Matt Ellison Speaker Focus

Matt Ellison is a entertaining and thought-provoking transgender speaker. His life experience as a trans man has fascinated and inspired audiences of all kinds in both private and public sectors in the U.K. and internationally. I first met Matt is 2020 as he speaking work was growing and its been a real pleasure watching his speaking career develop with some amazing (and moving) feedback from the events he has worked on for us.

He has kindly answered some questions for us for us May Speaker Focus piece.

Hi Matt, how are you? In the past 3 to 4 years you have been one of our more popular speakers – how did the speaking journey start for you?

Thanks so much for inviting me to be part of your Speaker Focus—and for the thoughtful questions. I’m doing really well and hope you are too. My journey into public speaking began with a simple but powerful aim: to prevent even one person from going through what I did—years of silent struggle, fear, and masking. When I finally found the courage to transition from female to male, everything changed. It felt like a weight had lifted. I could finally be myself, not just survive day to day, but actually live.

I often think about how different things might have been if someone like me had walked into my school and shared their story. I believe I would have found the courage to begin my journey much earlier and spared myself so much pain. That’s why I started this work—to be that person for someone else. Even just one. What’s interesting is that despite being incredibly shy at school, I loved giving presentations. I never felt nervous—just excited. I suppose the seeds were already there.

In the beginning, I didn’t understand why my story had such a powerful impact. It was simply my life—my ‘normal’. But I quickly realised that lived experience has a unique ability to connect, to resonate, and to shift perspectives. My story might be specific, but the emotions and themes—fear, resilience, hope—are universal. People see their own struggles in mine, even if the circumstances differ.

That’s especially true in the world of Diversity and Inclusion and change leadership. Hearing the lived perspective of someone from a marginalised background helps people—especially allies—gain a deeper understanding of what it feels like to be part of a community that’s so often misunderstood or attacked. It equips them to be more compassionate, more proactive, and ultimately, more effective allies.

What began as a simple hope to help someone like me live a better life has evolved into something far greater. My story resonates with people from all walks of life, and by opening up about my journey, I give individuals, companies, and organisations the opportunity to better understand not just me—but the broader experiences of those who are often marginalised. That understanding empowers them to be true allies, which can make a life-changing difference. It can be the reason someone—whether trans, gay, or anyone who feels different—finds the courage to live their truth.
I feel incredibly lucky to be able to do this work, to help create change, and to do it through something I genuinely love.

What many people would consider to be a very personal story, were you nervous at first sharing your story, or was there a real strong desire to help educate people?

No, surprisingly, I wasn’t nervous at all about sharing my story when I first started speaking. Which is quite something, considering I spent nearly four decades almost paralysed by fear that someone might find out the truth. For most of my life, my identity was something I hid—even from those closest to me. I’d sworn at the age of five that I would take this secret to my grave. But when I made the decision to transition, I had to tell everyone—family, friends, colleagues, clients, and people from my past who I hadn’t seen for years but didn’t want to lose touch with. It was hundreds of conversations, and each one involved opening up about what had been, for so long, my deepest fear.

And yet, every single person responded with warmth, kindness, and understanding. Not only did I not lose people—I became closer to many of them than ever before. It taught me something profound: when people hear the truth—when they truly understand—they get it.

That’s what gave me the confidence to speak publicly. I realised that the fear and hatred I see directed at this community so often comes from ignorance or misunderstanding. And I’ve seen first-hand the difference it makes when that gap is bridged.

Now, every time I stand in front of an audience, I see it as an opportunity—to shift perceptions, to open hearts, and to move the conversation forward. That’s not something I fear. That’s something I find incredibly exciting.

Without giving too much away from your speech are you able to explain “the frog”?

Now, if I tell you, I’ll have to kill you! (Just kidding.)
The little frog is actually a powerful metaphor for several things—especially allyship. It helps people understand how to be a better ally, how to say or do the right thing even when they’re still learning, and how to avoid saying the wrong thing without fear or paralysis.

I often get asked, “How do we even start the conversation? We want to educate ourselves, but we’re scared of saying the wrong thing and offending someone.”
Well… the principle of the little frog gives people the tools and confidence to start those conversations with compassion and curiosity, rather than fear. And it’s not just relevant to trans inclusion—this principle resonates across so many areas of diversity and inclusion. There are hundreds of ‘little frogs’ out there we can draw from—but to understand it fully, you’ll have to come and hear one of my talks!

One area I know you get asked to cover is Allyship. For those of us who don’t know what that is – can you explain a bit more on this and how important is it in organisations?

Absolutely! Allyship is about showing the people around you that you support them, that you understand—or are trying to understand—and that you’re on their side. And that kind of support is incredibly powerful. It gives people like me the confidence to be ourselves. When someone feels safe enough to show up as who they really are, they’re happier, more fulfilled, and more willing to fully engage with life. That doesn’t just benefit the individual—it lifts the whole environment. Whether you’re a colleague, a team leader, or part of an organisation, everyone gains when people feel relaxed, safe, and included. It creates a space where people want to thrive.

That’s the impact of real allyship. And the best part? You don’t have to have all the answers. You just need the willingness to try—and that’s where the principle of the little frog comes in.

It felt very much that since the pandemic there was a real growth in companies looking for speakers on diversity and inclusion, but this year has felt quieter in that regards? What is your current thoughts on what you are seeing from a speaker demand in this area?

Yes, I completely agree—it’s been noticeably quiet on the diversity and inclusion front this year, the quietest I’ve seen since around 2020/21. From speaking with others in the profession, it’s clear there’s been a downward trend in enquiries and bookings across the board.

I wish this reflected a reduced need for D&I work, but unfortunately, the reality seems quite the opposite. In many ways, it feels like we’ve taken some significant steps backward. These shifts don’t necessarily come from malice—they often stem from a lack of understanding or confidence in how to navigate these topics. That’s exactly why education is more important now than ever. Recent developments—like the rise of anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric in the US with Trump back in the White House, the Cass Review’s impact on support for trans youth, and the recent UK Supreme Court’s ruling on the definition of ‘sex’ in the Equality Act—have created a lot of confusion and concern. In particular, the Supreme Court ruling has left many people unsure about how to interpret and apply it in practice.

The ruling is being seen by some as a ‘win’ for those seeking to exclude trans people from spaces that align with their gender identity—but with the right understanding and guidance, this clarification could actually help organisations craft more inclusive, legally sound policies. That’s why now is not the time to retreat from these conversations.

As much as I’d love to live in a world where D&I training was no longer necessary, we’re simply not there yet. And truthfully, for the first time since my transition over a decade ago, I’ve found myself feeling scared and uncertain about the future—about the rights that could be lost, and the kind of discrimination that could be waiting ahead if we don’t push for progress.

So yes—I really hope we do see an uptick again. Because this work matters, now more than ever.

I know you do a lot of sport which continues to be a highly debated subject when it comes to transgender participation. Do you see a possible way forward?

This is a sensitive and complex issue. Often, opposition to trans women in sport stems from a lack of understanding. Public pressure has led some policymakers to exclude trans women from female categories, and media coverage tends to sensationalise rather than reflect the full picture. While trans women may retain characteristics like a larger frame or heart and lung size, hormone treatment significantly reduces muscle mass and stamina.

This reduction in muscle mass affects their power output, and while their frame and organs may remain larger, they now have less muscle to generate the necessary power to fully utilize that size. Studies have shown, this creates a situation where the physical advantages often assumed not only do not hold, but actually lead to a potential disadvantage when competing against cis women, let alone against men, where many now find is the only category they are permitted to compete in.

Allowing participation in name only, without meaningful inclusion, results in effective exclusion. It will take time to fully understand the role of hormones and physiology, but in the meantime, we must keep advocating for informed, fair, and inclusive policies.

For those interested in learning more about the effects of hormone treatment for trans individuals, here is a useful study.

Additionally, here’s a fantastic resource for supporting trans and non-binary inclusion in grassroots sports:

Is there another speaker you have seen that has inspired you?

Yes, Simon Sinek is one speaker who I find particularly profound. He has an incredible ability to explain concepts in a way that truly resonates and sticks with me. Another speaker who has had a significant impact on me is actually someone we both know well—Anthony Bennett. I first met him at your speaker showcase event in January 2020, where I had the privilege of hearing him speak. That was one of the first times I truly understood the power of sharing a personal story, and it left a lasting impression on me. I suggest readers look him up!

And lastly I know you teach guitar, as an amateur learning to play myself, is there a few easy songs you can recommend i can start with?

Nice question! It really depends on your level, but for a basic start, you’ll want to master a few open chords, get comfortable switching between them, and have a capo on hand. Once you have those, you can begin strumming these examples, one chord per bar, 4 beats per bar, and repeat –

Counting Stars by One Republic (capo 9th fret) – Em / G / D / C

Hall Of Fame by The Script (capo 3rd fret) – Em / C / G / D

Galway Girl by Ed Sheeran (capo 2nd fret) – Em / G / D / C

Let me know how you get on? Lastly thank you again for inviting me to be a part of your Speaker Focus Series.

For more information on Matt Ellison please visit is his webpage or contact us on enquiries@scampspeakers.co.uk