Making the Most of Rapid Change and New Technologies
New information is bombarding us at a rapid pace; making the space for you and your team to consider new ways of working, thinking and leading is an essential response to the rapid change we are living in. These new ways will help those who embrace them to move forward with intelligent optimism and increased adaptability, towards better collaboration so our current difficult problems can actually be solved, and so that humanity can achieve outcomes previously thought impossible.
By engaging a futurist to speak to your team, you can kickstart your journey of re-imagining what is possible, including exploring the benefits AI brings to humanity while celebrating the unique qualities that make us truly human. A futurist will help you consider the questions and concerns that AI naturally raises, and replace any fear your team may have with understanding so that you can harness its potential.
What is a Futurist?
Futurists employ a combination of research, analysis, and creative thinking to identify emerging patterns and extrapolate their potential consequences.
The methodology followed by a futurist might look something like:
- Trend Analysis: Identifying and analysing current and emerging trends across various sectors.
- Scenario Planning: Developing multiple potential future scenarios based on different variables. Sophisticated software might be used for such scenario planning.
- Risk Assessment: Evaluating the potential risks and opportunities associated with each scenario.
- Strategic Foresight: A futurist will work with vast amounts of historical data in a particular area of endeavour. This helps a futurist to provide insights that enable organisations to make informed strategic decisions.
By engaging a futurist speaker, your organisation can gain access to a unique perspective that transcends conventional thinking. Futurists can illuminate the potential impacts of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the amazing possibilities that lie ahead for all of us.
A futurist can help you and your organisation to explore the potential impact of technological, social, and economic shifts, and how they might affect your customers, competitors and the marketplace. The ability to anticipate and adapt to future trends will help your organisation move forward into that future, well-equipped.
Thought Leadership and Your Organisation
Driving the future, rather than following the trends of others, will naturally position your organisation as a market leader.
The increase in competition and rate of change across practically every industry, means that establishing thought leaders within your organisation is crucial for differentiating your organisation from your competitors, and staying ahead of the competition. Being recognised as thought leaders will also help you to attract and retain top talent.
A futurist keynote speaker can significantly contribute to your organisation’s establishment of thought leadership by:
- Inspiring Innovation: a great futurist speaker will have the audience on their seats, challenging conventional assumptions and encouraging creative problem-solving.
- Positioning Your Organisation: a great futurist speaker will do their homework on your organisation, and help you to develop a forward-thinking approach and commitment to innovation. By hosting an event (either internal or external) featuring a futurist speaker, your organisation signals its commitment to staying ahead of the curve.
- Generating Buzz: a futurist will deliver engaging and thought-provoking content that resonates with your audience, and gets their creative juices / problem-solving skills flowing.
- Facilitating Strategic Dialogue: an excellent futurist speaker will also provide your team with a framework for discussions about the future of your industry, paving the way for many rich internal conversations following your keynote event.
Expanding Your Team’s Thinking around Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial intelligence is of course one of the newest technologies to be massively impacting the way we do business, solve medical problems, communicate with each other, and much more. It is reshaping industries and societies at an unprecedented pace. It is essential that your organisation is willing to strategically consider and potentially experiment with any new technology.
AI is just one of the technologies that futurists are thinking and talking about, and it has come about because of other technological advancements making AI, large language models and machine learning possible.
To remain competitive, organisations must cultivate a workforce that is adaptable, innovative, and equipped to navigate the evolving landscape. A futurist speaker can play a pivotal role in this process by:
- Demystifying Complex Technologies: Providing clear and accessible explanations of emerging technologies like AI, machine learning, and automation.
- Highlighting Practical Applications: Demonstrating how these technologies can be applied to solve real-world problems and drive innovation.
- Addressing Ethical Considerations: Exploring the potential ethical implications of new technologies and fostering responsible innovation.
- Encouraging a Growth Mindset: Inspiring your team to embrace change and view challenges as opportunities for growth.
Specifically regarding AI, a futurist can help your team understand:
- The varying types of AI, and where each is most applicable.
- The potential for AI to automate tasks, improve decision-making, and create new products and services.
- The importance of intellectual property, data privacy and security in the age of AI.
- How to prepare for a workforce where AI is prevalent.
By broadening your team’s understanding of AI and related technologies, you empower them to identify new opportunities, develop innovative solutions, and contribute to the long-term success of your organisation. A futurist speaker provides the unique ability to open minds, and prepare for the opportunities of the future.
Below is a collection of just some of our futurist keynote speakers who will, illuminate, inspire & challenge.
Recently ranked #12 among the world’s top futurists, Michael is a dynamic speaker and strategist who has made a name for himself as a leading authority on navigating change in an ever-evolving world. Michael’s expertise is highly sought-after by renowned brands, including Google, Toyota, and Mastercard, as they grapple with uncertainty and strive to stay ahead of the curve.
Michael McQueen is known for his ability to identify and analyse key trends, particularly those related to technology, generational shifts, and the evolving business landscape.
Dr. Catriona Wallace is a globally recognised futurist speaker with deep expertise in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its ethical implications, as well as the evolving landscape of emerging technologies. She is particularly known for her work on responsible AI, the metaverse, the intersection of technology and humanity, as well as the role of Diversity and Inclusion in the future of technology.
She is the perfect keynote speaker to present on these pertinent subjects in a highly accessible, informative, and engaging manner. Her presentations are a must for any group looking to better understand the future of tech landscape.
If you are seeking a dynamic and engaging futurist speaker who expertly blends scientific rigor with a passion for ethical and inclusive technological advancement, Dr Catherine Ball is perfect. Known as a “social architect,” she demystifies complex STEM concepts, focusing on the intersection of emerging technologies like drones, robotics, and AI with humanitarian, environmental, and educational needs.
Her style is characterised by a blend of technical expertise, practical application, and a strong advocacy for diversity, inspiring audiences to consider the societal impact of innovation.
Future Crunch, is a collaboration between Dr. Angus Hervey and Tane Hunter. As a two-person team, they deliver a refreshingly optimistic and data-driven perspective on the future to their audiences.
Their style blends rigorous scientific research, compelling storytelling, and a focus on highlighting positive developments in science, technology, and human progress. They are masters at presenting complex information in an accessible and engaging manner, using captivating visuals and a dynamic, conversational approach. Their expertise lies in identifying and showcasing solutions-oriented innovations, challenging prevailing narratives of doom and gloom, and inspiring audiences to embrace a more hopeful and proactive outlook on the future.
The audiences will come away both informed and deeply inspired.
Nils pioneered the application of Design Thinking to business in Australia and has spoken in in over 17 countries around the world for Fortune 500 companies. Nils is the founder of the innovation agency ‘Ideas With Legs’ and has helped thousands of clever people become even more successful by upgrading their thinking and breaking their ‘Business As Usual’ approach.
From global advertising & marketing agencies to global FMCG’s, some of his clients include Nestle´, HP, and Pfizer to name just a few. Nils is also a prolific author.
His style is energetic and interactive, often incorporating humor and real-world examples to illustrate his points. Vesk’s expertise lies in demystifying the innovation process, providing actionable frameworks for fostering creativity, and giving audiences tools they can use to embrace disruption and drive transformative growth.
Holly Ransom is a globally recognised keynote speaker and author. She is the CEO of Emergent Global and has a strong reputation for driving transformative initiatives in leadership development, diversity, and innovation. Ransom has engaged with numerous influential figures, including Barack Obama and Richard Branson. Notably, she has been recognised as one of Australia’s 100 Most Influential Women and has received the US Embassy’s Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Leadership Excellence. Her work is aimed at empowering individuals and organisations to navigate change and create impactful outcomes.
Anders Sörman-Nilsson is a Swedish-Australian futurist and innovation strategist. He is known for helping organisations decode trends and develop strategies for the future. He works with Fortune 500 companies and other global leaders, delivering keynote speeches and providing strategic insights on topics like digital disruption, the convergence of digital and analog, and the ethical implications of emerging technologies like AI. He is also an author, having written books on these subjects.
Nikki Greenberg is a world-renowned futurist and innovation strategist, recognized for her expertise in the intersection of technology and the built environment. She is a sought-after keynote speaker, known for her engaging presentations that explore the future of cities, the impact of artificial intelligence, and the evolving nature of work. With a background in architecture and extensive experience in leading digital transformation within major real estate portfolios, she provides valuable insights into how organisations can adapt to and thrive in a rapidly changing technological landscape.
Amanda Johnstone is a highly regarded Australian AI technologist and technology communicator. She has received recognition, including being named a TIME Next Generation Leader and receiving The CEO Magazine’s Start-up Executive of the Year award, for her work in social impact technology. She is known for her expertise in emerging technology and modern leadership, and frequently shares her insights with prominent organisations. Additionally, Amanda has created the mental health app “Be A Looper”.
Amanda Johnstone’s insights can empower your organisation to thrive in an inclusive digital age, where innovation and empathy intersect to drive positive change.
Fiona’s career tenure spans 25+ years in global Digital Advertising agencies and Professional Services firms within ‘The Big 4’. Having rolled out innovation initiatives in Australia, the UK and Singapore, for over 10,000 emplyees she is now squarely focused on assisting leaders and employees to identify how they can embrace and work WITH AI to create a more engaged and empowered workforce.
If you’re looking for someone to bring the human touch to AI along with accessible stories about the future of work, Fiona is your person!
Stephen Scheeler is a prominent figure in the Australian technology and business landscape, recognised for his expertise in digital disruption, AI, and leadership. He is the former CEO of Facebook Australia and New Zealand, where he played a key role in the company’s significant growth in the region. Stephen is the co-founder and CEO of Omniscient Neurotechnology, an AI startup focused on decoding the human brain.
Stephen is a sought-after speaker due to his ability to inspire audiences on the transformative impact of AI, technology trends, and the evolving landscape of 21st-century leadership
Melissa Neighbour is a multifaceted professional with a strong focus on sustainability and urban planning. She is an environmental town planner, community builder, and sustainability specialist.
Melissa is actively involved with Future Crunch, and is the Managing Director of Suburban Town Planners in Sydney, where she works on developing and implementing sustainable development projects across Australia. Melissa has been involved with organisations like the World Economic Forum Sydney Shaper Hub and the United Nations Association of Australia Young Professionals Network. As a keynote speaker, Melissa is powerfully engaging around future trends, technological innovation, and creating sustainable, thriving urban environments.