David Rowan

David Rowan, recognized for his deep knowledge of emerging technologies and their impact on business, is the founding Editor-in-Chief of WIRED magazine’s UK edition. With connections to the founders of tech giants such as WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Google, Didi, Spotify, and many others, he has become a prominent figure in the technology sector. He has invested in over 150 early-stage tech companies, including two that became billion-dollar "unicorns". Additionally, he is an adviser to both Lakestar, one of Europe's largest venture-capital funds, and the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus.

Rowan is the author of the bestselling book "Non-Bullshit Innovation: Radical Ideas from the World’s Smartest Minds", which has been translated into several languages including Japanese, Korean, Russian, and Ukrainian. The book is a culmination of a 20-country quest for bold corporate innovation in the face of technology-led disruption and outlines 17 proven strategies for future-proofing a successful business. He covers a range of topics, such as "Turn products into services", "Empower your team", and "Become a platform".

Aside from his work at WIRED, Rowan has been a technology columnist for esteemed publications such as The Times, GQ, Condé Nast Traveller, and The Sunday Times. He is also the founder of the non-profit community VOYAGERS.io, which consists of 400 innovators working to solve health and climate problems. As a keynote speaker, Rowan has given over 600 speeches globally and has received repeat requests from clients such as Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Google, KPMG, McKinsey, Chanel, and Unilever. He has also moderated events for the World Economic Forum, the UK and French governments, and numerous tech businesses. His expertise lies in explaining complex technological trends and their implications for industries and society. He is known for his ability to customize his talks to address specific industry concerns and is still on the quest for the future.