Alison Kervin is a novelist, journalist, and media adviser regarded as one of her generation's most successful sports journalists. She is the only journalist in Britain to be awarded an OBE for her services to the sports media.
Today, she sits on two boards, and she gives speeches and runs workshops full of lessons: how to be more resilient, overcome rejection, work as a woman in a man’s world, and go from the bottom to the top of an industry dominated by men. She draws from personal experiences like being the first woman to cover football in Iran, battling to make women’s boxing legal, being challenged by Mike Tyson and being booed in the House of Commons. Her stories are funny, gripping, and meaningful.
“Her talks have received standing ovations, and Alison is credited with boosting morale, galvanising workforces and being a ‘tour de force’.” (The Times)
"She gives powerful speeches full of colourful stories and will have everyone in the room buzzing with excitement and determined to succeed." (The Telegraph)
"She has done as much over the years for battling females as any woman since Boadicea.” (The Spectator).
Kervin started her career as a sports journalist by fighting to be taken seriously when there were few other female sports journalists around. She sent articles to national newspapers under the name ‘A Kervin’ rather than revealing her gender and leapt over barriers and round obstacles to make it to the top. She won numerous awards along the way,…feature writer of the Year, Campaigning Journalist of the Year, editor of the Year, Cosmopolitan magazine’s Woman of Achievement, Interviewer of the Year and Magazine Editor of the Year.
“Sports and journalism are very difficult areas for women to achieve success in — and to champion both is amazing. Bravo.” Baroness Brady, West Ham vice-chair
“Alison's work on behalf of women in sport has helped break the gender barrier for women on the field of play and in administration.” Lord Sebastian Coe
“I've known Alison for over 20 years. She was one of the first women to write about rugby, which at the time was truly groundbreaking. I have always held her in the highest regard because she has never shied away from controversy or been afraid to speak her mind and became a role model for women working in a historically male-dominated environment.” Sir Clive Woodward, World Cup-winning coach
“Alison is a hugely impressive figure in the sports world with a sporting pedigree few sports editors can rival. Of course, it really doesn’t matter whether The Mail on Sunday’s sports editor is a man or a woman – but I can think of no better candidate to break the mould than Alison.” Geordie Greig, editor of the Daily Mail.
“Alison is a trailblazer in the sports industry. Not only is she a fantastic journalist and writer, she has pushed the boundaries in becoming one of very few female sports editors in the world.” Gabby Logan, TV presenter
“I'm thrilled Alison's achievement in being the first female sports editor of a national newspaper has been recognised and hope it encourages many more women into sports journalism.” Clare Balding, TV presenter on Alison being awarded an OBE
“Alison knows the job inside out and back-to-front and it's a pleasure to work for her.” Stuart Broad, England cricketer
Her talks are motivating and relatable.
A bit more background info:
Before her editing job, Alison worked as the Chief Sports Feature Writer for The Times, the Chief Sports Interviewer for the Daily Telegraph, and the editor of Rugby World magazine. She was in the England gymnastics squad before qualifying as a coach for at least 10 sports. In 1991, she became the first woman to referee a rugby match at Twickenham.
In 1994, she was appointed editor of Rugby World magazine. In 1997, she became publisher of IPC sports publications, overseeing Rugby World and Golf Monthly. In 1999, she became the rugby editor of The Times before becoming the paper’s chief sports feature writer in 2003.
As Chief Sports Features Writer, she wrote The Kervin Interview, a weekly interview series that ran for three years and featured stars ranging from Nick Faldo and Michael Owen to Prince Edward and Sean Connery. She even managed to interview Catherine Zeta-Jones by accosting her in the ladies' toilets at a sports event in Monte Carlo.
Before working as a newspaper and magazine interviewer, Alison was The Times' rugby editor for two years, and prior to that she was editor of Rugby World - the biggest-selling rugby magazine in the world. Alison worked for the Rugby Football Union as the public relations manager of the England team, was the first woman presenter on Rugby Special.
She also holds coaching qualifications in 10 sports and sits on numerous judging panels, including the BAFTAS, BBC Sports Personality of the Year, Laureus International Sports Awards and the Magazine Journalist and Sports Journalist of the Year Awards.
She has written over 40 novels and nonfiction books under her name and her pseudonym, Bernice Bloom (https://www.bernicebloom.com). She also runs Gold Medals Media (https://www.goldmedalsmedia.com), a media agency that gives advice, provides media training, and designs communications strategies using only expert journalists.
She is working on several books, including the inspirational ‘There is no glass ceiling’ about how to make it to the top—even when the odds are against you.