Humanitarian, Journalist, Founder of Healing Kashmir, Author of ‘In the Valley of Mist’ & Dayton Literary Peace Prize Runner Up
Justine Hardy’s Biography:
Justine Hardy is an acclaimed British author, journalist and humanitarian whose career has been shaped by fearless reporting, literary achievement and frontline humanitarian work across South Asia. Best known for her powerful writing on Kashmir, conflict recovery and human resilience, Justine has built an international reputation for combining deeply human storytelling with practical experience in trauma recovery and mental health advocacy. Her work explores the realities of conflict zones with compassion and authority, making her a compelling voice on leadership, resilience, global affairs and social responsibility. Audiences hire Justine as a keynote speaker because she delivers first-hand insight into some of the world’s most challenging humanitarian crises while inspiring organisations with stories of courage, recovery and transformation.
Justine began her literary career with the publication of her debut travelogue, ‘The Ochre Border: A Journey through the Tibetan Frontierlands’, which established her reputation as an insightful observer of culture and geopolitics. She followed this with the publication of ‘Scoop-Wallah: Life on a Delhi Daily’, a journalistic memoir shortlisted for the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award, alongside ‘Goat: A Story about Kashmir and Notting Hill’, which explored identity and conflict across two contrasting worlds. Her commercial success continued with the release of ‘Bollywood Boy’, a vivid examination of Hindi film stardom and celebrity culture. Alongside her writing career, Justine became deeply involved in humanitarian work in Kashmir, directing projects that rebuilt homes, schools and medical clinics following the devastating earthquake in the region. Her commitment to long-term recovery led her to found Healing Kashmir, an integrated mental health initiative offering psychiatric support and suicide prevention services throughout the area.
Her literary and humanitarian achievements have received widespread critical recognition. Justine’s novel ‘The Wonder House’ was shortlisted for the Authors’ Club Best First Novel Award, confirming her strength as both a fiction and non-fiction writer. Her acclaimed work ‘In the Valley of Mist’, which examined the Kashmiri conflict with extraordinary depth and sensitivity, was selected as a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week and later became runner-up for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. Her international standing in trauma recovery and human rights advocacy was further recognised through an internship with the Oslo Scholars Program for her continuing global work in these fields. These achievements demonstrate why Justine is frequently invited to speak at leadership forums, humanitarian conferences and cultural events around the world.
Why Hire Justine Hardy?
In recent years, Justine expanded her literary catalogue with the publication of her novel ‘Dust’, which explored the humanitarian aid environment across Pakistan and the United Kingdom. Her unique career combines journalism, literature and hands on humanitarian leadership, allowing her to speak with authenticity on resilience, conflict resolution, mental health and cultural understanding. Unlike commentators who observe crises from afar, Justine brings lived experience from the front lines of recovery and reconciliation. Her keynote speeches are valued for their emotional intelligence, intellectual depth and practical insight, leaving audiences informed, challenged and inspired to think differently about leadership, empathy and global responsibility.
Justine Hardy’s Career Highlights:
Here are some of the key milestones that define Justine Hardy’s remarkable career:
- 2021 – Published her novel ‘Dust’ which explores the humanitarian aid environment in Pakistan and the United Kingdom
- 2011 – Awarded an internship with the Oslo Scholars Program for her ongoing global human rights and trauma recovery work
- 2010 – Earned runner-up status for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize following the release of her narrative non-fiction book In the Valley of Mist
- 2009 – Saw her descriptive work on the Kashmiri conflict, ‘In the Valley of Mist’, selected as a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week
- 2008 – Founded Healing Kashmir, an integrated mental health framework providing critical psychiatric aid and suicide prevention helplines across the region
- 2006 – Shortlisted for the Authors’ Club Best First Novel Award for her debut fiction release ‘The Wonder House’
- 2005 – Directed local humanitarian projects to rebuild homes, clinics, and schools following the devastating Kashmir earthquake
- 2002 – Published her commercial hit non-fiction book ‘Bollywood Boy’ detailing the culture of Hindi movie stardom
- 2000 – Shortlisted for the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award for her journalistic memoir ‘Scoop-Wallah: Life on a Delhi Daily’
- 2000 – Published her dual-location descriptive book ‘Goat: A Story about Kashmir and Notting Hill’
- 1995 – Published her debut travelogue book ‘The Ochre Border: A Journey through the Tibetan Frontierlands’
Videos
Justine Hardy’s Official Keynote Speaking Videos & Showreel:
Testimonials
‘You made me smell and taste Kashmir again after so long a thousand thanks…’ – Joanna Lumley
‘Her sessions here are a tour de force – intellectual and accessible.’ – Institute of Global Leadership, Tufts University, Boston
Speaking Topics
Justine Hardy’s Official Keynote Topics:
- Psychology
- Mental Health
- Wellbeing
How Much Does Justine Hardy Cost to Hire?
How Much Does it Cost to Hire Justine Hardy?
Justine Hardy’s speaking fees vary depending on the event format, location, duration and level of preparation required. For an accurate quote, please share your event date, location and brief with an official booking agent.