I grew up eating a ‘white bread’ diet and was a picky eater until my twenties. What changed? I started caring about food when our family moved to France for a year when my children were small. They started eating – and loving – foods like fish, broccoli, spinach, and even mussels and Roquefort cheese! Our entire family underwent a food revolution, and I was so inspired that I wrote a book called French Kids Eat Everything.

Ever since, I’ve been on a quest to understand why and how picky eating can be cured – and prevented, which is the topic of my latest book Getting To Yum. I love combining my scientific training together with my parenting experience!

I have spoken to audiences around the world on these themes, and have prepared workshops and seminars for nutritional science professionals, paediatric professionals, parents, teachers and many others.

Water: our most valuable resource

In academic spheres, I am Dr. Karen Bakker, Professor, Canada Research Chair, and Founding Director of the Program on Water Governance at the University of British Columbia’s Institute for Resources, Environment, and Sustainability.

I’ve conducted research on four continents about some of our most pressing water issues, from “water wars” to water-related health epidemics, and acted as advisor to a range of international organizations, including the UN and the OECD. I have published over 100 academic publications (including books with Oxford, Cornell, and Toronto University Press), and speak on water-related issues in Canada and around the world.

To book Karen Le Billon, contact Rob Firing at speakers@transatlanticagency.com.