Keynote SpeakersWilliam Higham is a leading futurist and keynote speaker who helps businesses anticipate disruption, understand future trends, and unlock new opportunities.
With over 20 years of experience advising global brands including Amazon, Disney, Vodafone and Barclays, William has established himself as a highly respected authority on future trends, changing consumer behaviour, business innovation and the future of work.
An acclaimed author, strategic advisor and engaging conference speaker, William reveals the powerful forces transforming business and society, and explains how organisations can turn rapid change into a competitive advantage.
In a world where the future has never been more unpredictable, William believes the most successful businesses won’t be those that predict change, but those best prepared to embrace it.
Through his compelling Start The Future Now approach, William challenges business leaders to rethink how they respond to uncertainty, spot emerging opportunities, and build organisations ready for whatever comes next.
“William is a rare talent, cutting through the hype to reveal what is really around the corner.”
William Higham has led the popular consultancy Next Big Thing for over two decades. As a result, he’s worked with clients in multiple sectors: Amazon to Vodafone, HSBC to MTV.
The Next Big Thing:
He wrote the first practical handbook for UK trend strategists: ‘The Next Big Thing: Forecasting Consumer Trends for Profit‘ (Kogan Page, 2010). This has since been translated into five languages.
He’s been interviewed across media: BBC to Bloomberg TV, Fast Company to The Times. He presented a TV show for CNBC and wrote for The Economist, Advertising Age, and The Director. He’s helped the Cambridge University Innovation Forum and judged WARC and IoD innovation awards.
William Higham first made his name in the music industry. Working at Sony, Virgin and Universal, William ran marketing communications for artists from Michael Jackson to The Rolling Stones. His fascination with music consumers led him to the trends industry. He began as a trends consultant for brands from Levi’s to BT. He spent a year as MD of online research company OnePoll, attracting clients from Kellogg’s to Findus.
William Higham, Futurist and Trends Speaker:
He is an engaging and inspiring futurist speaker. His talks excite audiences and leave them ready to face the future, armed with new, practical ways to handle tomorrow’s consumers and employees.
Popular speaking topics include:
- Seize the Uncertainty Advantage: How to Decide and Lead in a Volatile World.
- The Fast and the Curious: How to Build a Future-Proof Organisation.
- Speculate to Innovate: How to Find Growth in Uncertain Times.
- The Flexible Organisation: The Future of Work.
- Customers as Family: The Future of Loyalty
- Hype-free Guide to AI & Beyond: The Future of Tech.
