Alison Sharman
Executive TV producer and former controller of BBC1 & BBC2 Daytime
*Fees are a guide only. Exact cost will be dependent on requirements and are subject to change.
About Alison Sharman
Before building her coaching practice, Alison held a succession of major leadership roles: Controller of BBC1 & BBC2 Daytime, Head of BBC Children’s, ITV’s Director of Factual & Daytime, and later Head of Commissioning at SBS Australia. Her track record includes commissioning some of the UK’s most iconic television brands — from MasterChef, Horrible Histories and Charlie & Lola to Long Lost Family, This Morning, Loose Women, and The Sarah Jane Adventures. She is widely recognised for her ability to spot and nurture talent, working with household names including Joanna Lumley, Billy Connolly, Michael Winner and Trevor McDonald.
Alison’s leadership impact is rooted in her ability to revitalise teams, shape compelling creative visions and deliver outstanding organisational performance. At ITV, she built a programming strategy that drove both commercial growth and cultural momentum. At the BBC, she reshaped the children’s division, establishing a defining vision for CBeebies and CBBC. At SBS in Sydney, she was appointed as the broadcaster’s first Head of Commissioning, delivering award-winning content and attracting world-class creative talent.
Since returning to the UK in 2016, Alison has combined her advisory work with academic teaching, lecturing on the MA Television at UAL, and coaching senior executives at the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Coaching for Behavioural Change (Distinction) from Henley Business School and was awarded the Hardingham Prize for Exceptional Performance.
Today, Alison is in high demand as both an executive coach and a keynote speaker. Her sessions draw on decades of experience navigating change, leading diverse creative teams, and delivering results in complex, high-profile environments. Whether speaking about leadership, resilience, creativity, innovation or organisational transformation, she brings warmth, candour and deep insight — helping audiences unlock potential and lead with greater impact.
To book Keynote Speaker Alison Sharman, contact The Speakers Agency on +44(0)1332 810481 or email enquiries@thespeakersagency.com
Leading the Way
Alison has a reputation for dynamic leadership, building world-class brands and creating a culture that enables teams to deliver excellence. This speech will reveal how to stimulate and channel creativity and innovation; and how to manage people and teams in order to deliver great results.
How to Create a Hit
Alison has developed, created and scheduled some of the UK’s biggest television shows. How do you create a hit? The foundation stones of building a successful brand are the same whether it is a hit show or a best-selling marmalade. She outlines the ten secrets to creating a winner.
My Best Friend is called Change
Change management is here to stay. Technologies and global developments mean change is now a permanent state. Change is not just good, it’s great and organisations must wholeheartedly embrace change in order to survive. Her experience of change and how it’s become her best friend in life.
How to Be Successful in Television as a Woman
Alison joined the BBC as a secretary on consumer show Watchdog and then went on to hold some of the biggest media jobs in the broadcasting industry. How did she do it? She will take you behind the camera of building a career in the TV industry.
Creation in the Digital World
Television has been through a seismic technological revolution and the revolution continues. As a media executive who has lived through this incredible modernization, Alison will share the strategies and approaches for building success in the digital age.
Testimonials
"I run creative leadership and senior diversity programmes across television. Alison soon became the coach of choice. Her exec level background combined with her personality and coaching approach meant she was always in demand. Alison combines style, warmth and humour. Her coaching has been truly transformational for my clients. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her."
"Such a set of profoundly-insightful and experience-based advice."
"Your speech changed the way I think about my life."
