speakers now to book learning, development and digital training specialist Erica Farmer for your next event.  Contact us.