Motivational Speaking

Figen’s lived experience, combined with her ability to communicate complex and emotional topics with strength makes her a highly sought-after speaker.

She speaks at conferences, leadership events, corporate gatherings, educational settings and public sector forums. Whether delivering a keynote or joining a panel discussion, Figen brings authenticity, depth and perspective that communicates across sectors. Her talks explore perseverance, confidence, purpose and what it truly takes to create real impact when the odds are against you.

Figen Murray OBE has spoken with more than 35,000 children across the UK about the dangers posed by extremists and terrorists online.

Speaker Topics

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  • How to Keep Going When Change Takes Years

    When Figen launched the petition for Martyn’s Law from her kitchen table, she believed that if enough people signed it, the Government would act within six months. Instead, the process took seven years shaped by political change, a global pandemic, repeated delays and a 200-mile walk from Manchester Arena to 10 Downing Street.

    In this keynote, Figen shares what it is really like to keep fighting for change when there is no clear timeline, certainty or guarantee of success. Drawing on her experience of long-term campaigning, she explores how people cope with frustration, emotional fatigue and stalled progress and what actually keeps them going when motivation starts to fade.

    ATTENDEES WILL LEARN:

    • Why long-term challenges feel harder than short-term crises

    • How to stay motivated when progress is slow or invisible

    • Why staying focused on the end goal matters

  • Why waiting to feel ready holds people back

    Before Martyn’s death, Figen was an introverted therapist who stayed out of the spotlight and found large groups intimidating. Speaking up felt daunting, yet her first ever talk was at the European Parliament, followed by addressing senior policing and counter-terrorism professionals.

    This talk explores how purpose can replace fear, and why confidence is something that grows after you act, not before. 

    ATTENDEES WILL LEARN:

    • Why waiting to feel confident stops people from taking action

    • How to step into rooms where you feel you do not belong

    • How to speak up when you feel out of place

  • Persevering until change happens

    Figen began her campaign as one mother with no political connections, no experience of government and no formal authority. Over seven years she worked with the Home Office, navigated multiple Prime Ministers and pushed through delays caused by COVID and political change.

    This talk takes audiences behind the scenes of what real change looks like from the outside. Figen shares the realities of resistance, compromise and the moments where progress appears to stop altogether and what it takes to stay focused when it would be easier to walk away.

    ATTENDEES WILL LEARN:

    • What people misunderstand about how change really happens.

    • How to stay focused when progress stalls.

    • How to work with big institutions without losing your voice.

    • How to handle pressure from others to change direction.

    • How to keep pushing when it would be easier to give up.

  • How to keep control of what matters most

    As Figen’s campaign grew, more people wanted to be involved. Politicians, campaigners and organisations all had ideas about how it should look and how the story should be told.

    In this talk, Figen speaks about how to protect what matters to you when others try to steer or reshape your work. She shares how to hold boundaries, stay clear on your purpose and remain focused on your goal even as things grow bigger.

    ATTENDEES WILL LEARN:

    • Why clarity of purpose is essential when trying to create change.

    • How to avoid being pulled in too many directions.

    • How to hold firm when others try to take over or reshape your work.

    • How to work with allies without losing ownership of your mission.

    • How to stay true to what you started, even as things grow bigger.

  • “Figen Murray is one of the most remarkable and impactful people I’ve ever had the privilege to work with. The way she shares the story of losing her son in the Manchester Arena attack is deeply moving, but even more powerful is how she channels that unimaginable loss into relentless advocacy for safety, compassion and positive change. Figen speaks with authenticity, courage and grace, and her work leaves a lasting impression on every audience and team she engages with. She is an extraordinary force for good, and I cannot recommend her highly enough.”

    Annette Sheer, Programme Manager, CTPHQ Scotland Yard.

  • "We have been fortunate to have Figen visit our high school on numerous occasions working with Year 7-11 in different capacities. Figen brings a unique perspective that people can only read about in books and her work with students is both meaningful and memorable. Figen has delivered whole year group assemblies to over 300 students at a time and each time, students have responded with empathy and kindness and have been in awe of her strength and positivity. Figen has also worked with small groups working on community, togetherness and compassion. We whole heartedly appreciate the work Figen does and cannot stress how important is, particularly in the society we find ourselves in."

    Rachel Quinn, Assistant Head Teacher, Charlton High School

  • “I have never met anyone like Figen Murray: she is an incredible speaker and an incredible person. If you hear her speak and truly engage with what she is saying, you will be changed. Her presentation at Bury Grammar School dealt with tragic events none of us would ever want to face and yet we left the room uplifted, enlightened and full of hope that we can all help make the world a better place. Our pupils were fired up after her talk to build on the work she is doing. They made 400 pledges of kindness and decided to set up a pupil group to keep others safe by furthering understanding of on-line behaviour and promoting the message of hope. This does not happen every day! One pupil stayed behind at the end of Figen’s presentation and said, ‘Your talk has made a huge difference to me today.’ I actually think the talk made a huge difference to all of us. I noted how attentively people listened at the time….and since Figen left, her visit has been regularly referred to around school”.

    Jo Anderson, Principal, Bury Grammar School