Vanessa Van Edwards
Behavioral Researcher & Founder of Science of People | Bestselling Author of Captivate, Cues, and Conversation | Expert on Charisma, Communication & Human Behavior
Andrew Hessel
Synthetic Biologist & Futurist | Co-founder, Genome Project-write | President, Humane Genomics | Co-author, The Genesis Machine
Andrew Hessel is one of the world's leading voices on synthetic biology — the field that treats DNA as a programming language and living cells as the next computing platform. Co-founder of the Genome Project-write and president of Humane Genomics, he brings a working scientist's precision and a futurist's sweep to audiences who need to understand a technology that will transform medicine, manufacturing, and biodefense.
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Andrew Hessel biography
Andrew Hessel is one of the world’s most distinctive voices at the intersection of biology, computing, and the future. A microbiologist and geneticist by training, he has spent his career advancing a single, radical proposition: that DNA is a programming language, living cells are the next computing platform, and we are now entering an era in which biology can be engineered with the same speed, precision, and creative freedom as software.
Science speaker Andrew Hessel is co-founder and chairman of the Genome Project-write (GP-write), the international scientific initiative working to synthesize large-scale genomes — including, ultimately, the human genome — from scratch. Where the original Human Genome Project read the code of life, GP-write aims to write it: a shift in ambition that Hessel has been pushing for since well before the scientific community was ready to discuss it seriously. He also serves as president of Humane Genomics, a company developing precision-engineered synthetic viruses as targeted cancer therapies, work that builds on his years as a Distinguished Researcher at Autodesk, where he led the first digital design and synthesis of a complete viral genome.
In 2022, Hessel co-authored The Genesis Machine: Our Quest to Rewrite Life in the Age of Synthetic Biology with futurist Amy Webb, published by PublicAffairs. The book was named a New Yorker Best Book of the Year, achieved Amazon bestseller status, and was recommended by McKinsey. Described by Nature as a “fascinating survey of the present and future of biotechnology” and by The New Yorker as a “road map for navigating its opportunities and perils,” it remains the clearest accessible account of synthetic biology’s trajectory and stakes.
Biosecurity, Personalized Medicine, and the Next Decade of Digital Biology
Hessel’s work in recent years has expanded into biosecurity — the urgently underdeveloped question of how societies protect themselves in a world where biology is becoming as programmable as software. In October 2024, he co-organized GENESIS BIOSECURITY, an unconference in New York City that brought together biosecurity experts, cybersecurity professionals, government officials, designers, and engineers to map the future of biological defense. He advises government bodies including the Department of Defense and the FBI, and regularly engages scientific and policy audiences on what the programmability of life means for national security, public health infrastructure, and governance.
As a speaker, Andrew Hessel translates one of the most consequential scientific revolutions of our time into terms that resonate with business leaders, policymakers, and technologists who need to understand it — not as a distant threat or a speculative promise, but as a present reality with immediate organizational implications. His talks have reached audiences at Jeff Bezos’s exclusive MARS conference, EY, Singularity University, and major government and scientific institutions. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to book Andrew Hessel for your next event.
Andrew Hessel Speaking Videos
Andrew Hessel - The Next Software Revolution: Life.
Andrew Hessel - Synthetic virology
Andrew Hessel Keynote Topics
Hessel's signature talk frames synthetic biology not as a medical specialty but as a computing revolution — one in which biology is the platform, DNA is the code, and cells are the devices. He traces the arc from reading the genome to writing it, explains why this transition is accelerating faster than most organizations realize, and shows how the tools being built today will put the ability to design living systems into the hands of anyone with a laptop and a browser. This keynote consistently reorients the mental models of technical and non-technical audiences alike.
Drawing from his co-authored book with futurist Amy Webb, Hessel examines the full landscape of synthetic biology — from mRNA vaccines and lab-grown food to personalized cancer therapies and engineered ecosystems — and frames the key governance, ethics, and business strategy questions that are still largely unresolved. Who decides what gets engineered? How do regulatory frameworks keep pace? What does this mean for pharma, agriculture, materials science, and national security? A keynote designed for senior decision-makers who need a clear-eyed, non-sensationalized account of where this field is going and what it demands of their organizations.
As biology becomes an information technology, it inherits both the power and the vulnerabilities of the digital world. Hessel has spent years working at the intersection of synthetic biology and biosecurity, advising the DoD, FBI, and other government bodies on the threat landscape that emerges when DNA can be designed on a computer and synthesized in a lab. This keynote examines what a credible biodefense posture looks like in 2025 and beyond — covering biosurveillance, rapid countermeasure development, dual-use research governance, and the institutional readiness gaps that currently leave most organizations exposed.
Hessel has long argued that the logical endpoint of genomic medicine is not better drugs for populations but precisely targeted therapies for individuals — an n-of-1 model in which diagnostics and treatments are designed specifically for one patient's biology. His work at Humane Genomics on synthetic oncolytic viruses, and his observation of early-stage personalized cancer pipelines, has sharpened his view of where medicine is going and how quickly. This keynote is particularly valuable for audiences in healthcare, pharmaceutical strategy, and health insurance who are trying to understand how the transition from population medicine to precision medicine will unfold — and who it will disrupt first.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Andrew Hessel
Why Andrew Hessel?
Booking Andrew Hessel means bringing onto your stage someone who has not just observed synthetic biology from the sidelines but actively shaped it — as a co-founder of the Genome Project-write, as the researcher who produced the first computationally designed viral genome at Autodesk, and as a co-author of the book that gave executives and policymakers their clearest window into this field. He has presented at Jeff Bezos's MARS conference, advised the Department of Defense and the FBI, and built a reputation for making one of the most technically complex revolutions of our era feel urgent, comprehensible, and actionable. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to check availability and fees.
What is the Genome Project-write?
The Genome Project-write (GP-write) is an international scientific and engineering initiative co-founded by Andrew Hessel in 2016, with the goal of synthesizing large-scale genomes — including, eventually, the complete human genome — from scratch using digital design and DNA synthesis technologies. Where the original Human Genome Project (1990–2003) focused on reading the sequence of human DNA for the first time, GP-write is the write counterpart: the effort to build functional genomes from raw chemical components using computational tools. The applications range from disease-resistant crops and industrial microbes to radical new possibilities in medicine and human biology.
What is synthetic biology and why does it matter for business?
Synthetic biology is the application of engineering principles to living systems — treating DNA as code, cells as programmable devices, and biological processes as designable outputs. As Hessel explains it, biology is becoming an information technology: one that can be read, written, edited, and eventually compiled like software. The business implications span virtually every sector — pharma and medicine, food and agriculture, materials and manufacturing, energy and chemicals, and national security. Companies that understand this transition early will be positioned to lead it; those that don't will find their industries disrupted by it. Hessel's keynotes are specifically designed to equip business and policy audiences with the mental models they need to make that assessment.
What topics does synthetic biology speaker Andrew Hessel cover?
Andrew Hessel speaks on synthetic biology and the future of life science, the programmability of DNA and its implications for business and society, personalized medicine and the transformation of cancer treatment, biosecurity in the age of programmable biology, and the governance challenges posed by dual-use biotechnology. He has addressed audiences at major technology companies, government agencies, financial institutions, and global conferences, and tailors his content to the specific industry and knowledge level of each audience. Aurum Speakers Bureau can advise on the right angle for your event and provide full details on Andrew Hessel's speaking fees and availability.
How to book Andrew Hessel as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Andrew Hessel as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Andrew Hessel's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Andrew Hessel or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Andrew Hessel speaking fee?
Andrew Hessel speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Andrew Hessel to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Andrew Hessel.
How can I contact Andrew Hessel?
We only work with Andrew Hessel on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Andrew Hessel and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Andrew Hessel speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Andrew Hessel for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Andrew Hessel for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Andrew Hessel is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Andrew Hessel for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
