About Me

I've worn many hats since I first dove into the world of tech as a mainframe software developer way back in '98. Programmer, analyst, CxO, writer, speaker - you name it. What can I say, I'm a Jack of all trades when it comes to anything with a power button. And over the years, through all those winding career twists and turns, I found my true calling: researching the heck out of where technology could lead us next and then telling it like it is. Not the over-hyped spiel the tech giants spin, I peel back the curtain on both the promise and the perils of our emerging futures.

For fifteen years now I've had the privilege to write for publications, consult with clients across the globe and speak to audiences big and small about what the future could have in store. From tiny gatherings of twenty in small community meetups to thousands packed into convention hall keynotes, if you've got questions about what's on the horizon, I've got thoughts to share.

In my abundant spare time, I'm often digging into classic sci-fi, unpacking how authors over the decades dreamed up elaborate visions of things to come. Like those grand utopian predictions on display at World Fairs back in the early 20th century, when imagination ran free, unconstrained by the wet blanket of commercial viability.

That led me to Retrofuturism and Hauntology - the idea of researching past predictions and the sense of loss for once-promised futures that never came about. Now I incorporate that perspective, blended with time-tested science fictional worldbuilding and future studies into my work, helping clients and event crowds understand what might still emerge in the days ahead.

The ghosts of futures past, if you will, can still show us the way forward.

Theo Priestley is an esteemed futurist, internationally acclaimed speaker, author, and a foremost authority on the future. His expertise in 'hyperchange' positions him at the vanguard of an enterprise trend that transcends digital transformation, discussing the confluence of emerging technologies such as Spatial Computing, Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI, Web3 and the Metaverse and how they should not be treated as separate trends.

Priestley's approach is a masterful blend of science fiction insight and philosophical discourse, crafting future narratives that captivate and engage executive audiences.

Blending foresight with philosophical debate, Priestley deftly crafts narratives on everything from digital disruption to the very meaning of humanity in an age of transhumanism. He's been named a Top 100 Influencer in recognition of his unique ability to captivate executives and thinkers alike as he bridges theory and practice.

Over the past decade, Priestley has lent his expertise to augment the strategic foresight and innovation efforts of leading technology providers and global 2000 enterprises, including Capgemini, SAP, Siemens, Bosch, AON and Hewlett Packard. He's advised startup accelerators like HTC ViveX and Alchemist and guest lectured at universities on the practicalities of strategic foresight and visions of the future.

Priestley has worked with some of the biggest names in tech and business including Capgemini, SAP, Siemens, Bosch, Software AG, AON Insurance, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise - consulting, speaking for, and advising on strategic foresight, and emerging technologies.

The breadth of Priestley's body of written work reflects his versatility, with more than 500 articles contributed to Forbes, The European, WIRED, Huffington Post and beyond. He's offered his insights to VentureBeat, GigaOM, The Times Raconteur and through radio and televised news interviews. His latest book, The Future Starts Now, published internationally by Bloomsbury, has drawn praise calling it "thought provoking...left me feeling anxious, scared, excited, and motivated all at the same time."

An eloquent and dynamic presenter before audiences large and small Priestley has educated and electrified groups from 20 to 2000 at events ranging from corporate keynotes to
conference headliners across the globe. For any organization navigating uncertain times, he brings a rare mix of vision and pragmatism to prepare leaders for the future speeding our way.