Ritula Shah
Transform global perspectives with Ritula Shah, speaker, international affairs and current events expert. Ritula engages audiences on geopolitics, digital transformation and cultural insights, delivering authoritative analysis honed at BBC Radio 4 and trusted by leading think tanks worldwide.
London, United Kingdom
Enquire Now
Send us your event details
.svg){kind=icon}
Journalist and broadcaster, chair and event host, Ritula Shah is one of the most recognisable voices on speech radio. As one of the BBC's top radio news and current affairs presenters, Ritula has spoken to politicians, thinkers and newsmakers. Her role as the lead presenter of the World Tonight on Radio 4 and at the BBC World Service has given her a unique perspective on national and international events from 9/11 to Brexit. Her considered approach has enabled her to interrogate and explain why and how stories matter. From the rise of China to mass migration, populism and cryptocurrencies, Ritula has been at the forefront of the coverage and has taken the deep dive for those who want to get beyond the headlines.
Ritula has extensive experience in chairing panels, including on the BBC's Any Questions and The Real Story. She also leads major public debates for Universities and think tanks on everything from foreign policy to AI and digital transformation. Ritula has travelled extensively for her work, reporting from countries including China, India, Brazil, the US, Iran and Germany.
Her calm and authoritative style has gained her access to secretive Chinese carmakers and the American military base at Guantanamo Bay. Ritula is on the advisory board of the defence and security think tank, the Royal United Services Institute. She's also a trustee of the visual arts organisation INIVA and an ambassador for the British Asian Trust. Ritula currently presents Calm Classics on ClassicFM, indulging her lifelong interest in the arts.
Topics, Sessions And Talks
Most of the time we can’t even agree on the facts so what is the point of reading the news? When major events erupt at home or abroad, how do we try to understand them? From climate change to conflict, who or what do we believe? There’s plenty of evidence to indicate trust in news is falling and a significant section of the audience is actively avoiding it, either some of the time or all of it. Conspiracy theories and misinformation are corroding our open democratic societies. Ritula Shah makes a case for actively engaging with the news, for sifting facts from opinion and for trying to find the truth.
A short, brown woman who didn’t smoke: Ritula Shah was a minority when she started working in media and journalism at the end of the 1980s. Her parents weren’t graduates; she couldn’t ski and hadn’t had the benefit of a gap year. But after more than three decades at the BBC, she ended her career as the lead presenter of a prestigious daily radio news programme. How do you gain acceptance when your face or class doesn’t fit the culture of your industry? Why do so many of us suffer from imposter syndrome, and how do you get over it? Personal growth can come from sharing success - Ritula Shah draws on her experience to chart a path for transformation. Accept who you are and focus on who you want to become.
The age of the unipolar world - when the US had no significant rivals - is over. That brief span of around two decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union and while China was rising, has given way to one in which China presents a formidable military, economic and technological challenge and Russia is dangerously unpredictable. Throw into that mix the financial muscle being exercised by countries in the Arab world, can a rules-based system survive and who gets to make and police them?
.svg)
Book
.svg)
.svg)
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about booking an expert speaker, facilitator, host or entertainment for your event.
- If you'd like to book one of our expert speakers, email us at hello@peptalk.com, send us a chat message or give us a call, and we’ll help you out.
- We’ll take your event details — topic, audience, budget, date, and location — and create a custom speaker proposal for you within 48 hours.
- If you already have someone in mind, that’s okay too; just let us know their name! Even if they aren't listed publicly on our website, we have a huge network and work with almost everyone.
- Once you've reviewed our speaker propsal and have selected and expert shortlist, we'll double check availability and fees with your chosen expert.
- You're welcome to have a chemistry call with the speaker before making the final decision, too.
- Next, we'll send out contracts to confirm the booking. One of our experienced event producers will liase with both you and the talent on the finer details, and arrange travel if necessary, taking the stress off your plate.
Not necessarily. While the speakers listed on our website may not have worked with PepTalk in the past, they are recognized professionals in the industry and known to engage in similar events and engagements. We work with a wide variety of speaker agents and talent agencies to ensure we have the best selection of speakers, hosts, comedians and entertainers available.
We do not accommodate requests for birthday messages or any other personal, non-commercial contact with the speakers, comedians or entertainers.
We work with speakers across a variety of fee ranges, giving you the flexibility to choose someone who fits your event's needs. Virtual keynote fees in the UK and Europe typically start at £2,000, while in-person top-tier speakers can reach £25,000. In the US, virtual in-person fees range from $5,000 to over $100,000, depending on the speaker and format, such as after-dinner talks, conference keynotes, Q&As, or podcasts. Comedians generally start at £1,500 or $2,000 for a 20-minute set.
Our goal is to help you find the speaker who best matches your event’s goals and budget. We take the time to understand your event, objectives, and audience to recommend the right fit. The most expensive option isn’t always the best one, and our priority is finding the ideal speaker or expert for your needs; not the highest-priced one.
Reach out for personalised recommendations and detailed information on specific speaker fees. We’re here to offer a tailored service and are always happy to discuss your unique requirements!
There’s no additional cost for our services beyond the speaker fee — simply contact us to find the right speaker for your next business or team event. We can also work with your corporate procurement team to negotiate favourable long-term rates, simply email hello@getapeptalk.com for more information.
Partnering with PepTalk means elevating your events with our curated roster of top motivational speakers, industry experts, delivering punchy keynotes that leave a lasting impact. From talent selection, to contracts and logistics, we handle it all. We have global expert network, with over 3000 speakers from over 33 countries on our line-up.
We also provide a full range of talent, from event hosts and moderators to interviewers and corporate entertainment, ensuring your event’s success from start to finish.
PepTalk workshops are interactive learning experiences for leaders at all levels, blending theory with practical insights from industry experts. These programs, led by experienced facilitators, are designed to drive real mindset changes and equip participants with actionable skills. Workshops can be customised to meet your organisation's specific needs. Explore our workshop examples and contact us today to learn how your team can benefit.
If you notice something that needs attention or have any queries regarding an expert speaker profile, feel free to email us at experts@getapeptalk.com, and we’ll be happy to assist.