Available to book
Roger Kneebone
Transform medical education and interdisciplinary expertise with Roger Kneebone, speaker, surgical education pioneer. Roger works with healthcare organisations to enhance simulation-based learning and professional skill development, delivering insights as Professor at Imperial College London and Royal Academy of Arts Anatomy Professor.
Roger Kneebone is a leading authority on surgical education and interdisciplinary expertise. With a background spanning trauma surgery, general practice, and medical education, he brings a unique perspective on how knowledge is acquired and applied across different fields. His research explores the intersection of medicine, craftsmanship, and performance, drawing insights from a wide range of disciplines to enhance professional training and skill development.
After qualifying in medicine from St Andrews and Manchester universities, Roger spent years performing trauma surgery in Southern Africa before returning to the UK to practise as a general practitioner. He later transitioned into academia, becoming Professor of Surgical Education and Engagement Science at Imperial College London. He co-founded the UK’s only Masters programme in Surgical Education and leads research initiatives at the Centre for Engagement and Simulation Science and the Centre for Performance Science. His work in simulation-based learning has reshaped medical training, enabling safer and more effective skill acquisition.
Beyond medicine, Roger collaborates with artists, musicians, and craftspeople to explore parallels between their expertise and professional mastery. He is the author of "Expert: Understanding the Path to Mastery," which examines the journey to high-level competence across different domains. He also hosts the "Countercurrent" podcast, where he engages in conversations with individuals whose careers transcend conventional boundaries.
Recognised for his contributions to education and engagement, Roger was named the first Honorary Fellow of the City & Guilds London Art School and was appointed the 14th Professor of Anatomy at the Royal Academy of Arts. He is also a member of the Art Workers' Guild and directs the SHARP project, which uses simulation and the arts to address knife violence among young people. His work continues to challenge traditional approaches to expertise, fostering greater understanding between disciplines and professions.
Topics, sessions and talks
Roger Kneebone explores the journey to expertise, challenging common assumptions about what it takes to become highly skilled. Drawing on insights from medicine, the arts, and craftsmanship, he reveals the shared principles that underpin mastery across different fields. He examines the importance of deliberate practice, mentorship, and failure in the development of expertise, offering a fresh perspective on how individuals can refine their skills and build confidence in their abilities.
Roger Kneebone delves into the power of interdisciplinary collaboration and its role in innovation and problem-solving. By drawing parallels between surgeons, musicians, craftspeople, and other experts, he highlights how skills and insights transfer across disciplines. He demonstrates how engaging with different fields enhances creativity and adaptability, equipping individuals and organisations with new ways of thinking. His approach challenges conventional silos, encouraging fresh perspectives and a more connected approach to learning and professional development.
Featured Projects
often considered together
Scott Barry Kaufman
Creativity
Emotional Intelligence
Leadership Development
Bob Sutton
Effective Leadership
Productivity
Workplace Wellbeing
Marcus du Sautoy
Creativity
Innovation
Science
frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
Roger Kneebone draws on case studies from surgery, craftsmanship, and performance to map shared principles of skill acquisition, using his book Expert: Understanding the Path to Mastery as a framework for examining how mastery develops across disciplines.
Roger Kneebone speaks on the path to expertise and mastery, interdisciplinary thinking and collaboration, and the transfer of skills across medicine, the arts, and craftsmanship. He is Professor of Surgical Education and Engagement Science at Imperial College London, where he co-founded the UK's only Masters programme in Surgical Education and leads research at the Centre for Engagement and Simulation Science.
No. PepTalk adds no booking fee, so you pay the speaker's fee and nothing beyond it. The service, from shortlist through to contracts and event-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, PepTalk can agree preferential rates with your procurement team.
Share your event date, audience, format, objectives and budget, and PepTalk sends a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours. Each suggestion comes with a profile, a fee and a recommendation on the strongest fit. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, travel and logistics through to event day.
The typical fee range is the speaker's standard in-person fee in their home market, shown in their local currency. It moves with format, location, date and session length: virtual sessions and shorter slots usually cost less, while international travel and peak dates cost more. Send your brief to PepTalk and the team will confirm the exact fee in your currency.
Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.
Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
