“I can truly say that to hear Gill’s voice filling the theatre—familiar, intelligent, revelatory, comforting—this is the voice I want to hear more of as we all navigate the most tumultuous times on planet earth.”
Gillian Deacon is an award-winning broadcaster and bestselling author who spent over 10 years as host of Here & Now, Toronto’s afternoon drive show on CBC Radio One. She is a regular guest host on CBC radio’s flagship network arts program Q. She currently hosts the popular Apple-Featured podcast A Love Affair with the Unknown.
Gill is the author of the national bestsellers There’s Lead in Your Lipstick: Toxins in Everyday Bodycare and How to Avoid Them(Penguin, 2011), and Green For Life (Penguin, 2008) and the memoir Naked Imperfection (Penguin, 2014). Her latest book A Love Affair With The Unknown: Leaning into the Uncertainty of Modern Life was published by House of Anansi in January 2026.
She has written for the Globe and Mail, CBC.ca and Chatelaine magazine. She was awarded a one-month paid residency in the Literary Journalism program of the Banff Centre for the Arts.
Gill worked for many years on television, as host of CBC’s The Gill Deacon Show, and before that as co-host of @discovery.ca for five years on Discovery Channel Canada and Discoveries This Week for Discovery Science Channel in the U.S. Her work as a broadcaster has earned Gill a Gold medal at the New York Film and Television awards and a Canadian Screen Award nomination.
A former director with WWF Canada, Evergreen Foundation and Writers’ Trust, Gill lives in Toronto with her family. You can learn more about Gill and her outstanding career on her website here.
Speaking Topics:
Learning to Love the Question more than the Answer
What if uncertainty isn’t something to fear, but something to embrace? How can we reframe the way we think about not knowing all the answers and grow more comfortable with—even enthusiastic about—the liminal? Gill’s talk encourages a new relationship to fear, a greater tolerance for ambiguity, and a renewed capacity for wonder. Her personal story of resilience is the starting point for an invigorating, inspiring keynote that leaves audiences filled with hope, invigorated by the surprising strength that can emerge when we stop trying to outrun the unknown and learn, instead, to see it as the birthplace of possibility.
Curiosity Is a Competitive Advantage: Why Innovation Depends on Not Knowing
From art to science to leadership, nothing original emerges from certainty. Gill’s talk makes a compelling case that creativity, insight, and ethical decision-making all require a tolerance for not knowing. Clinging too closely to hard data is a path to peril. When we cling to our certainties, we become closed-minded; assumptions shut us off from learning and observing other possibilities. By reframing our relationship with the unknown, Gill’s talk leaves audiences motivated to be resourceful, innovative and courageous.
Leading in the Liminal: How to Make Better Decisions When the Future Is Unclear
No matter how much we may wish it were otherwise, uncertainty and upheaval are the reality of our times. Individuals and organizations alike are operating in an “in-between” state—between old models and new, certainty and ambiguity, stability and disruption. But a rush toward control, tantalizing though it may seem, is shortsighted. Gill’s talk helps leaders stay grounded, present and effective when there’s no clear roadmap, as she reframes uncertainty not as a failure of planning, but as a prerequisite for growth and meaningful change. Audiences will come to see uncertainty as productive terrain, not a problem to eliminate
“Gillian Deacon has hosted and emceed numerous events for Scotiabank, particularly within our arts and culture sponsorship portfolio, and she is exceptional at what she does. Gill is an utter professional—she quickly understands the brief, brings genuine warmth and charisma to the stage, and has an impressive ability to adapt seamlessly in the moment. Her presence consistently elevates the guest experience and adds credibility and energy to every event she touches. I would highly recommend Gillian for hosting, emceeing, and public speaking engagements of any scale.” — Ryan Burella, Director of Global Sponsorships, Scotiabank
“Having recently shared the stage with the incomparable Gill Deacon, I can truly say that to hear Gill’s voice filling the theatre—familiar, intelligent, revelatory, comforting—this is the voice I want to hear more of as we all navigate the most tumultuous times on planet earth.” — Melanie Doane, Juno-award winning musician and artistic director, Doane Music School
Gill Deacon in the Media: