David Rowan
- Founding editor-in-chief of WIRED UK and author of ‘Non-Bullshit Innovation’- 2019
- Keynotes on Future Trends across multi-sector and multi-product areas from AI, VR, Blockchain, Payments
- Google Zeitgeist, Chair of the G8 Innovation Summit, TED Global in addition to hundreds of corporate keynotes
David Rowan is the well known former founder and Editor-at-Large of WIRED UK, the award-winning technology-and-innovations magazine that stays ahead of the trends transforming our world. He is an expert authority and highly in-demand speaker on the subjects of innovation, technology and future trends.
David annually takes over 120 flights to investigate the companies and entrepreneurs changing our world, recently spending time with the founders of WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Google, Spotify, Nest and countless other disruptive startups from Israel to China. He’s interviewed influencers ranging from will.i.am, Stephen Hawking, Eddie Redmayne, Google CEO Eric Schmidt to media mogul James Murdoch, futuristic architect Zaha Hadid, Prime Minister David Cameron and Tim Berners-Lee on stage at places like MIPCOM in Cannes.
David’s work at WIRED for over a decade keeps him at the forefront of innovation and change. He travels the world meeting trendsetters, innovators who bring out the latest, gadgets services and apps that help improve life.
In May 2019 David authored ‘Non-Bullshit Innovation: Radical Ideas from the World’s Smartest Minds’ which is based on his meetings with leaders from many of the world’s most innovative companies.
‘In this remarkable book, David Rowan tells a story of transformation: how an organisation has found a new way of doing things through innovation driven by ruthless entrepreneurial imagination. What is especially useful is that he does not just stick with small startups, let alone dreamy “inventors”. He finds innovation in big companies and even within governments.’ – Matt Ridley, The Times
David Rowan – Keynote Speaking Details
David is an expert in his sector and one of the most in-demand speakers worldwide on business, innovation and disruptive technology and future-facing themes. He has chaired and moderated high-profile events for the UK and French governments, for Google Zeitgeist and TED Global, for international banks and Fortune 100 companies.
He relates emerging technologies and changing business models to a variety of sectors from finance and manufacturing to aviation and e-commerce. Many established companies book David to learn about how they can develop a culture of innovation. His presentations are typically rich in concrete takeaways, lively case studies, video clips, engaging images, and fast-paced energy. By way of demonstrating David’s cross-sector appeal here is a snapshot of recent keynote bookings:
Recent Examples of David Rowan Keynotes
What artificial intelligence means for finance (Shanghai)
What a bank can learn from the digital disruptors (New York)
Why the advertising world will never move this slowly again (Madrid)
How technology is changing what we need from real estate (Arizona)
How smart companies are innovating (Las Vegas)
How will technology transform the seas? (Malta)
How the internet of things is redefining the relationships between business and consumers
How will emerging technologies affect insurance/ the legal industry/ motoring/ travel/ healthcare? (various)
Ten technologies shaping our future (Dubai)
How technology offers new opportunities to TV (Royal Television Society, London)
The future of television (Sky TV, Venice)
New business models that are redefining industries (Berlin)
The future of food (Unilever)
The future of insurance (Lloyds of London)
The future of energy (UK National Grid)
Recent WIRED writing:
It’s time to copy China [special issue]
How an army of postmen is turning China’s rural stores into the world’s largest retail network
Facebook Messenger: inside Zuckerberg’s app for everything
His most recent awards include Techmark Technology Journalist of the Year, DMA Editor of the Year and British Society of Magazine Editors’ Editor of the Year.
In presentations, he looks at how the net is disrupting almost every sector, how apps change consumer behaviour and why ‘social commerce’ is killing traditional marketing. He reveals the 10 trends that will change the market in the next decade – and what you should be doing now to protect yourself. A brilliant story-teller, his presentations help individuals and businesses comprehend these changes in such a way as to allow them to use them to their advantage.
Testimonials
“We just wanted to say an enormous thank you for providing such an interesting and inspirational session on future technical trends for our Digital Power Week. We’ve had terrific feedback from staff across the business who said they learnt so much, found you fascinating to listen to and came away really excited by the future possibilities with digital.” – Tracey McEvoy,
BBC Worldwide
“Many thanks for your inspiring speech at our Innovation morning last Wednesday! Everyone really enjoyed your presentation and we got a lot to think about. We would love to continue working with you.” – Anne Puukko, Nokia
“Overall view was very positive – David was an engaging speaker, who covered a wide range of relevant topics.” – Deloitte, Global CIO Forum Amsterdam