Speaking
Twelve billion working days
are lost worldwide every year to depression and anxiety, costing around a trillion dollars in lost productivity.
Dr Kat treats this absence problem as a prevention problem. As a trauma psychologist with fifteen years’ experience across psychological services in the prison service, NHS, military and emergency services, she has spent her career treating people in the aftermath of deterioration. Her experience has given her a close view of psychological breakdown at its most extreme, and a clearer view of what comes before it.
Dr Kat’s talks are about intervening early, before people break down. She draws on her clinical experience of what decline looks like while there is still time to act and what it costs to miss it. Known for her engaging speaking style, she speaks the language of the room, whether that room is a high-stakes organisation, a leadership conference or a public stage.
Source: World Health Organisation and International Labour Organisation, 2022
Signature Keynote
Before They Break
Why Early Intervention Matters in Military & Frontline Trauma
Veterans wait an average of fourteen years after leaving service before asking for help.* Fourteen years of decline that costs someone their relationships, their career or even their life. This talk explains why people deteriorate for years before reaching out, sets out the five signs of the WARNS framework, and makes the case for building early intervention into how organisations operate rather than treating people after crisis.
Audiences leave with:
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The five observable changes that appear during deterioration
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What early intervention costs against what decline, resignation and long-term absence cost
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One action they can take away and implement immediately
Available as a 15-minute talk, a 30-minute or 45-minute keynote, shaped around your audience.
*Source: Combat Stress
Speaking Topics
The Cost of Operational Stress
For leaders, boards and decision-makers
Last year a record 19,443 UK police officers were signed off with stress, depression, anxiety or PTSD.* The fifth consecutive annual rise, and more than triple the figure of thirteen years ago. Every one of those forces has a wellbeing offer.
Every resignation, sickness absence and performance issue has a story behind it, and most organisations only ever see the outcome. This talk puts a number on what late intervention costs and argues that psychological risk belongs on the risk register rather than in the welfare budget.
The Warning Signs Hiding in Plain Sight
For line managers, supervisors and team leaders
Withdrawal. Anger. Restlessness. Numbing. Sleep. The five behavioural changes of the WARNS framework, taught in practical detail: what each warning sign looks like day to day, why it gets attributed to something else, and what to do in the conversation that follows. The most hands-on of the four, and the one that works best as a workshop.
Protecting Your High Performers
For any organisation where the stakes are high
The people most at risk are the ones least likely to raise it, and usually the ones the organisation can least afford to lose. They absorb pressure so the team does not have to, which makes them look like the safest people in the room. This talk looks at why capability and risk travel together and why the strongest performer is often the one furthest along.
Formats
Keynotes
15-minute talk, 30-minute or 45-minute keynote, for conferences, leadership events and industry audiences.
Panels and firesides
Expert insight on operational stress, trauma, early intervention and psychological risk.
Workshops
Interactive sessions that equip leaders to recognise warning signs and build systems for earlier intervention.
Media and commentary
Calm under pressure, quotable and media ready.
Who She Speaks To
Organisations where the stakes are high, the pace is relentless and the people are their greatest asset.
Defence and Military
Healthcare & clinical teams
Emergency Services
Private security & high-risk operations
Search & Rescue
Other high-stakes organisations
Testimonials
" Dr Kat Aguilera delivered a compelling talk on the importance of mental health support."
Gibraltar Chronicle,
reporting on GibTalks 2026
"Powerful, insightful and passionately delivered. It highlighted the long-term consequences of delayed treatment and the critical importance of early intervention."
Angelo Cerisola,
Executive Director, Care Agency, HM Government of Gibraltar
Book Dr Kat
For availability, fees and topic discussions, get in touch.
