Erica Farmer is one of the UK's leading voices on AI and human potential, serving as the co-founder of the Quantum Rise Talent Group. With over 25 years of experience across sectors, including learning, development and apprenticeships, she has worked with well-known brands such as British Gas, Virgin, Specsavers and LV=. As a finalist in the 2025 Speaker Awards, Erica specialises in AI and future skills, delivering thought-provoking insights through her keynotes at conferences, corporate events and industry panels.
After gaining a Bachelor of Applied Sciences from the University of Gloucestershire, Erica held senior leadership roles in customer service, operations, and learning and development, such as the Head of Learning at The Mission Group. In 2019, she founded her first venture, Welcome Two Learning Ltd, where she provided the support needed for virtual learning. After 18 successful months, she partnered with Quantum Rise to create Quantum Rise Talent Group.
In 2022, Erica further developed her flourishing platform by creating EricaFarmer.ai, where she provides engaging keynotes to build audiences' confidence and competence in AI and future skills. Within this, she has delivered speeches for top clients including LinkedIn, Biffa, the NHS and SLCC. Additionally, she works as a LinkedIn Learning Instructor and an advisory board member of the AI in Work and Skills Forum, drawing on her expertise to deliver engaging, accessible learning modules that foster AI innovation across industries. Recognised for her professional achievements, Erica was shortlisted in HR Magazine's Most Influential list, named a HR Top Mind and was highly commended at the Speaker Awards in 2026.
Erica is passionate about providing opportunities in business, such as through her podcast ‘AI for the Average Joe’, where she makes the complexity of artificial intelligence understandable. Additionally, Erica recently published her first book, ‘AI for People Professionals’, aiming to demystify AI. Her TEDx talk, ‘Reforming Education Through the Digital First Mindset’, which has been selected to feature on TED.com, inspires professionals’ systems to evolve with technology and enhance the future of work. Erica has the rare ability to translate complex topics such as AI, hybrid leadership and digital transformation into practical insights that leave audiences with actionable strategies.
Books
AI for People Professionals: Understand How to Use Artificial Intelligence in Your HR Role
Erica Farmer's official speaking topics are listed below:
Identify Your AI Dividend: Future Proofing People, Not Just Performance
The AI Dividend™ is a human-first keynote that shows what becomes possible when organisations stop treating people as AI users and start supporting them as humans navigating change. Rather than focusing only on efficiency and productivity, Erica helps audiences identify how AI can create personal value through more time, headspace, confidence, motivation and wellbeing.
This keynote tackles one of the biggest barriers to AI adoption: people are being asked to embrace a technology they often feel uncertain about, without enough trust, psychological safety or connection to what it means for them personally. By helping people identify their own AI Dividend™, this talk drives stronger engagement, more meaningful adoption and a workforce that is better equipped to thrive with AI, not just tolerate it.
How to Drive a People-First AI Implementation: Building AI Adoption That People Will Actually Follow
This keynote helps organisations address one of the most common reasons AI initiatives stall: too much focus on the technology, not enough on the people expected to use it. Erica shows audiences how to implement AI in a way that builds trust, capability and momentum by putting human experience, communication and behaviour change at the centre.
This session tackles the gap between having an AI strategy on paper and creating adoption in practice. Clients get a clearer understanding of how to lead AI implementation in ways that reduce resistance, strengthen confidence and turn AI from a top-down mandate into something people can genuinely engage with and use well.
AI as Your Wellness Ally: Using AI to Reduce Overwhelm, Not Add to It
This keynote reframes AI as more than a productivity tool and explores how it can support healthier, more sustainable ways of living and working. After all, mental health queries were the highest volume of prompt themes in Microsoft Copilot in 2025 and 2026! Erica shows audiences how AI can help reduce friction, create structure, support better habits and free up mental energy in ways that improve both performance and wellbeing.
The session addresses a growing challenge for organisations: people are already stretched, and new technology can easily feel like one more thing to learn, manage or fear. Clients get a more balanced and human-centred conversation about AI, helping their people see how it can support focus, resilience and day-to-day effectiveness rather than simply driving more output.
Activating Leadership, AI and Psychological Safety: Creating the Conditions for AI Adoption to Succeed
This keynote helps leaders understand that successful AI adoption is not just about tools, policy or budget. It is about whether people feel safe enough to experiment, ask questions, make mistakes and learn in public. Erica gives leaders practical ways to create the trust, clarity and role modelling needed to make that happen.
The talk tackles one of the most overlooked barriers in AI transformation: employees will not use AI meaningfully if they fear getting it wrong, looking foolish or being judged. Clients get managers and leaders who are better able to communicate with confidence, reduce anxiety and create the cultural conditions that make adoption more likely to stick.
Empowering Women to Lead with AI: Ensuring Women Shape the AI Future, Not Just Work Inside It
This keynote is designed for organisations that want women to engage with AI from a position of confidence, influence and visibility. Erica explores how AI is reshaping work and leadership, while equipping women to use it in ways that amplify their strengths, strengthen their voice and increase their impact.
The talk addresses a real commercial and cultural risk: if confidence with AI develops unevenly, existing visibility and progression gaps can widen. Clients get a session that not only inspires women to engage with AI more actively, but also supports broader goals around leadership development, inclusion and future-ready talent.
Official Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events
“We asked Erica to keynote at our annual European sales and marketing conference in Cologne, Germany, as she stood out in the market as an engaging, people-first expert AI speaker, and that was exactly what we got. The session was very dynamic and interactive, keeping the audience fully involved throughout, which landed exceptionally well. We've received only positive feedback, and the overall impression is excellent." - Marketing Manager, Hitachi Energy Europe
"I was really pleased with the amount of sharing they warmed to and how their examples were all quite personal but allowed the conversation to get them thinking about AI not just as task but as research, thinking time, coaching and practising." - Head of Transformation, NatWest
“Erica Farmer didn't just speak about the future of HR on PowerToHR 4 - she brought it into the room. With powerful insights, bold energy, and a clear understanding of where people leadership is heading." - CEO, PowerToHR Global Summit
"We invited Erica to deliver the "Al for the Average Joe" session. Like most businesses, we are on a Journey with Al and keen to develop our understanding of the potential impact and opportunities Al presents across all areas of our day-to-day roles. Erica delivered a keynote speech in the morning and a hands-on interactive session in the afternoon playing with ChatGPT and she went down a storm with the team. Thanks, Erica for an engaging, insightful and fun day. Thoroughly recommend this session to any organisation as part of their Al journey." - Paul, Head of Learning at Biffa
"I met Erica at an L&D event and was impressed by her warmth and down-to- earth approach. I booked her for a keynote speech and workshop on Al as part of an emerging leadership conference. Her content was practical and engaging, her style upbeat and often amusing. I would highly recommend Erica if you're looking to engage staff in conversations about Al and the related skills at your organisation." - Alexandra, Global Head of Learning and Development, lon Group
"Erica is a very easy listening professional speaker, with an added fizz of energy and enthusiasm for creative disruption; disruption of thought and perception for what is possible in the use of Al and digital technology in the delivery of higher technical and professional skills programmes including higher and degree apprenticeships." - Dr. Mandy, Chief Executive, University Vocational Awards Council (UVAC)
"'Refreshing, talks the talk and walks the walk, inspirational, has high impact and best talk of the week' are all phrases used to describe the speaking event delivered by Erica to our organisation." - Emma, Development Manager, League Football Education England
"Erica is Informative, thought provoking and her ability to engage with the audience is second to none. Her presentations captures the audience attention from the go. I would recommend Erica for any speaking opportunities that might arise." - Lindsay, CEO, The Apprenticeship Group and Conference
- 2026 - Published book 'AI for People Professionals'
- 2026 - Highly Commended at Speaker Awards
- 2026 - Shortlisted in HR Magazine's Most Influential list
- 2026 - Recognised as HR Top Mind by HR World
- 2025 - Finalist at the Speaker Awards in the category of 'Best AI and Future Tech' speaker
- 2022 - Created EricaFarmer.ai
- 2022 - Became a LinkedIn Learning Instructor and Course Author
- 2021 - Co-founded Quantum Rise Talent Group
- 2019 - Founded Welcome Two Learning Ltd
- 2019 - Partner Development Manager at Specsavers
- 2018 - Head of Talent, Leadership Development and Apprenticeships at Virgin Care
- 2018 - Head of Learning at The Mission Group
- 2015 - Apprenticeship Lead and Trailblazer Chair at Centrica
- 2014 - Apprenticeship and Work Based Learning Area Manager at HIT Training
- 2010 - Life and Pensions Training Manager at LV=
- 2009 - Learning and Development Trainer Facilitator at Working Links
- 2008 - Training and Client Relationship Manager at BPA Quality UK
How to hire Erica Farmer
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Erica Farmer for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
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