Available to book
Gain insights into effective communication and storytelling in journalism with Sima Kotecha, speaker, senior UK correspondent for BBC News.
Sima Kotecha is a Senior UK Correspondent for BBC News. Previously, she served as the UK Editor and presenter for the BBC’s flagship current affairs programme, Newsnight.
Sima focuses on original journalism, building trust with contributors and holding those in power accountable. She is a skilled presenter, adept at discussing a variety of topics, from serious issues to lighter subjects. She frequently presents the BBC’s Newscast podcast and has also hosted Breakfast News on BBC One, the BBC News channel, PM on Radio 4, and 5Live.
With nearly twenty years of reporting experience, Sima has worked globally, spending significant time in the US and covering the conflicts in Afghanistan, Haiti, and Lebanon. She was among the first reporters to broadcast from Italy at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic before it reached the UK.
Sima interviewed various public figures, including former US President Obama and former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Her interviewing style ranges from probing to sympathetic, encouraging interviewees to share their stories.
She is known for breaking original stories and has expertise in various areas, including defence, policing, politics, and social affairs. Additionally, Sima showcases her lighter side through appearances on shows like Celebrity Antiques Road Trip and Expert Witness.
As a public speaker and event host, Sima brings energy and engagement to any gathering.
Book Sima Kotecha to inspire your team with her compelling storytelling and unique insights from nearly two decades in journalism. Her ability to engage audiences, tackle serious issues with empathy, and infuse humour will elevate your event, making it memorable and impactful. Don’t miss the chance to learn from a true expert.
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frequently asked questions
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Sima Kotecha draws on nearly two decades of field reporting — including coverage of conflicts in Afghanistan, Haiti, and Lebanon — to ground her sessions in first-hand accounts, using a storytelling approach built around contributor trust and direct interview experience with figures such as former US President Obama.
Sima Kotecha's sessions cover politics and government accountability, international conflict reporting, and original investigative journalism. She is a Senior UK Correspondent for BBC News and former UK Editor and presenter of Newsnight, with nearly twenty years of reporting experience across the US, Afghanistan, Haiti, and Lebanon.
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.
