Unforgettable Presentations

This 50-minute short course, led by *Richard Treves, is specifically designed to help river restoration professionals create a lasting impact with their presentations. While the principles are broadly applicable, the course focuses on the 15-minute presentation format typical of River Restoration Centre (RRC) conferences, guiding you through an introductory structure that anyone can master. You will learn why the most effective planning happens away from the computer, using paper and persona sketches to deeply understand your audience, whether they are practitioners, managers, or researchers. 

By defining a clear driving message and focusing on the central benefits for your listeners, you can ensure your talk avoids common "deadly sins" such as overrunning or delivering a weak conclusion. 

The curriculum dives into the technical and creative aspects of visual design and delivery, teaching you to avoid the common mistake of overcrowding slides. You will explore best practices for river-specific graphics, such as using muted grey base maps to make catchment data pop, avoiding the "rainbow of doom" colour palette, and utilizing "build animations" to explain complex layers piece-by-piece. 

The course also provides practical advice on spoken delivery, emphasizing the power of storytelling and the importance of facing the audience rather than turning towards the screen to use a laser pointer. 

Finally, you are encouraged to hone your skills through recorded practice, comparing your performance against high-standard examples like TED talks to achieve the professional execution required for high-stakes presentations.   

Course Objectives 

By the end of the course, participants will be able to: 

• Plan presentations more effectively by developing ideas and structure away from slide software, using analogue techniques to clarify thinking, prioritise key messages, and eliminate unnecessary content.
• Design presentations with a clear, engaging narrative structure, applying simple storytelling frameworks to create strong openings, coherent development, and memorable conclusions.
• Motivate audiences through benefits rather than fear, using insights from psychology to increase engagement, openness, and willingness to act.
• Create clear, professional slide designs that support spoken delivery, avoiding overcrowding and using white space and minimal text to direct attention and improve understanding.
• Deliver presentations with greater confidence and audience connection, using purposeful visual cues instead of distracting tools and habits that undermine presence. 

*Richard Treves, SFHEA:  With three decades of experience at the forefront of higher education and professional training, Richard Treves is a seasoned lecturer, facilitator, and educational researcher. As a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Richard has dedicated his career to elevating teaching standards. His extensive portfolio includes managing and quality-assuring tutors at the Open University, as well as mentoring the next generation of Geography lecturers and post-graduate educators. He brings a deep, research-backed understanding of pedagogy to every presentation and training session he leads.