Futurism & Strategic Foresight Speakers

Leyla Acaroglu is a sociologist, a designer, and a leading voice on sustainability, innovation, and social change. She is the founder of Disrupt Design, a company that provides tools and training to help people and organizations create a more sustainable and resilient future. Her work is a powerful counterpoint to a world of corporate shortsightedness. A compelling keynote speaker, Acaroglu provides a clear and intellectual overview of the principles of sustainable design, innovation, and social change. She speaks on leadership, organizational culture, and the importance of a more human-centered approach to business. Her talks are ideal for leaders and teams.

Kevin Slavin is a game design pioneer and media theorist who co-founded the influential game studio Area/Code. His work is a powerful look at how algorithms are shaping our world, a topic he explored in his highly popular TED Talk. He is an expert on the intersection of technology, digital media, and human behavior. A compelling keynote speaker, Slavin shares his insights on game development, technology, and the future of human-computer interaction. He speaks on how algorithms impact business, strategy, and daily life, offering audiences a clear roadmap for understanding the forces that drive our digital world.

Tony Seba is a top-ranked futurist, Amazon bestselling author, and the Co-founder of the think tank RethinkX. He is a world-renowned forecaster of disruptions in energy and transportation.

Viswanathan Anand is one of the greatest chess players in history, a five-time World Chess Champion, and India's first Grandmaster. He is widely considered the strongest rapid player of his generation. As an inspirational speaker, he keenly promotes the game, translating his expertise in strategy and decision-making into vivid, fascinating insights for corporate and general audiences. He is a Board Member of Olympic Gold Quest and actively supports NGOs for spastic and autistic children.

Dr. Kip S. Thorne is a Nobel Laureate in Physics (2017), Feynman Professor Emeritus at Caltech, and the co-founder of the LIGO observatory, which detected gravitational waves for the first time in 2015. He is an acclaimed author whose work, including Black Holes and Time Warps, has brought the leading edge of astrophysics to a mass audience. His keynotes illuminate the astonishing science behind the film Interstellar, providing an authoritative perspective on gravitational physics, wormholes, and the future of space exploration.

Ayesha Khanna is the Co-Founder and CEO of ADDO AI, a firm specializing in AI solutions. She is a strategic advisor to governments and major corporations on Artificial Intelligence, smart cities, and innovation strategy. Her firm, ADDO AI, was recognized by Forbes as a leading AI company in Asia. As a keynote speaker, Ayesha shares actionable insights on scenario analysis, new product development, and how countries and companies can harness technology to gain a competitive edge, as detailed in her book Hybrid Reality.

Dr. Finn Kydland is a Nobel Laureate in Economics (2004) and a prominent macroeconomist recognized for his pivotal contributions to the theory of business cycles and economic policy formulation. As a respected authority, his theories heavily influence today's macroeconomics. His keynotes offer audiences worldwide significant, data-driven insights on monetary and fiscal policy, the dynamics of the global economy, and the political economics that govern national and international markets.

Toby Walsh is a world-leading expert on artificial intelligence and the author of 2062: The World that AI Made. As a professor of AI at the University of New South Wales, he is a prominent voice in the ethical and societal implications of AI. As a keynote speaker, Walsh provides a clear and balanced perspective on the future of artificial intelligence. He offers a compelling look at the potential of AI while also raising the critical questions we must answer to ensure it is developed responsibly.

Daniel Burrus is a world-renowned Futurist and strategic advisor to Fortune 500 companies, celebrated for his exceptional accuracy in predicting technology trends and disruptions. The author of bestsellers including Flash Foresight and The Anticipatory Organization, his philosophy centers on leveraging Hard Trends to anticipate disruption and achieve a competitive advantage. His keynotes provide leaders with practical strategies for turning change into an opportunity for exponential growth.

Dr. Daniel Kraft is a physician, inventor, and entrepreneur who is the Founder of NextMed Health and the Faculty Chair for Medicine at Singularity University. He is a leading expert on exponential technologies in biomedicine and healthcare. With over 25 years of experience and degrees from Stanford and Harvard Medical School, his insights are vital for predicting the future of health, medicine, and technology. His talks, including four TED appearances, provide a compelling vision for personalized, data-driven medicine, improved healthspan, and the democratization of health.

Dr. David Hanson is the Founder and CEO of Hanson Robotics and the creator of Sophia the Robot. He is a leading expert in the development of human-like robots with the ultimate goal of achieving safe and benign superintelligent AI. His Ph.D. dissertation, "Humanizing Robots," outlines his mission to bring robots to life through artistic and scientific research. His keynotes inspire audiences to learn about the future of AI, robotics, and innovation, and how to safely navigate the ethical implications of creating truly aware and conscious machines.

Tim Urban is the co-founder of the widely popular blog Wait But Why and a renowned speaker known for simplifying complex subjects like AI, technology, and the human experience through his unique long-form writing and illustrations. His TED Talk on procrastination is one of the most-watched of all time. His bestselling book, What’s Our Problem?, introduces a groundbreaking framework for understanding societal challenges by analyzing how we think rather than what we think.

Dr. Jürgen Schmidhuber is a pioneering expert in AI and deep learning, serving as the Scientific Director of the Swiss AI Lab, IDSIA. His groundbreaking work has significantly advanced neural network technology. The recipient of the Neural Networks Pioneer Award and the Godel Prize, he is the author of influential books on AI and deep learning. As a highly sought-after speaker, he shares authoritative insights on neural networks, their impact on society, and the accelerating progress toward advanced artificial intelligence.

Dr. Didier Queloz is a Nobel Laureate in Physics (2019) and a Professor at the University of Cambridge and ETH Zurich. He is the co-discoverer of the first exoplanet, a finding that revolutionized the field of astrophysics. His research now focuses on the detection of Earth-like planets and the search for universal life. As a speaker, he translates his groundbreaking scientific work into exciting and accessible insights on the formation and evolution of planets, aiming to spread passion for science and the limitless possibilities of exoplanet exploration.

Hashem Al-Ghaili is a science communicator and a leading voice on the future of science and technology. With a background in biotechnology, he is the creator of the viral "Science Nature Page," which has over 30 million followers and is a go-to source for news and information on scientific breakthroughs. A visionary keynote speaker, Al-Ghaili provides a clear and compelling look at the future of science. He speaks on biotechnology, AI, and sustainable energy, offering audiences a transformative guide to understanding the latest scientific breakthroughs and their impact on business and society.

Michelle K. Lee is a leading expert on innovation and intellectual property law. She is the former Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), a role in which she was the first woman to serve. She also has a distinguished career in Silicon Valley, including as Deputy General Counsel for Google. A compelling keynote speaker, Lee provides an expert overview of the challenges and opportunities in the world of innovation, intellectual property, and technology policy. Her talks are ideal for leaders and innovators who want to learn how to protect their ideas and foster a culture of creativity and growth.

Rudy de Waele is a Futurist, personal transformation coach, and an alumnus of Singularity University. He is a leading expert in innovation strategies, IoT, and digital transformation. He has created over 200 industry events globally and advises major brands including Google, IBM, and Louis Vuitton. His keynotes, informed by his book Shift 2020, provide leaders with actionable insights on how to re-invent businesses by leveraging AI, robotics, and digital transformation.

Greg Verdino is a top-ranked futurist, strategic advisor, and the founder of CognitivePath, an AI consultancy. He is a co-creator of The Adapt Manifesto, a movement focused on helping organizations navigate exponential change. The author of Never Normal and microMARKETING, his expertise is sought after by over 50 Fortune 500 companies, including GE, Citibank, and Nestlé. His keynotes provide proven methodologies for digital strategy, business transformation, and harnessing the power of generative AI to enhance productivity and create strategic advantage.