PROFILE
Angus is a political economist and a journalist specialising in the impact of disruptive technologies on society. He is a co-founder at Future Crunch. He was the founding community manager of Random Hacks of Kindness, a global initiative from Google, IBM, Microsoft, NASA and the World Bank to create open-source technology solutions to social challenges. He was also the first editorial manager for Global Policy, one of the world's leading international policy journals. He holds a PhD in International Political Economy from the London School of Economics, where he was the Ralph Miliband Scholar.
SPEAKING TOPICS
The Adaptability Quotient
THE NEW COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE IN A WORLD OF CONSTANT CHANGE
This present moment used to be our unimaginable future. Technology has become a layer over every industry, offices are no longer the place where work gets done, and people are looking for more from their jobs than just a salary. Amidst the upheaval, modern leaders face a choice: to continue with business as usual, or use this window of opportunity to forge a new, sustainable model that makes the existing model obsolete.
What is today’s key quality for individuals and organisations that wish to thrive in a world of constant change? In this presentation, Future Crunch provides the answer. The next decade belongs to those who are willing to adopt new ways of thinking. People with a high AQ, or Adaptability Quotient – the ability to thrive in unpredictable environments.
With trademark humour and dynamism, and showcasing the latest research and extraordinary stories from the worlds of technology and neuroscience, this talk reveals why today’s best predictor of success is the ability to embrace flexibility and experimentation. Audiences will walk away with an understanding of what it takes to foster AQ, how to identify it in others, and how it can be a superpower for anyone looking to maintain a competitive advantage, no matter what comes next.
Full Stack Human
HOW TO FUTURE PROOF YOURSELF
The future belongs to the Full Stack Human, a term inspired by computer programmers who are the Swiss army knives of the development world. Fluent in both culture and code, they're able to work across the entire development process. From the front to the back end, they can seamlessly transition from one environment to the next. They're driven by a boundless sense of curiosity— it’s not enough to know that something works, they need to understand the how and why behind each functionality.
Join the Future Crunch team as they explore how the same, Full Stack concept applies to our lives. Most of us use a limited set of tools, trying to solve our problems the same way again and again, and often ignore our more hidden backend systems. In this entertaining and mind-expanding presentation, audiences will learn why using a full stack of systems – carefully curating your information diet, applying new approaches to problem-solving techniques, and harnessing the power of storytelling – can be a superpower in today's world.
The Future Economy
A FIELD GUIDE FOR WHAT’S COMING NEXT
The next decade will be amongst the most important in human history, in which the decisions we make as a species will determine the fate of multiple generations. How do today’s leaders ensure they’re creating sustainable businesses that work for people and the planet? The first step is to understand what's coming next.
In this presentation, Future Crunch draws on their latest, gold-plated research to explore the fundamental technologies shaping our future. It’s not just about digital any more. Artificial intelligence, web 3.0, the Metaverse, robotics, clean energy, electric vehicles, genetics, synthetic biology – each of these is transformative in their own right. Together, they constitute a true industrial revolution, creating unprecedented change in every industry at once. Audiences will come away with a powerful roadmap to the future, and the ability to think clearly about technological disruption – essential knowledge for anyone looking to harness the opportunities of a rapidly changing global economy. This talk is particularly relevant for leaders who wish to maintain a strategic advantage and play their part in creating a sustainable and equitable future.
