BIOGRAPHY
Ed Gillespie is a serial entrepreneur, podcaster and futurist who focuses on sustainability and innovation. He is an expert communicator with an ability to unpack the complex issues facing the world, such as climate change and disruption, and present them to a non-specialist audience. Ed is a creative writer and poet who has addressed many institutions, including the U.N. and governments around the world. In 2014 Ed published Only Planet: A Flight-Free Adventure Around the World, the spin-off book of his 2007-8 Guardian/Observer column The Slow Traveller.
In 2001 Ed cofounded Futerra, one of the world’s first sustainability agencies, which advised corporations on strategy and communications, but in 2019 he stepped back in order to focus on his speaking career. Ed’s style is lively and combative and he is an experienced Chairperson, keynote speaker, compère and moderator. Recent engagements include The World Bank, KPMG, Mace, Citywire and the European Space Agency, and he gave the inaugural Bonn Speech on Global Transformation for the German Government.
Ed, who began his career in marine biology, is a facilitator in responsible leadership at the Forward Institute and has held a number of directorships and senior advisory positions. These include Chief Futurist at the Global Destination Sustainability Movement. He is a former director of Greenpeace UK and a trustee of Onboard:Earth and Out There Arts.
Ed has invested in many sustainable businesses and startups. These include successful exits from Loco2.com (which was sold in 2018 and renamed Rail Europe), Breakroom and Engaged Tracking and ongoing investment in CUR8, Piclo, Bennamann, Common Objective, Demand Logic, Byway and Flown.
Ed is a popular podcaster, co-hosting Jon Richardson and the Futurenauts – How to survive the Apocalypse alongside fellow Futurenaut Mark Stevenson and comedian Jon Richardson. He also presents The Great Humbling alongside Dougald Hine. He is a prolific poet who has dabbled in stand-up comedy and believes that the power of creative writing can unleash deep change in our world.
For more information on Ed Gillespie’s speaking topics and availability, contact leo@vbqspeakers.com.
ED GILLESPIE: SPEAKER
Professionally Ed is known for his own unique brand of authentic ‘insultancy’ – being strategically and playfully cheeky to clients, with judicious wit and wisdom to inspire them to greater heights and aspirations. He is highly adaptable, constructively challenging and pushes audience assumptions of business as usual, opening minds then mapping possible practical solutions and opportunities.
Ed is a sought after speaker, event host, lively compere and trusted Chairperson, renowned for his entertaining presentations laced with thoughtful insights, trends and humour. Since 2001, he has presented all over the world, giving dozens of talks a year from Hong Kong to Bratislava, Korea to Auckland. And he’s been heard by every kind of audience, from the UN and national governments, to multi-national corporations and global associations. He’s even dabbled with stand-up comedy to enhance his presentational and engagement skills.
BOOKS
“With a shaft or three of enlightenment, a healthy dose of irreverence, Only Planet inspires us to carry on living, loving and travelling well” — Jonathon Porritt
“An inspiring reminder of the adventures and experiences to be had, if you just avoid that airport security queue!” — Mark Smith
“With wit, welly and wisdom, Ed reveals the fine-grained texture of the world at ground level. Required reading for the slow traveller” — Carl Honoré, best-selling author of In Praise Of Slow