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About Dr Tom
Dr Tom is a neurodiversity expert who helps organisations navigate neurodiversity without the nonsense.
I’ve never had the luxury of following the easy route.
Dr Tom is unique in the world of neurodiversity speakers. He doesn’t just talk about neurodivergence. He’s lived it, treated it, researched it, and shaped policy around it.
Most neurodiversity speakers come from one angle. They have lived experience, clinical knowledge, or academic credentials. Dr Tom has all of them.
Perhaps we are going to have to curb this streak of independence, so Tom isn't quite so noticable
Diagnosed with ADHD at the age of five, my early years were a paradox. A loving, attachment-focused family life. And, in stark contrast, an education system that labelled me “the bad kid” and told my mum I’d be in prison before I was 16.
For four years, I sat facing a blackboard, isolated from my classmates, teachers instructing the others to imagine a wall between me and them.
Words weren’t allowed to cross. But they did.
“At 15, three exceptional
teachers changed my story."
They recognised I wasn’t broken. I was gifted. Twice exceptional. From that moment, everything shifted.
I earned a place on the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth, scored 100% in my history A-Level, and pursued a degree in Ancient History (because I read a book and thought, “Why not?”).
I almost joined the Royal Marines. Trained for the fire service. None of it fit.
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“What did fit... Changing lives.”
I started as a support worker for adults with brain injuries and mental health challenges. I loved it. But I hated the systemic failures. I didn’t want to complain – I wanted to fix things. So I trained as a mental health nurse, achieving the highest mark that year and earning the Heath Award for Nursing Excellence. Still, the system wasn’t changing fast enough.
So, I wrote parenting courses. Created ADHD support frameworks. And when bureaucracy said, “That’s not our business,” I thought – then I’ll make it mine.
I jumped straight from undergrad to PhD. Became an academic. Then a lecturer. Then an Assistant Professor. Researching. Teaching. Challenging. Fighting for a better future for neurodivergent people. And along the way, I found a second passion – speaking.
I trained at Toastmasters International. Became Head of Mentoring in the North-East. Competed nationally. I went from £50 gigs to keynotes of 19,000 people live that make audiences laugh, cry, and – most importantly – care.
Because that’s the goal. Not to lecture. Not to "raise awareness".
But to to make sure that no child goes through the experiences I did, and any adult who did knows that it wasn’t okay and that their story can change
Today, my mission is clear: To deliver a message to the world about how we can navigate neurodiversity with nuance. That we don’t need to fall back on tired tropes and clickbait headlines. That understanding comes from combining the academic, the lived experience, and the clinical.
And to ensure no child goes through the same experiences I had, and any adult who did knows that it wasn’t okay and their stories can be changed.
That’s why I work with schools, corporate teams, healthcare providers, and policymakers. I support neurodiversity wherever I’m needed.
And that’s why, when I take the stage or lead training, I don’t just bring credentials and research. I bring a story. One that proves change is possible.
Ready to start your journey?
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