David Li Daokui
Mansfield Freeman Chair Professor, Tsinghua University | Director, Academic Center for Chinese Economic Practice and Thinking | Leading Chinese Economist | Author
David Rowan
Founding Editor-in-Chief, WIRED UK | Best-Selling Author of Non-Bullshit Innovation | Technology & Futurist Keynote Speaker
Speaker David Rowan founded WIRED's UK edition and now operates at the intersection of journalism and venture capital, investing in 180+ early-stage tech companies including two unicorns. He decodes how AI, quantum computing and other exponential technologies will reshape your industry. Executive audiences book him for the rare blend of insider access, intellectual honesty and clear strategic guidance.
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David Rowan biography
Speaker David Rowan is one of the world’s foremost voices on how exponential technologies, from artificial intelligence to quantum computing and synthetic biology, are reshaping global business. As the founding Editor-in-Chief of WIRED’s UK edition, he spent more than a decade interpreting innovation for senior leaders, and now translates those frontier shifts into actionable strategy for executive audiences worldwide.
His best-selling book, Non-Bullshit Innovation: 17 Proven Ways to Transform How You Work, was the product of a 20-country investigation into what genuine corporate innovation looks like inside organizations facing technology-led disruption. Published by Penguin and translated into Japanese, Korean, Russian and other languages, the book has become a reference text for transformation officers, founders and board directors looking for credible answers rather than hype.
From newsroom to innovation frontline
Rowan’s perspective is grounded in direct access to the people building the future. He has interviewed the founders of Google, WhatsApp and LinkedIn alongside the leaders of Didi, Xiaomi and dozens of other companies redefining their categories. He is also an active early-stage investor in more than 180 technology businesses, including two unicorns, and runs venture funds focused on health-tech and climate-tech, giving him a live read on where capital, talent and breakthrough ideas are converging next.
He continues to write for outlets such as The Times, GQ and Condé Nast Traveller, and has moderated headline sessions for the World Economic Forum and national governments on subjects ranging from generative AI to autonomous systems. His clients include Google, Goldman Sachs, KPMG, Chanel and many other Fortune 500 organizations across financial services, retail, healthcare and industrial sectors.
As a speaker, David Rowan combines journalist-grade clarity with investor-grade rigor, leaving audiences with a sharper picture of where their industry is heading and a concrete sense of what to do about it. Book him through Aurum Speakers Bureau to bring this perspective to your stage, or explore more of his work on his official site.
David Rowan Speaking Videos
Futurist speaker David Rowan
David Rowan - Radical Ideas From The World's Smartest Minds
David Rowan Keynote Topics
David Rowan argues that artificial intelligence has reached the same inflection point the internet hit when Netscape went public, the moment a technology stops being a curiosity and becomes infrastructure. In this keynote he unpacks what that shift means for banks, asset managers and insurers: which competitive moats are eroding, which new product categories are emerging, and what financial services leaders should be doing in the next 12 to 24 months to position themselves on the right side of the change.
This keynote is built for executive teams who are tired of AI generalities and want a concrete answer to one question: what should we actually be doing now? Drawing on case studies from companies he has interviewed and invested in, Rowan separates near-term commercial opportunity from longer-term horizon bets, shows where early-stage AI investment is flowing, and gives audiences a practical framework for prioritizing AI initiatives by impact rather than fashion.
Generative AI workloads are forcing a complete rethink of how data centers are designed, powered and operated. In this session Rowan examines what hyperscalers, chip makers and the new wave of AI-native infrastructure providers are building, the energy and sustainability tradeoffs senior leaders need to understand, and how AI itself is being deployed to optimize cooling, capacity and uptime inside the facility.
Retail is being remade by the convergence of AI, automation, real-time data and changing consumer expectations. Rowan brings examples from the leading edge of global commerce to show how incumbents can move at startup speed without losing the strengths of scale. He covers experimentation cadence, customer personalization at the data layer, and the cultural shifts that separate retailers who adapt from those who get displaced.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking David Rowan
Why David Rowan?
Speaker David Rowan brings something rare to a keynote stage: he combines a journalist's decade-deep relationships with the world's most disruptive founders (he has interviewed the people behind Google, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Didi and Xiaomi) with an active investor's stake in more than 180 early-stage technology companies. That dual lens means he never talks about innovation in abstract terms. He talks about who is funding it, who is building it and what it means for your industry next quarter. On stage his style is calm, evidence-based and refreshingly free of hype, which is why he has delivered more than 700 keynotes for clients including Google, Goldman Sachs, KPMG and Chanel. Book David Rowan through Aurum Speakers Bureau to bring his rigorous, optimist-realist view of exponential technology to your next event.
What is David Rowan's book Non-Bullshit Innovation about?
Non-Bullshit Innovation is the product of a 20-country investigation into what genuine corporate innovation actually looks like inside the organizations doing it well. Rowan visited companies across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America, from Amazon and Microsoft to medical robotics startups and government innovation units, to identify 17 strategies that consistently distinguish organizations that innovate from those that only talk about it. Published by Penguin and translated into Japanese, Korean, Russian and other languages, the book is widely used by transformation leaders, executive teams and MBA programs as a practical playbook rather than a theoretical primer.
What topics does David Rowan cover in his keynotes?
David Rowan is most often booked to speak on artificial intelligence and its near-term commercial impact, exponential technologies including synthetic biology, quantum computing and autonomous systems, the future of work, what early-stage venture capital signals about where industries are heading next, and how legacy organizations can build authentic, high-velocity innovation cultures. He customizes every keynote to the specific sector in the room, whether financial services, retail, healthcare, energy or industrial, drawing on case studies from companies he has interviewed in depth or invested in personally.
How do I book David Rowan as a keynote speaker?
David Rowan is represented for global speaking engagements and event moderation through Aurum Speakers Bureau. To check availability for your date, request his current speaking fee or discuss customization for your audience, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau directly. The team will manage logistics, contracting and the creative briefing process so that David can focus on delivering a keynote tailored to your strategic objectives.
How to book David Rowan as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book David Rowan as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about David Rowan'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 David Rowan or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is David Rowan speaking fee?
David Rowan 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 David Rowan 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 David Rowan.
How can I contact David Rowan?
We only work with David Rowan on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking David Rowan and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having David Rowan 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 David Rowan for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book David Rowan for a virtual keynote?
Yes, David Rowan is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book David Rowan for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
