John Thackara is a writer, curator and leading voice on sustainable futures. He connects design with daily life, clean growth and mental wellbeing, sharing real-world stories from cities and bioregions. He helps diverse partners build lasting ecological relationships, publishes at thackara.com, and speaks at conferences, corporate events and arts festivals.
Born in the UK and now based in southwest France, John studied philosophy, trained as a journalist and spent a decade as a book publisher and magazine editor. He later became Director of Research at the Royal College of Art and went on to lead the Netherlands Design Institute in Amsterdam, where he launched the celebrated Doors of Perception conference.
He served as programme director for Designs of the Time in North East England, a flagship of UK social innovation known as Dott07. In France he curated City Eco Lab for the Saint Étienne design biennial, a hands-on platform for relational design and urban rural reconnection.
John is a Senior Fellow at the Royal College of Art and a Fellow of Musashino Art University in Japan. He has advised the UK Design Council and Policy Connect’s Design Commission. He has also worked as a visiting professor with a special focus on place based professional workshops that enable relationships across communities and sectors.
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Mary Robinson is a former President of Ireland and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, widely recognised for her leadership in climate justice and human rights. She was Ireland’s first female president, and has since built a global career as a lawyer, academic and international advocate. Her keynote presentations explore climate change, gender equality, responsible leadership and global cooperation, offering audiences a clear and human perspective on some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
Kishore Mahbubani is a distinguished diplomat and academic with over five decades in public service and academia. His profound insights on global policy, East-West relations, and diplomacy make him a sought-after keynote speaker for corporate events worldwide.
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Charlie Ang is a corporate futurist, AI strategist and innovation leader who helps organisations prepare for an intelligence-abundant future. Combining strategic foresight with practical business experience, he equips leaders to embrace AI, navigate disruption and build future-ready organisations with confidence.
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Gonzalo Muñoz, appointed UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP25 by Chile’s President in 2019, is a pioneering leader in sustainability. He co-led the Race to Zero and Race to Resilience campaigns as Climate Champion. Book Gonzalo Muñoz as a keynote speaker for your next event!
Two voices, one mission. Via Carpenter and Jeff Furman bring decades of trial, error and a shared passion for justice, good business and rock & roll. Different generations, similar values, plenty of laughs and a clear focus on outcomes for your audience.
