David Smith

A futurologist and Chief Executive of Global Futures and Foresight (GFF) – a strategic futures research organization, David’s 35-year diverse marketing, IT and 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 to help organisations be better prepared to face the future and reduce their risk of being blindsided by change.

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

In his 35-year business career he 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 and has spoken on UK BBC, Serbian, Middle East TV, UK, German, Australian 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.