Empty space, drag to resize

Our Speaking Team

Are you looking for someone to speak at your event? 
We have team of phenomenal team of highly experienced speakers who are available
- in-person or virtual -
for keynoting, conferences, workshops, trainings, and more! 
Elizabeth Vahey Smith
Tanya Crossman
Anna Danforth
Chesed Dent
Empty space, drag to resize

Tanya Crossman

Empty space, drag to resize

Tanya Crossman is the Director of Research and International Education at TCK Training, a leading provider of preventive care for Third Culture Kids (TCKs) and globally mobile families. Tanya has worked with international families for 20 years, and is the author of two books on the subject: Misunderstood: The Impact of Growing Up Overseas in the 21st Century (2016) and Thongs or Flip Flops? Australian kids overseas and what comes next (2024). 

Tanya has spoken to international schools, UN teams, and other intercultural groups in 17 countries on 5 continents and is well known for her research on the impact of global mobility on families and children; she is the lead author of three white papers on the subject and a frequent guest speaker on podcasts sharing practical ways to help families thrive in their international lives.

Tanya moved within her native Australia and to/from the USA during childhood due to her father's job with a multinational company, later living and working in China and Cambodia as well. She has consulted with international schools for over 10 years, including a stint as a substitute teacher, and was the cultural and linguistic minority in most of her workplaces, especially as an English speaker in Chinese workplaces (from intern through to HR manager). Tanya has a Bachelor of Asian Studies from the Australian National University, a Diploma of Mandarin Chinese from the Beijing Language and Culture University, and a Master of Divinity from the Australian University of Theology.

Previous speaking engagements include:

Adelaide YA TCK Network
Australian HR Institute
Child Safety and Protection Network conference
Families In Global Transition conference
Future Makers conference
International MTSS Online Forum
International School Counselor Association conference
International TCK Conference
ISB Chinese Language Conference
MI Reentry Retreat
NSW MK Network
SENIA Beijing conference
UNICEF Dakar
UNFPA
UNWFP
Vision conference
World Team France

International School Clients include:

Australian International School Singapore
Cheng Du International School
Dakar Academy
Dar es Salaam International Academy
Dwight School Seoul
Grace International School (Chiang Mai)
Haven of Peace Academy (Tanzania)
Hope International School (Beijing)
Hope International School (Phnom Penh)
International School of Beijing
Keystone Academy Beijing
Khartoum International Community School
International School of Kuala Lumpur
International School of Tanganyika (Dar es Salaam)
Morrison Academy (Taipei)
Morrison Academy (Taichung)
Northstar Academy (USA)
Project Canaan (Eswatini)
QIS International School of Shengyang
Tsing Hua International School (Beijing)
Wellington College Shanghai

Empty space, drag to resize

Chesed Dent

Empty space, drag to resize

When Chesed Dent was 16 years old, she was interviewed in front of 1000s of people at a large conference about what it was like to be a third culture kid from Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia. It ignited an awareness inside of her that God had made her to really thrive in opportunities where she can advocate and bring understanding through public speaking. This is a passion and skill that she has continued to develop through the years. 

Chesed has worked with third culture kids for over 20 years specializing in emerging adulthood and the transition process that TCKs go through as they return to their passport country for college. She partners coaching on self-awareness and transition understanding with discipleship that is rooted in the biblical metanarrative. She holds two masters degrees: a Master of Arts in Global Studies from Liberty University and a Master of Arts in Christian Studies from Southeastern Theological Baptist Seminary. Her research focused on Identity formation in emerging adults during cross-cultural transition seasons. 

Since 2012 Chesed has been based in Virginia at Liberty University where she has filled multiple roles supporting third culture kids during their transition to college, training college students for cross-cultural life and service, and serving as a divinity professor. She regularly speaks and trains on various topics related to crossing cultures and TCK life in her classroom, in podcasts, and as a conference speaker. She feels honored for any opportunity she gets to share about the things God has impassioned her for. 

Previous Classes & Publications Include:
Engaging Oral Communicators, Liberty University
Intercultural Communication and Engagement, Liberty University
“Finding Direction to Redeem the Nations.”  - Contributor
“Grand Narrative as Worldview.” In Reflections on 21st Century Orality - Contributor
"The Grand Narrative Worldview: A Narrative Inquiry into the Impact of Biblical Metanarrative Teaching in Liberty University’s School of Divinity Global Studies Program" 

Previous Speaking Engagements Include: 
“What God said Before They Wandered.” Truth4TCKs 2024 Conference.
“Home is not a Place. It’s a Presence: A Theology of Home through the Biblical Metanarrative.” International Mission Board TCK Thanksgiving Retreat.
“Fill The Earth: God’s Heart for The Nations through the Biblical Story.”  North Greenville University Global Impact Week. 
“Biblical Metanarrative: Story as Worldview.” International Orality Network North America Regional Conference.
“Helping TCKs and Students on Mission Find Their Place in the Grand Narrative.” University Educators For Global Engagement.
“Third Culture Kids.” University Educators For Global Engagement.
“Third Culture Kids.” Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
“Third Culture Kids.” Mississippi College.
“TCKs & the Bible.” Keynote Speaker. Camp Miki. International Mission Board.

Empty space, drag to resize
Empty space, drag to resize

Anna Danforth

Anna Danforth is a TCK Training Instructor and Presenter, known for delivering specialized training and tailored resources to equip international organizations and expat families for effective global assignments. Her passion for supporting globally mobile families began at 17 when she used her lived experience as a TCK in rural Africa and at boarding school to train new TCKs at the SIL International's Africa Orientation Course for a 1.5 year assignment. Connection is the central theme in her messaging, emphasizing its vital role in building family, cultural, and spiritual health.

A published author, Anna has written Raising a Family Overseas: Building Connection With Your Family And Host Culture During Transition (2023) and Sam’s Roommate Disaster (2024), a middle-grade TCK novel focused on boarding school life and friendship. She is an experienced guest speaker on expat family health and TCK advocacy, contributing to podcasts, radio shows, television, mission training institutions, and is a writer for A Life Overseas. 

Anna's background in education includes the public and private sectors in the U.S. and abroad as well as homeschooling. She served as Chair of the World Languages Department and co-developed homeschool cooperatives in Lesotho and South Africa. Her teaching achievements include annually guiding students at Cedar Falls High School to regional and national recognition through the National French Exam. Anna’s expertise in education has driven the development of cross-cultural training programs, pre-field training for global workers, accredited job skills training in South Africa, onboarding intensives for mission teams, and an after-school program for at-risk youth.

As a certified family and TCK debriefer, Anna’s experience has come full circle, joining TCK Training to help global workers cultivate healthy family life and service in their international assignments. Having grown up in Quebec and Cameroon and being married to a TCK from D.R. Congo, Anna valued the both challenges and the richness of raising her own two children cross-culturally in Lesotho and South Africa, where she has lived since 2013. Her extensive international experience as a TCK and global worker, paired with a Bachelor of Secondary French Teaching from the University of Northern Iowa and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Liberty University Concordia, equips her to offer valuable insights and specialized training.

Previous Speaking Engagements:

Raising Healthy TCKs Conference (Marrakech, Tangier)
MK Synergy Summit (Dallas)
Moody Aviation Intro to Missions (Spokane, repeating)
Ethical Image Sharing Genesis Hope (South Africa)
Cedar Valley Missions Conference (Iowa, repeating)
University of Northern Iowa (Humanities & Africa events, Iowa, repeating)
Iowa World Languages Association (Iowa)

Upcoming Speaking Engagements in 2025:

Raising Healthy TCKs Conference (Cyprus)

International Christian Educators Conference,
ACSI (Malaysia)
Parenting With Purpose (South Africa)

Training Topics Include (but not limited to):

Raising Healthy TCKs,
Unstacking Your Grief Tower,
Developing a Flow of Care Plan for Global Workers, Critical Components of Pre-Field Training,
Positive Childhood Experiences,
Adverse Childhood Experiences,
Safe Space Responses,
Adult TCKs and Marriage,
Adult TCKs and Parenting,
Ethical Image Sharing for Global Workers,
Holistic Health for TCKs,
Stress on the Field,
Healthy Risk-Taking and Child Development, Learning Through Leading Bible Study Framework

Empty space, drag to resize

Elizabeth Vahey Smith

Empty space, drag to resize

Elizabeth Vahey Smith is a certified Trauma-Informed Care Practitioner and certified Debriefer with an MA in Applied Linguistics and over a decade of leadership experience. She is COO of TCK Training and Unstacking Co., where they focus on advancing trauma-informed practices and psychological safety through the work of grief-processing.

Over the past five years, Elizabeth has conducted independent studies and field research on emotional processing and trauma-informed leadership. Her work includes leading workplace trauma debriefs and analyzing insights from a comprehensive survey of 260 respondents on the erosion of psychological safety in the workplace. This research informs her frameworks and strategies for helping leaders foster trust and resilience within their teams.

Elizabeth is the author of "The Practice of Processing" and the newly released "Trauma-Informed Leadership: Navigating through trauma and triggers to build resilient and successful teams." In addition to writing, Elizabeth is an international keynote speaker, presenting on topics of psychological safety and emotional processing.

Having appeared on numerous podcasts and blogs, Elizabeth is dedicated to spreading awareness about trauma-informed practices and the vital importance of processing, including the transformative impact on leaders, teams, and families. When not working, Elizabeth travels full-time with her husband and two children, exploring the world, 27 countries and counting.

Elizabeth works primarily with leaders and aspiring leaders, empowering them to navigate workplace challenges and build psychologically safe environments. With a unique blend of practical experience, research-backed insights, and a global perspective, Elizabeth helps transform leadership practices to create resilient, engaged teams.

Previous Speaking Engagements:

Family Retreat Facilitator (South Africa) 
Keynote Speaker for One Collective Conference (Ecuador) 
Keynote Speaker for CSPN (USA)
Keynote Speaker for Company Conference (Thailand)
International Conference on Missions (USA)
Keynote Speaker for Company Conference (upcoming)

Training Topics Include (but not limited to):

TCKs and Wellbeing
Psychological Safety
Trauma-Informed Care
Emotional Processing
Unstacking your Grief Tower
Cultivating Thriving

Empty space, drag to resize

Frequently asked questions

What is a TCK?

There is rich discussion on the precise definition of a TCK. When we're developing our materials, we focus on children who have lived outside their passport country for a significant portion of time with the intent to repatriate. We intend this definition when we say TCK. However, we realize that there are a lot of circumstances that blur the lines. Regardless of how you fit into this definition, we've found that what's good for TCKs is good for everyone. 

Who is TCK Training for?

All TCKs and those who care about TCKs. 
Whether you care for TCKs because you have a couple in particular that you love, or you work for an organization and found yourself an honorary auntie or uncle; whether you're in a TCK care position or Member Care and wondering how to support the TCKs within your org; whether you're leadership in an organization, company, military, or government services that send families abroad, or you're an international school or worldschool hub receiving globally mobile children; whether you're a church who sends missionaries or other financial contributor to relocating families internationally, we're here to help you intentionally and thoughtfully care for your TCKs with excellence.