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Public Speaking

"Innovation starts with a meaningful question"

John Thackara does big-picture keynote talks for a wide variety of public and private sector organisations. He also chairs events, and people enjoy his interviews with speakers and panels. John explains: "My job is not just to talk — it is to challenge your assumptions, and start conversations. The aim of these conversations is to open up opportunities for innovation".

For thirty years John Thackara has traveled the world in his search of stories about the practical steps taken by communities to realize a sustainable future. He writes about these stories online (here), and in books; he uses them in talks for cities, and business; he also organizes festivals and events that bring the subjects of these stories together.

Topics for 2012/2013

Creativity and Social Innovation
Everyone is talking about creativity and innovation — but what are they for? In this age of energy and economic transition, social innovation creates local living economies from the ground up. It also enables us to share resources — such as energy, things,time, skill, software, space, or food. New values, as well as new models and platforms, are a condition for success. (A video of John's talk at Norway's Design Day is here).

Growing The Bio City
Cities are in transition as cheap energy, and capital, become scarce. In the emerging bio-city, people use natural resources to adapt and renovate structures, heat and cool buildings, move and treat water, or grow and supply food. From 'Paris as a Sponge' to Twitter-enabled markets, John describes the new solutions, and novel collaborative models, that are transforming the city as we know it. (John's keynote The True Costs of Big is here).

Five Per Cent Health
Peak oil, and peak fat, are transforming the logic that currently shapes the global biomedical system. Until the medical system addresses the causes of illness with the same brilliance with which it addresses the effects, the population will continue to get sicker. (The 20 minute video of John's talk at Mayo Clinic is here).

Design In the Light of Dark Energy
Resource efficiency is not a lifestyle choice. We've splurged on energy for 200 years because we could. The growth-at-all-costs economy grew because it could. We drove two ton trucks to collect a pizza because we could. Now that we can't, the nature of our playing field is changing. (John's talk at the 2011 Architecture and Energy conference in Philadelphia is here)

Contact: if you'd like to book John for an event, kindly contact Gord Mazur at Lavin Agency in New York: gmazur@thelavinagency.com

TESTIMONIALS

"an inspiring presentation for our executive workshop" Ikea
"a global expert on innovation and the green economy" McKinsey Quarterly
"you lifted the conference and discussion to a high level" Oslo Architecture Triennale
"our high-level guests greatly appreciated John's challenging talk" T-Mobile
"your lecture created an enormous buzz" Vision2020 Leicester