David A. Smith

David Smith challenges, informs and engages his clients and audiences on the key issues of the near future, in order to stimulate ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking to help organizations generate new visions, strategies, products and services.

A futurologist, and Chief Executive of GFF – a strategic futures research organization, David Smith’s 30 year diverse business career has made him recognisable as one of the world’s leading futurists and strategic thinkers. GFF prepares views of the future on many topics including the Travel and Tourism industry, the world Insurance markets and visions of the future for government, the food, real estate, information technology and communications industries.

Since founding GFF, David has worked with many of the world’s largest organisations, and government bodies as well as academic institutions and industry associations. His insights have led many organizations to embrace change and prepare innovative strategies to renew themselves and generate new growth.

David Smith does this through using the research capabilities of the GFF, through his insightful speeches and through chairing and moderating meetings and conferences.

Smith has held senior management positions in large and small organizations. He has been involved in public sector, commercial and financial markets and has held sales, marketing and general management positions in companies such as the UK based DRG group and The US Unisys corporation. Whilst at Unisys he held the position of Strategic Marketing Director for their $2bn global financial services business.

He has advised the UK and EU governments on strategic research investment decisions.

He has spoken on UK BBC, Middle East TV, German and South African radio and appeared on the UK ITN News channel discussing topical futures issues. His experience has shown him the powerful impact that glimpses of the future afford business and government alike as they seek to achieve their strategic goals.

As a keynote speaker, David has addressed over 160 conferences and events in 23 countries on 5 continents.

Speaking topics include:

• Technological drivers of change. Understanding the impact – early.
• The Rise of the Networked Company – the new form of agile organization.
• Government – Public Administration Transformation
• Social Networks – The next generation.
• Winning the Upturn – Strategies for success.
• New media and crossing the digital chasm
• Global, political and economic change. Thriving in the new world.
• Changing consumers. Who they are and what makes them tick
• Changing employees – What they want and how to keep them.
• Generational consumers and employees (Builders, Boomers, GEN-X and Y)
• Innovation – involving stakeholders and customers.
• Organizational change.
• Communicating with your stakeholders – new technologies and approaches.
• The Changing Corporation – Social responsibility, world stewardship & talent scout.
• The future of Small and Medium Sized Business – Challenges and opportunities.
• The externalization of companies – After outsourcing.
• Environmental change – Impact and opportunities.
• The future of education, training and development

Markets including:

• Financial Services
• Information Communications Technology
• Media – new media and social media
• Travel and Tourism
• Estate Agency & Real Estate
• Education and Learning
• Work and working
• Health and wellness
• Packaging
• Food wholesale and retail
• Convenience Stores
• Agriculture
• Government

David Smith uses views of the future developed within Global Futures and Foresight by their in-house research team and by surveying their worldwide network of over 9,000 future thinkers and business leaders.

His purpose is to inspire his audience to embrace change and by so doing better prepare for the future.

GFF recent research includes

• 2014 – What’s Hot in Technology.
• 2013 ‘Future Of’ series including, the future of: Work, Workers Health and Wellness, Jobs, Technology, Social Media, Apps and the Web, Networks, Business Models, Communities, Homes, Families, Education, Tourism, Travel.
• “Beyond Efficiency” – EU Public Administration Transformation.
• “The Future” – Drivers of change and impacts for business.
• Social Networks – The next generation, Launched in London.
• “Vintage Business Years” – Vintage years for business in the past six decades and the next best year for business – 2015.
• Customer Strategy – The Future of Automotive, Services, Financial Services, Utilities, Government,
• Transport, Retail, Tourism, Telecoms – 2009 and beyond.
• The Future of Communities.
• The Future of the Company. Launched in Sydney.
• The GFF Pulse – views of futurists, academics and business people from 72 countries on a wide range of business impacting issues looking forward to 2011 and includes changes around consumers attitudes, business organization, trust, and the role of technology.
• The Future of Travel and Tourism in the Middle East, Launched in Dubai.
• GFF launched a report on the Challenges and opportunities for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME’s) in the next five years, launched in Sydney and London, from primary research conducted in 14 countries focusing on UK, USA and Australia.
• China Report: Views of business people in 62 countries on the prospects and issues relating to doing business in China.