About the Author

Lesley O’Brien, PhD

Author, Neuroscientist, Speaker

Biography

Lesley recently released her debut illustrated children's book, Unfurmiliar Territory, the Adventures of Captain Marco. She enjoys blending her love of neuroscience, storytelling, and sailing, by engaging in unexpected and creative ways to see the world around us.

Dr. Lesley O’Brien is a former high school dropout turned hairdresser, turned neuroscientist, and an English American writer, adventurer, sailor, and ailurophile. As an accomplished scientist, Lesley is an author with extensive academic publications as well as a developing illustrated children's book series.

Lesley was born and raised in the flat, inland county of Cheshire, Old England, but has spent her last 25 years on various parts of the North American continent. For almost two decades Lesley has worked as a researcher. She is currently faculty at California Southern University, teaching psycho-pharmacology to doctoral students in clinical psychology.

When not sailing the Chesapeake Bay, or writing stories inspired by her cat Marco, Lesley is finding new mountains to climb and generally squeezing the last drop out of life. A lover of long horizons and salty air, Lesley is a proponent of reinventing oneself whenever the conveyor belt of life is no longer in service.

 

Speaking & Presentation Topics

The neuroscience of nautical cats: why felines make great sailors

Captain Marco and the neuroscience of storytelling

Paws or Purrsist: what cats can teach us about leadership

 

Summary Statement: Lesley has written on leadership in science as well as published peer-reviewed research papers on topics such as brain injury, cannabinoids and memory. She is a scientific educator and mentor, now taking a brave leap into the world of children's fiction in partnership with her cat Marco and a talented illustrator. Her humor, warmth, and passion for science shine through every speaking engagement. Lesley has extensive experience in presenting to diverse audiences and she is able to blend her love of storytelling, sailing and neuroscience to create unique, unexpected insights that will change the way you see the world around you.

Contact: orangekittykreative@gmail.com for more details around speaking engagements.