Alison Kervin

Alison Kervin OBE is a leading British journalist, author and keynote speaker whose career has reshaped expectations in sport, media and leadership. She is best known as the first female Sports Editor of a UK national newspaper, a landmark achievement that placed her at the centre of elite sporting conversation for nearly a decade. With close to forty years in the media, Alison brings authority, warmth and hard-earned insight to the stage, speaking on confidence, resilience and performing under pressure.

Before journalism became her profession, sport was Alison’s foundation. She was a member of the England gymnastics squad and went on to qualify as a coach in ten different sports, giving her an unusually deep understanding of preparation, discipline and mindset. In 1991, she became the first woman to referee a rugby match at Twickenham, a moment that captured her willingness to step into spaces where women were rarely welcomed. Alison later joined the Rugby Football Union, working with elite players and administrators before moving fully into publishing and journalism. These formative years shaped her belief that confidence is built, not inherited, and that resilience is learned through repeated exposure to pressure.

Alison’s editorial career is defined by a series of senior leadership roles. She was appointed Editor of Rugby World magazine, later becoming Publisher of IPC Sports Titles, overseeing leading publications including Rugby World and Golf Monthly. She joined The Times as Rugby Editor, then rose to Chief Sports Feature Writer, where she authored a weekly interview series that ran for five years and featured more than 250 global figures. Alison went on to become Chief Sports Interviewer at The Daily Telegraph before making history in 2013 as Sports Editor of the Mail on Sunday, a position she held for eight years. During this time, she led a sustained and influential concussion campaign that changed how head injuries were treated across sport. Her contribution was formally recognised when she was awarded an OBE in the 2017 New Year Honours. Alongside journalism, Alison has written more than 40 books, across sport, biography and fiction, and continues to advise organisations as Founder of Gold Medals Media.

As a keynote speaker, Alison draws on decades spent working alongside Olympic champions, World Cup winners and global leaders. Her talks explore confidence under scrutiny, resilience in long careers, leadership when decisions carry weight, and how mindset shapes sustained success. She shares practical lessons drawn from elite sport and high-pressure newsrooms, including insights from asking hundreds of high achievers why they believed they succeeded. Alison’s style is engaging, direct and rich with real stories, making her a compelling choice for organisations seeking inspiration with substance.