Charles Leadbeater is a world-renowned innovation expert whose work focuses on how to be human in an increasingly technological, unequal world, overshadowed by climate change. Leadbeater’s new books explore these themes. The Analogue Innovator will look at why as digital innovation accelerates we are so drawn to older forms... Read more
Charles Leadbeater is a world-renowned innovation expert whose work focuses on how to be human in an increasingly technological, unequal world, overshadowed by climate change.
Leadbeater’s new books explore these themes. The Analogue Innovator will look at why as digital innovation accelerates we are so drawn to older forms of craft work, culture and technology as a counterbalance. Finding the right combination of the old and the new, the human and the technological will be critical to how we live and work well.
In Breakthrough Movements, Leadbeater unpicks the DNA of breakthroughs which change life for the better for millions of people, from the creation of the modern restaurant to the invention of the contraceptive pill. Big breakthroughs come from innovation movements that combine new thinking about society with technology, organisation and culture to make it real. Leadbeater uses this anatomy of breakthrough innovation strategies to forecast which technologies will provide the biggest breakthroughs in future: from driverless cars and block chain to personalised genetic treatments and solar energy.
Charles Leadbeater has a track record for being ahead of the game. His best seller, Living on Thin Air, published in 1998, forecast the rise of the knowledge driven, weightless economy and We-Think: mass innovation not mass production, published in 2008, forecast that the web was breeding a Pro Am culture of collaboration across a wide range of fields. Leadbeater was one of the first people in the world to write about the impending rise of social entrepreneurship.
Leadbeater is a social innovator in his own right as one of the founders of the influential innovation and design agency Participle and as founder chair of the Google award winning charity Apps for Good. He is a well-known and provocative voice in debates on the future of learning arguing that education should prepare young people to be creative and collaborative problem solvers. His TED talks on education have been watched by over 3 million people.
Charles Leadbeater was an award winning journalist with the Financial Times in London and Tokyo before going on to become assistant editor at The Independent. He went on to become a trusted adviser to Prime Minister Tony Blair and Foreign Minister David Miliband on the future of society.
As Cultural Ambassador for the London Mayor, Charles Leadbeater has written widely on the future of London and other cities, looking in particular at how successful cities can be smart and efficient but also hospitable and humane.
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You can book Charles Leadbeater through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Charles's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Charles Leadbeater's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Charles tailored to your event.
Charles Leadbeater speaks on Business & Management, Cities & Environment, Education, Facilitators & Moderators, Future & Technology. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Charles to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Charles Leadbeater for events worldwide, subject to Charles's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Charles Leadbeater is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Charles can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Charles Leadbeater on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Charles can offer.
Charles Leadbeater delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Charles Leadbeater's areas of expertise include Business & Management, Cities & Environment, Education, Facilitators & Moderators, Future & Technology. To get a clear sense of Charles's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Charles Leadbeater can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Business & Management, Cities & Environment, Education, Facilitators & Moderators, Future & Technology is relevant. Details of Charles's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Charles Leadbeater is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Charles Leadbeater, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Charles's current availability for your dates.