Amanda Klapish
Author, TEDx Speaker, Life After Abuse Advocate & Co-Director of Sounds Like Women
Introduction:
Amanda speaks with rare courage and humanity about her personal experience of sexual assault, silence, trauma and the long journey of reclaiming your voice.
Through her talks, Amanda helps audiences understand the hidden and often lifelong impact of sexual assault, not only in the immediate aftermath, but in the coping mechanisms and daily reminders that can remain, unseen by others, decades later. Her message is deeply personal, but it reaches far beyond her own experience. She gives people permission to think differently about shame, justice, survival and the silence so many people carry.
She is the author of 4th May: Reclaiming the Day, Reclaiming My Strength and delivered her TEDx Railway Village talk, Why Silence Protects the Wrong People, in Swindon in June 2026.
Expertise & Impact:
Amanda’s talks are powerful because they are grounded in lived experience. She does not speak as a legal expert or a counsellor, but as someone who has been through the system, lived with the consequences, and chosen to use her voice to help others feel less alone.
Since being sexually assaulted in 2004 during what should have been a routine acupuncture appointment, Amanda has lived with her trauma and the lack of closure that resulted from the disappearance of her attacker who was tried and convicted in absentia.
More than 20 years later, Amanda speaks openly about the silence she carried, the trauma of the court process, and the many ways assault can continue to shape a person’s life long after the case has been heard.
Speaking Style:
Amanda speaks with honesty and sensitivity and a calm, warm and deeply human style. She connects with her audiences in a way that enables them to reflect on difficult subjects without feeling overwhelmed or judged.
She firmly believes the topic of sexual abuse should be openly discussed in all forums but is particularly well suited to women’s events and conferences, domestic abuse and sexual violence awareness events, community groups and survivor support organisations and legal, victim support and criminal justice audiences.
Perfect For:
- Women’s Empowerment Conferences
- Health and Wellbeing Summits
- Personal Development Workshops
Career Highlights:
- Author of 4th May: Reclaiming the Day, Reclaiming My Strength
- TEDx Railway Village speaker, delivering Why Silence Protects the Wrong People
- Co-director of Sounds Like Women, supporting aftercare for women and girls affected by abuse
- Community volunteer and local radio contributor
- Jewish Women’s Aid and men’s mental health charity, Matey, volunteer
Key Message:
“You are not alone. There is no shame in what happened to you, and your voice belongs to you. You can use it when you are ready.”
Impact Story:
“I first met Amanda when she spoke at TEDx Railway Village in Swindon, just days after the death of her husband, John. Knowing that John had made her promise she would still take to the stage, I saw from this and the content of her talk that she had incredible strength of character, depth of conviction, and courage behind her message.”