Prof Deborah Nas: Inspiring Innovation Through Technology and Strategy
Prof Deborah Nas is a technology trendwatcher, innovation expert and professor of Strategic Design for Technology-Based Innovation at Delft University of Technology, within the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering. She also serves as Innovation Lead at the Centre for Quantum & Society, where she explores the impact of quantum technology on industry and society.
Alongside her academic work, Deborah is a supervisory board member at Hardt Hyperloop and a member of the investment committee at InnovationQuarter Capital, a €143 million deep-tech fund. These roles place her close to the tech innovation space, from disruptive startups and promising startups to traditional companies working through digital transformation.
Deborah is a sought-after keynote speaker, recognised for her inspiring presentations, strategic insight and ability to make complex technology easy to understand for a broad audience. She tailors each keynote presentation to the audience’s interests, creating a clear storyline that connects new technologies with real business challenges and future scenarios.
She is also the author of Design Things That Make Sense, a practical guide to strategic design for technology-based innovation. The book offers concrete tools and practical tips for improving innovation projects, understanding success and failure factors, and creating things that make sense for real users.
Academic and Practical Insight
As a professor at Delft University of Technology and a hands-on practitioner, Deborah brings academic thinking and real-world experience together in a natural way. She uses scientific insights, practical examples and concrete insights to help audiences understand technological developments without getting lost in jargon.
Her work focuses on strategic design for technology, responsible innovation and the human behaviour behind technology adoption. This makes her especially valuable for organisations that want to innovate successfully, accelerate digital transformation and become more future proof.
Extensive Industry Experience
Deborah has more than 25 years of hands-on experience in technological innovation. She also spent 16 years as co-founder and manager of a strategic innovation agency, working with global and local brands across finance, telecom, consumer electronics, retail, FMCG, mobility and government.
This experience means she understands how innovation works inside real organisations. She knows why some innovation projects gain traction, why others stall, and which failure factors leaders need to spot early. Her presentations are grounded in the practical realities of budgets, stakeholders, timing, customer needs and internal resistance.
Simplifying Complex Technologies
Deborah works alongside leading AI and quantum scientists, giving her a strong view of technology trends and their wider societal impact. Her strength is turning complex ideas into clear, inspiring examples that audiences can actually use.
Her keynotes can explore the AI revolution, generative AI, AI tools, AI models, AI agents and the future of AI colleagues. She also helps audiences understand the growing importance of AI infrastructure and the technological developments shaping the next phase of artificial intelligence.
Whether speaking to an expert audience or a room with mixed technical knowledge, Deborah explains technological change in a way that feels human, relevant and easy to follow.
Pioneering Quantum Technologies
Through her work at the Centre for Quantum & Society, part of Quantum Delta NL, Deborah is closely involved in exploring the societal aspects of quantum technology. She helps audiences understand the quantum revolution, including quantum computers, quantum networks and the opportunities and risks linked to this emerging field.
Her presentations give an inspiring overview of what quantum technology could mean for business, science and society. She explains future scenarios in clear language, while also addressing responsible innovation and the questions organisations should be asking now.
Influential in the Start-Up Ecosystem
Deborah is active in the Dutch start-up and deep-tech ecosystem. As a supervisory board member at Hardt Hyperloop and a member of the investment committee at InnovationQuarter Capital, she has direct experience with disruptive technology, tech startups and the investment decisions behind promising new ventures.
This gives her a practical perspective on how disruptive startups grow, how traditional companies can work with them, and what it takes to turn technological innovation into meaningful progress. For leaders and innovation managers, her insights offer a useful bridge between bold ideas and practical execution.
Multidisciplinary and Global Cultural Perspective
Deborah works at the intersection of technology, business and psychology. This multidisciplinary background helps her connect technological developments with unmet customer needs, new business models and the human behaviour that shapes adoption.
She has led innovation projects across Europe, Africa and Asia, giving her a broad cultural perspective. Her curiosity, travel experience and international work make her relatable to audiences across sectors and regions.
Engaging Presentation Style
Deborah’s presentation style is friendly, professional and highly engaging. She uses relatable stories, inspiring examples and clear explanations to create a strong connection with the room.
Her keynote presentations help audiences understand new technologies, think differently about innovation and feel ready to act. She can also contribute as a panel member or sparring partner for leadership teams, innovation teams and event audiences looking for sharper thinking around digital transformation, technological transformation and the future of work.
Book Deborah Nas To Speak At Your Next Event
Book Prof Deborah Nas as your keynote speaker if you want your audience to understand the future of technology without getting lost in the hype.
From artificial intelligence and generative AI to quantum technology, disruptive technology, strategic design and digital transformation, Deborah gives audiences the clarity and confidence to make better decisions about what comes next.
Her talks combine academic depth, hands-on experience and a warm, accessible speaking style. Whether your event focuses on future-proofing your organisation, exploring new technologies or helping teams innovate successfully, Deborah delivers inspiring presentations with practical value long after the event ends.
Contact us today to learn more about booking Deborah Nas for your next event.
Julia Hobsbawm OBE
Julia Hobsbawm, recognised for her expertise on the future of work, has influenced many through her writing, speaking, and consulting. Her latest book, “Working Assumptions”, continues to challenge our understanding of workplace dynamics.