Testimonials
What people are saying
Endorsements for Expiry Date Never – Age is the New Superpower from business leaders, editors and thinkers across the world of work.

“Expiry Date Never is a profound new roadmap for business, government, nonprofits and individuals to understand how the experience and knowledge of the 50+ year old can continue to drive growth and innovation. Tomlinson and Ballard put forth a compelling argument on how this can be done with fresh insights, examples and suggestions, all with a backdrop of the emerging AI transformation. It's a must read for anyone who wants to understand how to navigate the reality of the new longevity era.”
Michael Clinton
Founder and CEO, Roar Forward; former President and Publishing Director, Hearst Magazines

“We talk endlessly about skills shortages, yet organisations are still overlooking experienced talent – while many individuals over 50 are failing to keep themselves relevant. Neither side gets away with it here. This book is a much-needed reality check for both employers and the 50+ generation. It lays out why experience matters more than ever in a world shaped by AI – but also what individuals need to do to stay in the game: build new networks, develop digital skills and step into work that really matters. Practical, honest and refreshingly direct – this is a book that challenges assumptions and shows how experience can become a genuine competitive advantage.”
Lucy Adams
CEO and Founder, Disruptive HR; former HR Director, BBC; international keynote speaker

“This very readable book explores one of the most important issues facing us individually and as a society, and provides genuinely helpful insight for employers, employees, and those approaching later life.”
Paul Johnson CBE
Provost, The Queen's College, Oxford; Honorary Fellow - Faculty and Institute of Actuaries and Chartered Institute of Taxation; Senior Adviser, Frontier Economics; former Director, Institute of Fiscal Studies and HM Treasury

“I found this book very compelling. It offers so many insights into why age is an 'issue' – what older folk can do about it, and, incredibly usefully, what employers, politicians and policy-makers could do to make the change Victoria and her co-authors argue for. Change that benefits not just older people, but the economy as a whole. A helpful read for those of us transitioning into the latter stages of life – and frankly, essential for anyone with the power to make change. Plus, it was super enjoyable!”
Debra Allcock Tyler
CEO, Directory of Social Change

“As AI accelerates at an unprecedented pace, the demand for human judgement has never been greater - yet we are quietly draining our workplaces of the very people who possess it most. Expiry Date Never is an urgent wake-up call for every CEO and HR director. Victoria Tomlinson and her co-author Louise Ballard make an evidence-based, compelling case that intergenerational teams are a critical competitive advantage, not just a diversity initiative – and that the unretired generation is not a risk, but our secret weapon in the tech revolution. A must-read roadmap for any leader navigating the future of work.”
Lord Tim Clement-Jones
Chair, Global AI Council and The Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society; Honorary President, Ambitious about Autism

“A smart, timely, and deeply human guide to navigating the opportunities of longer lives, Victoria and Louise have written exactly the book this moment demands. With clarity, warmth, and just the right amount of provocation, they challenge tired narratives of ageing and replace them with something far more useful: possibility. This is not just a book about later life – it's a roadmap for rethinking work, purpose, and contribution across all four quarters. If you're wondering what comes next – and how to make it matter – start here.”
Avivah Wittenberg-Cox
CEO, 20-First; Harvard ALI Fellow; Thinkers50 Hall of Fame

“The value of this book lies not just in its clarity, its vivid case studies and its finely-controlled anger at the waste of an older generation's wisdom and experience. It lies in its call to action: not only from government and employers, but from all of us who scoff at the idea that our useful lives are over.”
Michael Skapinker
Work and retirement counsellor, Financial Times contributing editor and author of 'Inside the Leaders' Club: how top companies deal with pressing business issues'

“Timely, insightful and essential reading for anyone interested in maximising the 100-year-life.”
Eleanor Mills
Founder, NOON.org.uk

“The authors' rigorous exploration, critical analysis and powerful insights, drive towards the inevitable conclusion that we have overfocused on the event of retirement and grossly underestimated the growth opportunities from the 50+ leaders – a shocking omission! Multiple case studies highlight the significant impact possible from the 50+ generations and make the compelling and urgent case for changes across society, government, third sector and business.”
Professor Nigel Lockett
Emeritus Professor of Entrepreneurship, serial entrepreneur, experienced mentor and co-author of leading textbook Exploring Entrepreneurship

“An essential guide for all individuals aged 50+ who are seeking practical advice on how to navigate the many opportunities in their life and career journeys. So easy to read because it is written by passionate authors who are continuing to challenge societal norms. The book captures the wisdom of those with lived experience and provides a thoughtful and practical guide for employers and generations of employees.”
Sue Douthwaite
Chair, Kroo Bank, NHS Business Services Authority and The Melton Building Society

“So simple ...so obvious.. but this could fundamentally change society as we know it over the next 30 years.”
Judith Donovan CBE
Trustee, Science Museum Group; Chair of Council, Ripon Cathedral; former chair The Eden Project and Trustee, National Army Museum

“As we seek to keep the human touch through AI role redesign, including navigating the digital literacy of multi-generational workforces AND customers, we must retain the skills needed to protect engagement and business growth – like learning velocity, judgement, and cultural intelligence. Right now we cannot afford to overlook the value of experience in these skills and continuing to reflect the customers we serve. Expiry Date Never challenges organisations to think harder about their experienced talent, while also setting out clearly what individuals need to do to stay relevant, often requiring a disruptive approach to role design and flexibility which helps EVERYONE be more included. Thoughtful, practical, and highly relevant, this is a book that will help shape better workforce strategy, and better outcomes for both employees and customers.”
Julie Stephens
Group People Director, Bupa and Trustee, Age UK York

“Walking into that first conference, I had no idea what to expect. What I found was a room full of extraordinarily experienced people – lawyers, investors, operators – who had genuinely been there, done it and wanted to share it. No agenda. No strings. Just real, hard-won knowledge, offered generously. When I was navigating some of the more challenging dynamics that come with private equity culture – moments where I genuinely questioned my own judgement – having advisors who could tell me clearly what was normal, what wasn't, and what I had every right to push back on was transformational. It gave me back my confidence. Expiry Date Never isn't just a book about age. It's about what happens when experience meets generosity. I've felt the difference it makes.”
Zandra Moore MBE
Founder and CEO, Zygens; Co-Founder and Chair, The Whole Point; Co-Founder, No Code Lab

“Expiry Date Never deals with what it calls a 'ticking time bomb'; the interviews with people are very thought-provoking and definitely worth a read.”
Ajaz Ahmed BEM
Founder, Freeserve

“I realized early on that ageism was a factor in corporates, but was shocked when I saw it hit me even before 40 in my tech career. After I turned 40, my previously full inbox stuffed with recruiters' notes emptied immediately, and I saw how real ageism is. This book inspires by showcasing varied examples of experienced professionals in their mid-to-late careers who are thriving. You'll also receive practical tips on how to navigate the workplace as an older professional, complete with guided exercises. This grounded look at the reality of work for older professionals will help people realize they're not alone, and then move them towards a better future.”
Maureen Wiley Clough
Creator, It Gets Late Early podcast