Jonathan Porritt Talk confirmed
Jonathan Porritt Talk confirmed
For the last 30 years, Jonathon has provided strategic advice to leading UK and international companies to deepen their understanding of today’s converging environmental and climate crises.He is also focused on intergenerational justice, supporting young people in their activities around sustainable development issues as they face a future defined by the twin crises of the Climate Emergency and Biodiversity Emergency.He is President of The Conservation Volunteers and is involved in the work of many other NGOs and groups.In 1996, he co-founded Forum for the Future, a leading international sustainable development charity, working with business and civil society to accelerate the shift toward a sustainable future.Jonathon was formerly Co-Chair of the Green Party (1980-83) and Director of Friends of the Earth (1984-90). He stood down as Chair of the UK Sustainable Development Commission in 2009, after nine years providing high-level advice to Government Ministers, and served a ten-year term as Chancellor of Keele University (2012-2022).Jonathon was awarded a CBE in January 2000 for services to environmental protection.SDBF Sponsor 2026:
21/11/26 Civic Hall, Totnes.11 am.Note: there a few steps up to the presentation room.join us for our crime panel
Crime in Modern Times
Sarah Pearse lives by the sea in South Devon with her husband and two daughters. Her acclaimed multi award winning debut novel, The Sanatorium was an instant No.1 Sunday Times and New York Times Top Ten bestseller in hardback, and a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick.Her second novel, The Retreat was also an instant New York and Sunday Times bestseller and was a 'Waterstones Thriller of The Year 2023'.Her third novel 'The Wilds' was published in summer 2024 hardback and summer 2025 paperback. Sarah is currently working on her fourth novel, a standalone thriller.Elizabeth Ducie a successful international manufacturing consultant, when she decided to give it all up and start telling lies for a living. Having been traditionally published in her previous life, she eagerly embraced the world of self-publishing and set up her own imprint in 2011. She has since published nine novels, six collections of short stories, and the Author Business Foundations series of business manuals for writers. She is a regular workshop leader or speaker at writers’ conferences both in person and online. She is currently working on the fifth in her Coombesford Chronicles series of cosy mysteries set in a typical Devon village. In the meantime, she continues to coach new authors on the road towards self-publishing. Elizabeth was the recipient of the 2025 Women in Publishing Lifetime Achievement Award. 21/11/26 Civic Hall Totnes12:00-13:00Note there are steps up to the presentation room.Our panel moderator
Miranda Ramphul is a retired lawyer. She was a Partner in an international law firm based in the City of London and specialised in construction law. On retirement, she moved to Stratford-upon-Avon and sat on various Boards in third sector, including a hospice. In 2022 she moved again, this time to be by the sea in Devon and write. She lives with her husband and Boxer puppy.
Silent Truths, Spoken Lies is her debut novel and is a domestic noir. She is currently working on her second novel.
Miranda was the winner of the Crime at the Coast 100-word Flash Fiction Competition 2024.
Our panel members
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Stephanie Austin is the author of the best-selling Devon Mystery Series, published by Allison and Busby, a series of contemporary crime novels set in the Dartmoor town of Ashburton and featuring reluctant amateur sleuth and antique shop owner, Juno Browne.Stephanie lives in Devon and had a varied career as a teacher, artist and antiques trader before becoming a writer, and has a long history as an actor and director in amateur theatre. When not writing she likes to garden and cook.The latest book in the series, is ‘A Dartmoor Christmas Card Murder.’A talk by
ed buckingham
21/11/26 Civic hall, Totnes.
13:00-14:00
Note: There are a few steps up to the presentation room7 Summits – Is an autobiography about me. This is the 2nd edition coming out late 2025. It's about my upbringing and education living in Cornwall. The history of the mountains I have climbed as well as my experiences of climbing them. It concludes by talking about what we are doing to our planet worldwide and closer to home. The book is designed to be motivational and inspirational in whatever we may wish to do or desire. Or the alternative is just an avid read to a regular reader. Price £15.
Toby Goes Extreme In Antarctica – Is designed for the younger reader both educational, environmental and the work of fiction. It is based on a young boy living in Cornwall who has the opportunity of going to Antarctica and going on some adventures. As well as a story to follow there are plenty of my own images alongside the text making it easier to follow and relate. Price £9.
For more information, please go to
www.facebook.com/Onecornishmanor contact
edwardbuckingham895@msn.com
SDBF Sponsor 2026
A talk by
colin bostock-smith
Civic Hall Totnes 21/11/2614:00 - 15:00Note: There are a few steps up to the presentation room.SDBF Sponsor 2026