Richard Watson is an internationally recognized futurist and author, affiliated with the Technology Foresight Practice at Imperial College London and the Entrepreneurship Centre at Cambridge Judge Business School. His mission is to help organizations and leaders anticipate trends, understand technology’s impact, and foster strategic creativity for better long-term decisions, using scenario-planning methods he first learned from Napier Collyns, a co-founder of the Global Business Network in San Francisco. His current role bridges futures research, education, and innovation consulting, work he has carried out for clients ranging from national governments to global consumer brands.
Over his career, Richard has written eight books, including “Future Files”, “Digital Vs. Human”, and “Future Minds”, contributing to several others spanning AI, robotics, education, and sustainability. He is best known worldwide for his provocative maps of emerging technologies and megatrends, published through nowandnext.com, the trends site he founded in 2004 and has run ever since. Richard has collaborated with organizations such as the Ministry of Defence’s Strategic Trends Unit, McKinsey, Royal College of Art, HSBC, Shell, Lego, KPMG, and more. He has also contributed to key works on the future of education and AI. His expertise includes the futures of water, energy, food, education, and artificial intelligence.
Richard Watson’s talks blend deep analysis, visual creativity, and thought-provoking perspectives. He uses visual maps and scenarios to explore the challenges and opportunities of the coming years, inspiring executives, innovation teams, public sector leaders, and students. His style is participatory, with clear messages and disruptive examples that encourage reflection and action on the future, often built around the same visual timelines that have become his signature.
A keynote on how to anticipate global changes and understand the interplay of megatrends, technologies, and human factors shaping the next 10-50 years, drawing on the same trend-mapping work he has published through nowandnext.com for two decades.
Based on his book “Digital Vs. Human”, explores the ethical and societal dilemmas of AI, automation, and the coexistence of technology and humanity, a debate Watson has followed since long before generative AI made it mainstream.
Examines the challenges and opportunities in education amid AI and new technologies, offering ideas to foster critical thinking and adaptability, drawing on his years as Futurist-in-Residence at Cambridge Judge Business School.
If you are looking for an inspiring, expert speaker in technology, innovation, or education for your next event, you can book Richard Watson through Thinking Heads. As one of the leading figures in foresight and megatrends, Richard delivers a dynamic and professional presentation that ensures the best experience for your audience. Contact Thinking Heads today to learn more and secure his participation in your upcoming event.
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