Invite Girlymicro to speak at your conference, feature on a podcast, or give an after dinner speech
Professor Elaine Cloutman-Green BEM, commonly known as the Girlymicrobiologist, is an award-winning Consultant Clinical Scientist, Infection Control Doctor, and a leading international voice in healthcare science, public engagement, and infection prevention. In addition to her own blog, and podcast, she frequently speaks at a variety of public events, fusing world-class clinical expertise with an engaging, storytelling-driven approach. Whether exploring the hidden science of hospital environments or analysing the fact versus fiction of infections in movies, her high-energy presentations challenge traditional academic boundaries and leave audiences inspired to lead with purpose.
Renowned for her warmth, she brings a refreshing, emotionally intelligent, and humorous perspective to leadership, high-stakes NHS environments, and science related public engagement. With a background of speaking in venues from pubs and libraries to 1000+ seat auditoriums, Elaine bridges the gap between science and pop culture. Her upcoming book, Don’t Open the Door: A microbiologists guide to infection in movies and TV, explores the bizarre, occasionally accurate, and sometimes downright hilarious portrayals of diseases in movies and TV, making for an incredibly entertaining and punchy keynote.
Public engagement and after dinner speaking
Far from a clinical academic siting in an ivory tower wrapped in a lab coat, Elaine brings infectious energy, sharp wit, and unexpected cultural crossovers to the after-dinner stage and public engagement stage. Honored with a British Empire Medal (BEM) for her services to healthcare, she seamlessly transforms the complex world of clinical microbiology into relatable, gripping, and deeply human storytelling.
Elaine’s presentations are tailor-made for corporate dinners, award ceremonies, and scientific galas looking for the perfect blend of high-utility insights and memorable laugh-out-loud entertainment.
Key After-Dinner Speaking Topics
- Fact vs. Fiction: Infections in Movies & TV – An irreverent, crowd-pleasing dive into what Hollywood gets hilariously wrong (and occasionally right) about pandemics, zombies, and laboratory protocols.
- Tales from the Lab Trenches – Uplifting, funny, and emotional behind-the-scenes stories from the team responsible for 80% of NHS diagnostic decisions.
- Stepping Out of the Box – An inspiring look at overcoming career stereotypes, finding unadulterated joy in high-pressure sectors, and why leadership desperately needs more emotional authenticity.
Widely known to the public and scientific community as the voice behind the popular Girlymicrobiologist blog, she has dedicated over a decade to tearing down the traditional, rigid hierarchies of medicine. Her focus is centered on a firm belief that complex science must be accessible, transparent, and entertaining to everyone.
Elaine’s public engagement portfolio spans traditional and highly creative mediums, from adventures in stand up comedy (linked to Steve Cross) to establishing a theatre project with playwright Nicola Baldwin.
“Nosocomial” The Play: She acted as the Scientific Advisor for the acclaimed public engagement play “Nosocomial”, which won the Public Health England Antibiotic Guardian Award. The production utilised dark comedy and live performance to illuminate the invisible world of healthcare scientists and the global threat of antimicrobial resistance. This work then went on to form the Nosocomial project, which has gone on to produce numerous plays and pieces of public engagement.
Podcast guest speaker
As a leading voice in healthcare science, public engagement, and microbiology, she brings sharp clinical expertise, advocacy for women in STEM, and a witty, accessible storytelling style to global audio audiences. Elaine is an experienced remote guest equipped with high-quality audio recording gear. She accommodates interviews spanning deep clinical science, general public health education, creative arts communication, and institutional leadership.
The Swinging Palm Trees Podcast | Geeking Out Over Infections in Film
- Focus: Blends science communication with pop culture to explore how infections are mirrored in film.
- Key Takeaway: Explores the background of her book Don’t Open the Door, alongside open discussions on mental health and workplace wellbeing.
Tales of Female Badassery | Speaking Truth to Power
- Focus: Shares her professional path, overcoming imposter syndrome, and leadership.
- Key Takeaway: Highlights how her popular Girlymicrobiologist Blog serves as an empowering platform to advocate for safer healthcare policies and support women in science.
Bugs, Babies and Bill Gates | Fighting Infections Everywhere
- Focus: Using genomics for infection control and tracking pathways from Great Ormond Street Hospital to West Africa.
- Key Takeaway: Part of the Life in the Lab series, highlights her critical role in using advanced science to improve infant survival rates and hospital sanitation standards.
Going Macro on Micro | Integrated Solutions for a Healthier Tomorrow
- Focus: Discusses the essential cornerstones of an effective infection control framework.
- Key Takeaway: Emphasizes using flexible education, interdisciplinary communication, and strategic One Health collaboration to solve modern hospital infrastructure challenges.
Microbe Talk (Microbiology Society) | Conversations on Collaboration
- Focus: Examines the role of cross-disciplinary coordination in infection management.
- Key Takeaway: Outlines why bridging the gap between clinical labs, clinical academic research, and patient-facing roles improves modern diagnostic data pipelines.
Conference and professional speaker engagements
Elaine is an acclaimed Consultant Clinical Scientist, Deputy Director of Infection Prevention and Control, and Lead Healthcare Scientist, holding an Honorary Professorship at University College London (UCL). She is a globally recognised expert on the role of the environment in transmitting healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs), infection prevention and control, as well as the application of genomics to infectious contexts. She is a dynamic and highly sought-after keynote speaker addressing thousands of participants across meetings every year.
Elaine’s speaking engagements humanise the world of healthcare science. She demonstrates how protecting vulnerable young patients requires a blend of rigorous clinical strategy, public engagement, and creative, co-produced advocacy.
Girlymicro 