Global Gurus

Christopher Ahlberg is a renowned futurist, entrepreneur, and cybersecurity expert known for his innovative work in intelligence analytics and data visualization. Originally from Sweden, Ahlberg earned his Ph.D. in computer science from Chalmers University, specializing in human-computer interaction. He went on to establish his first company, Spotfire, in 1996, which revolutionized data visualization across industries and was later acquired by TIBCO Software in 2007.

In 2008, Ahlberg founded Recorded Future, a cybersecurity firm that uses machine learning and natural language processing to provide real-time threat intelligence. Under his leadership, Recorded Future became a major player in threat detection, helping organizations anticipate risks with proactive insights. The company’s technology has been widely adopted by intelligence agencies, Fortune 500 companies, and government organizations. In 2019, Recorded Future was acquired by Insight Partners for $780 million.

Ahlberg is also a thought leader in cybersecurity and predictive analytics, frequently speaking at industry events and advocating for the responsible use of technology. His vision centers on the integration of AI to transform cybersecurity and data privacy, emphasizing transparency and resilience in a rapidly digitizing world. Ahlberg’s contributions have influenced global digital security, and he continues to drive innovation in the tech community as a mentor and investor, shaping the future of intelligence and analytics with a focus on ethical, actionable insights.

Dirk Helbing is a leading futurist, physicist, and professor known for his pioneering work in complexity science, computational social science, and digital democracy. Born in Germany, he completed his studies in physics and mathematics before embarking on a career that blends science and societal insights. Helbing is currently a professor at ETH Zurich and has made significant contributions to understanding how complex systems, such as human societies and economies, function and evolve. His research spans areas like crowd dynamics, traffic flow, and decision-making, often utilizing large-scale data and simulations to model and predict collective behavior in ways that influence urban planning, emergency response, and sustainable development.

Helbing’s visionary work also extends to the ethical and democratic challenges posed by digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and big data. He has been a prominent advocate for creating a “digital democracy” that leverages technology to enhance, rather than replace, human decision-making and transparency. As co-founder of the FuturICT project, he spearheaded efforts to build a global platform for studying and mitigating risks associated with complex, interconnected systems on a global scale. Helbing’s contributions to futurism emphasize a balanced approach to technology, advocating for systems that support societal well-being, transparency, and resilience against digital threats.

Ray Kurzweil is a world class inventor, thinker, and futurist, with a thirty-five-year track record of accurate predictions. He has been a leading developer in artificial intelligence for 61 years – longer than any other living person. He was the principal inventor of the first CCD flat-bed scanner, omni-font optical character recognition, print-to-speech reading machine for the blind, text-to-speech synthesizer, music synthesizer capable of recreating the grand piano and other orchestral instruments, and commercially marketed large-vocabulary speech recognition software. Ray received a Grammy Award for outstanding achievement in music technology; he is the recipient of the National Medal of Technology and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. He has written five best-selling books including The Singularity Is Near and How To Create A Mind, both New York Times best sellers, and Danielle: Chronicles of a Superheroine, winner of multiple young adult fiction awards. His forthcoming book, The Singularity Is Nearer, will be released June 25, 2024. He is a Principal Researcher and AI Visionary at Google.

Gihan Perera is a business futurist, conference speaker, AI researcher, and author who shows you how to be fit for the future in a fast-changing world.

For more than 25 years, he has worked with organisations and leaders throughout Australia and the world, helping them to lead in uncertainty, act with clarity and confidence, and thrive in a fast-changing world.

He is the author of Disrupted, Disruption By Design, The Future of Leadership, and ten other books.

Through his keynote presentations, interactive masterclasses, and in-depth leadership programs, he shares future trends and thought-provoking insights – delivered with interaction, engagement, and humour – that leave people feeling positive, empowered, and optimistic about their future.

He has always taken the lead in embracing emerging technologies and trends, from his university thesis in AI more than 30 years ago, to leading a software development team building the infrastructure for the early Internet, founding one of Australia’s first Web development companies in 1996, teaching thought leaders how to create e-learning platforms, and helping business leaders with scenario planning to lead their teams into the future.

Gihan is one of Australia’s leading online presenters, and has been delivering online presentations since 2009. Citrix (the company behind GoToWebinar) engaged him to teach their clients around the world how to run better online presentations. Garr Reynolds, author of the world-renowned bestseller Presentation Zen, asked him to write the online presentations section for the book.

Diana Wu-David is a futurist, author, and thought leader focused on the future of work, leadership, and global change. A former Financial Times executive, she has spent her career helping organizations and individuals navigate the complexities of a rapidly evolving workforce. Her book, Future Proof: Reinventing Work in an Age of Acceleration, has inspired readers around the world to rethink their approach to career resilience, adaptability, and purpose. Through her work as a consultant and speaker, Wu-David collaborates with executives, entrepreneurs, and companies to create sustainable strategies for growth in a digital, globalized world.

In addition to her writing and consulting, Wu-David is an educator who teaches at institutions like Columbia Business School and the University of Hong Kong. She is passionate about empowering leaders to embrace flexibility, foster innovation, and prioritize work-life balance in their teams and organizations. Known for her accessible and forward-thinking approach, Diana Wu-David is recognized as a guiding voice for those seeking to thrive amid the uncertainties of the modern workplace and create a future that values both people and progress.

Michael McQueen is an Australian futurist, change strategist and 10-time bestselling author renowned for his expertise in navigating change and staying relevant in an era of rapid transformation. With over two decades of research and experience, McQueen has become a trusted advisor to leaders of Fortune 500 brands, helping them anticipate shifts and adapt to emerging trends. His books, including Mindstuck, Winning the Battle for Relevance, and Preparing Now for What’s Next, explore the mindset and strategies necessary to stay at the cutting edge and have become essential resources for leaders seeking to future-proof their businesses.

As a highly sought-after keynote speaker, McQueen has presented to over 500,000 people across 5 continents sharing the stage with the likes of Bill Gates, Mel Robbins and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. Having previously been named Australia’s keynote speaker of the year, Michael has been inducted into the professional speaker’s Hall of Fame. Known for his engaging style and actionable advice, he equips leaders with practical tools to foster resilience, innovation, and adaptability within their teams. Michael McQueen’s work continues to empower individuals and organizations to evolve with confidence and embrace opportunities in an ever-changing landscape.

John Sanei is a South African futurist, best-selling author, and keynote speaker dedicated to helping individuals and organizations prepare for an uncertain and fast-evolving future. With a focus on psychology, human behavior, and digital transformation, Sanei provides unique insights into how people and businesses can thrive amid disruptive changes. His books, including What’s Your Moonshot? and Magnetiize, explore topics like resilience, adaptability, and the mindset shifts needed to succeed in a volatile world, making him a guiding voice for those seeking to turn challenges into opportunities.

Known for his dynamic presentations, Sanei combines futurist thinking with practical strategies to inspire his audiences to embrace change and foster innovative thinking. He works globally with organizations and leaders, offering guidance on building future-ready cultures that prioritize collaboration, creativity, and adaptability. John Sanei’s work emphasizes the importance of mindset in navigating the modern world, encouraging leaders to cultivate curiosity and emotional intelligence to remain relevant and impactful in a rapidly shifting landscape.

Kevin Kelly is a renowned futurist, author, and co-founder of Wired magazine, known for his influential insights into technology, digital culture, and the future of human-technology interaction. With a career spanning several decades, Kelly has explored the impact of emerging technologies on society and has become a thought leader in fields like artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and the internet’s evolution. His best-selling books, including The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future, examine the ways in which technological advancements will continue to reshape our lives, offering readers a roadmap for navigating the future.

Kelly’s work emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between humans and machines, encouraging readers and audiences to view technology as an empowering force for creativity and innovation. Through his writings, talks, and contributions to Wired, he has inspired countless entrepreneurs, thinkers, and creators to consider the broader implications of technology on personal and professional life. Known for his optimistic yet realistic perspective, Kevin Kelly has become a guiding voice for those eager to understand and thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Selected by Foreign Policy magazine as one of their Top 100 Global Thinkers, Jamais Cascio writes about the intersection of emerging technologies, environmental dilemmas, and cultural transformation, specializing in the design and creation of plausible scenarios of the future. His work focuses on the importance of long-term, systemic thinking, emphasizing the power of openness, transparency and flexibility as catalysts for building a more resilient society. He is the creator of the “BANI” model for working with chaotic futures, now widely used around the world. In 2017, the University of Advancing Technology awarded Cascio an honorary doctorate in recognition of his ongoing work.

In recent years, Cascio has developed scenarios and written analysis for the 2020 World Expo, a major European automaker (resulting in a significant change in strategy), the state of California, and the US Agency for International Development.

Cascio’s work appears in various publications, including New Scientist, the Atlantic Monthly, The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, and Foreign Policy. He has been featured in multiple documentaries discussing social and environmental futures, including National Geographic Television’s SIX DEGREES, its 2008 program on the effects of global warming, the 2010 Canadian Broadcasting Company feature, SURVIVING THE FUTURE, and the 2013 independent film FIXED: THE SCIENCE/FICTION OF HUMAN AUGMENTATION. He has also been featured in several science-oriented television documentary series.

Cascio speaks about future possibilities around the world, at a variety of venues. Over the past several years, he has given remote presentations on the BANI concept for audiences including the government of Brazil, Pepsico Latin America, and Rajarata University in Sri Lanka – at an academic symposium entirely focused on his BANI model.

Marina Gorbis is Executive Director of the Institute for the Future (IFTF), a 56-year old non-profit research and educational organization based in Silicon Valley. She has brought a foresight and a futures perspective to hundreds of organizations in business, education, government, philanthropy, and civic society. Marina’s current research focuses on transformations in the world of work and new forms of value creation. She launched the Workable Futures Initiative and the Equitable Enterprise Initiative at IFTF with the aim of developing a deeper understanding of new work patterns and to prototype a generation of Positive Platforms for work. She has introduced the concept of Universal Basic Assets (UBA) as a framework for thinking about different types of assets and the role they play in economic security. The UBA framework also highlights a variety of approaches and tools we can use to achieve wider asset distribution and greater equity.

Marina’s book, The Nature of the Future: Dispatches from the Socialstructed World, explores many of these themes and draws connections between the changes in our technology infrastructure and our organizational landscape, from education to governance and health. She frequently writes and speaks on future organizational, technology, and social issues.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in public policy from University of California, Berkeley.

As humanity rushes headlong into a world first served and soon dominated by technology, futurism has become a burning issue for everyone, not just visionaries and geeks. Gerd Leonhard blends humanism with futurism to create manifestos and creative non-fiction that dramatically widens the franchise and audience for near-future exploration. His new book – Technology vs. Humanity – is a breakthrough work of provocation that alerts the world to the imminent ethical and moral choices we will all have to confront much sooner than expected.

A musician and creative by background, Leonhard has spent fifteen years living in the future, applying his insights and practical wisdoms to present-day dilemmas from the erosion of work life to the epidemic of digital obesity that threatens to destroy a generation. Founder of The Futures Agency, Gerd Leonhard travels the world delivering customized advice to enterprise and public organizations of all kinds – helping them to both understand their future choices and discover their ‘true future’.

Gerd’s books and essays are supported by an increasing array of multi-media features, including films and webisodes from his own boutique film studios. Together with the The Futures Agency advisory and speaking tours, these media properties constitute a unique quarry of groundbreaking insights for individuals and organizations in transformation. Besides Technology vs. Humanity, Gerd’s other books include The Future of Content, Friction is Fiction, and the bestselling title The Future of Music. He also contributed a key chapter to The Future of Business, edited by Rohit Talwar.

A member of the Royal Society for the Arts (London) as well as the World Future Society, Gerd’s client list includes Consumers International, YouTube, Nokia, The Guardian, Google, Sony-BMG, Telkom Indonesia, Siemens, RTL, ITV, the BBC, France Telecom, Orange, Deutsche Telekom, MTN, The Financial Times, DDB / TribalDDB, Ogilvy, Omnicom, the European Commission along with many other notable organizations.

Mike Walsh is the CEO of Tomorrow, a global consultancy on designing companies for the twenty-first century. He advises leaders on how to thrive in the current era of disruptive technological change.

A true global nomad, Mike travels over 300 days a year worldwide, researching trends, collecting case studies, and presenting on the future of business. Mike’s clients include many of the global Fortune 500, and as a sought-after keynote speaker he regularly shares the stage with world leaders and business icons alike. Mike previously founded Jupiter Research in Australia, and has also held senior strategy roles at News Corporation in the Asia Pacific region.

Mike’s books include The Algorithmic Leader, Futuretainment and The Dictionary of Dangerous Ideas. Each week he interviews provocative thinkers, innovators, and troublemakers on his podcast, Between Worlds.

Brett King is a world-renowned futurist and speaker, an International Bestselling Author, and a media personality who covers the future of business. President Xi Jinping cited his book Augmented as an influence on the topic of Artificial Intelligence. His book Bank 4.0 was recognized as the Top Foreign Language Book in Russia for 2019. He has spoken in over 75 countries, at TED conferences, given opening keynotes for Wired, Techsauce, Singularity University, Web Summit, The Economist, IBM’s World of Watson, CES, SIBOS and more. He has appeared as a commentator on CNBC, BBC, ABC, Fox, and Bloomberg. He advised the Obama administration on Fintech policy and advises regulators and bank boards around the world on technology transformation.

King hosts the world’s #1 ranked podcast on Futurism called THE FUTURISTS, and the #1 Fintech podcast and Radio Show on FinTech called “Breaking Banks” (11m downloads, 180 countries). He is the Founder of Moven, the world’s first mobile challenger bank that pioneered major first for the industry including the first in-app bank account sign-up, the first real-time receipt, the first contactless payment capability and an app home page design that has been adopted by the industry at large. He sits on the boards of multiple Fintech, Technology and Banking related companies.

Named “King of the Disruptors” by Banking Exchange magazine, King was voted American Banker’s Innovator of the Year, voted the world’s #1 Financial Services Influencer by The Financial Brand and was nominated by Bank Innovation as one of the top 10 “coolest brands in banking”. He was shortlisted for the 2015 Advance Global Australian of the Year Award for being one of the most influential Australians living offshore. His books have been released in more than a dozen languages and he has achieved bestseller status in 20 countries. His book Augmented was a Top 10 Non-Fiction book in multiple markets. His book Bank 4.0 has remained on the Amazon Top-10 Bestseller’s list for Banking Books for five years.

Rohit Talwar is a global futurist, award-winning keynote speaker, strategic advisor, author, and the CEO of Fast Future, delivering future insights, provoking radical thinking, and enhancing humanity’s prospects. He helps leaders in global corporations, entrepreneurs, investors, NGOs, and governments in over 70 countries anticipate and respond to future shaping forces and ideas. His core expertise is helping clients understand and shape the emerging future, focusing on advancing business, society, and individual lives by harnessing new thinking, innovation, and disruptive developments such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, the crypto economy, and human enhancement.

Rohit uses cross-disciplinary insights with clients to address challenges such as delivering the Sustainable Development Goals, building systemwide resilience, adapting to the crypto economy, and envisaging business futures in a ‘designed for digital’ world.

Craig Rispin is a globally recognized futurist, innovation expert, and business strategist, known for his insights into emerging trends and how they impact industries and organizations. With over 20 years of experience, Rispin has advised leading companies on preparing for the future by leveraging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and automation. As the founder of The Future Trends Group, he has helped clients from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses understand and capitalize on future possibilities, positioning them to stay ahead in a rapidly changing world.

As a sought-after speaker and consultant, Rispin shares his expertise on the future of work, technology, and business strategy with audiences worldwide. His presentations are known for their engaging style, blending complex concepts with actionable insights that empower leaders to drive innovation within their organizations. Craig Rispin’s work emphasizes the importance of adaptability, foresight, and proactive change, making him a trusted guide for those looking to thrive in an era of constant transformation.

Morinosuke Kawaguchi is a leading Japanese futurist, innovation strategist, and thought leader known for his work in technology design, robotics, and cultural trends. As the founder of MORINOSKE, a consultancy specializing in future trends and product innovation, Kawaguchi has helped Japanese and global companies develop cutting-edge products and anticipate the needs of future consumers. His pioneering approach combines deep insights into Japanese pop culture with advanced technology, resulting in novel concepts that integrate traditional craftsmanship with futuristic design. His book Geeky-Girly Innovation: A Japanese Subcultural Theory of Innovation explores the unique role that subcultures play in driving Japan’s creative and technological advancements.

Kawaguchi is also a popular keynote speaker and educator, known for his engaging presentations that connect engineering with culture, society, and humor. He challenges audiences to think outside conventional boundaries and explore the potential of blending local culture with high technology. Morinosuke Kawaguchi’s work inspires leaders, designers, and innovators worldwide to adopt a more holistic and culturally-informed approach to product development, encouraging them to consider both functionality and the emotional appeal of technology in creating impactful, future-oriented solutions.

Ian Khan, a.k.a “The Futurist”, is an emerging technology futurist featured on CNN, BBC, Bloomberg, Fast Company. Ian is the author of the highly anticipated “Metaverse for Dummies” the first comprehensive explainer for the Metaverse. Ian also created the Future Readiness Operating System (FROS™) and the Future Readiness Score(FRS™), used by leading organizations as a tool for Future Readiness.

Ian is an authority on Web3, Metaverse Security and speaks about Digital Transformation through Algorithms, Robotics, Automation and Blockchain. Ian has also produced several critically acclaimed documentaries available on Prime Video, Emirates Airlines and leading streaming platforms. A highly sought after Future Readiness pioneer, Ian is an energetic keynote speaker sharing his insights with audiences worldwide ,virtually and in person.

Tracey Follows is a prominent British futurist, author, and founder of Futuremade, a strategic foresight consultancy that helps organizations navigate uncertainty and prepare for the future. With a focus on identity, ethics, and emerging technologies, Follows is known for her work exploring how shifts in technology and society will impact individuals and organizations. Her book The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive 21st-Century Technology? delves into the future of personal identity in an age of rapid technological advancement, examining topics like biometric data, digital identity, and privacy. This work has made her a leading voice on how technology will shape self-perception and identity.

As a sought-after speaker and advisor, Follows shares her insights on the future of identity, digital transformation, and ethical foresight with diverse audiences, from corporate leaders to policymakers. Known for her thought-provoking perspectives, she emphasizes the importance of understanding technology’s impact on personal and societal levels to create a more inclusive and resilient future. Tracey Follows’s work encourages leaders to consider the broader implications of technological change, inspiring them to think critically about how digital advancements can support and protect individual identity in an increasingly connected world.

David Houle is a futurist, thinker and speaker. Houle spent more than 20 years in media and entertainment. He has worked at NBC, CBS and was part of the senior executive team that created and launched MTV, Nickelodeon, VH1 and CNN Headline News

Houle has won a number of awards. He won two Emmys, the prestigious George Foster Peabody award and the Heartland award for “Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream”. He was also nominated for an Academy Award.

Houle is consistently ranked as one of the top futurists and futurist keynote speakers on the major search engines and in the world today. In the last three years he has delivered keynotes on six continents and twelve countries. He is often called “the CEOs’ Futurist” having spoken to or advised 2,000+ CEOs and business owners in the past four years.

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In February 2010 he also became a featured contributor to Oprah.com and his column can be found at www.oprah.com/davidhoule

His first book, the influential and highly acclaimed “The Shift Age” was published in 2008. His second book, “Shift Ed: A Call to Action for Transforming K-12 Education” was published in April 2011 by Corwin. His third book, “The New Health Age: the Future of Healthcare and Medicine in America” was published by Sourcebooks in December 2011 and became a #1 category best seller on Amazon. . His fourth book, “Entering the Shift Age” was published by Sourcebooks in January 2013 and reached #1 best seller in the category of Business Planning and Forecasting. He published a short eBook “Is Privacy Dead? The Future of Privacy in the Digital Age” in November 2013