David Kester leads and advises on complex innovation and design projects with industry and national governments. He has worked in the creative industries for 25 years and is a former Chief Executive of the UK Design Council, which he successfully merged with CABE. David is Chairman of the leading... Read more
David Kester leads and advises on complex innovation and design projects with industry and national governments. He has worked in the creative industries for 25 years and is a former Chief Executive of the UK Design Council, which he successfully merged with CABE.
David is Chairman of the leading retail and brand consultancy Caulder Moore and principal of the strategic design and innovation consultancy David Kester & Associates (DK&A), which is leading a design vision project for the government infrastructure project, High Speed 2.
He is Principal of David Kester & Associates since january 2014.
Over a 10-year period at the Design Council he reinvented this national institution and is well known for pioneering new ways to turn social challenges into innovation and enterprise. With the Department of Health, this included fast-paced engagement with front-line staff, patients and the private sector to bring life-changing products and services to market in areas such as dementia, patient dignity and infection control.
David Kester has served as advisor and contributor to three UK governments, developing and supporting practical design policy for the Treasury, and departments of Business, Education, Communities, Health and Culture. He has run design policy projects including orchestrating the 2005 Cox Review to HM Treasury and the design component of the Coalition Growth Strategy.
Over the last year, David has been working internationally in New Zealand, Asia and Europe, where he is also in demand as a commentator and speaker. He is an Ambassador and Co-Moderator of the Dutch design conference What Design Can Do, the UK partner for the DesignThinkers Academy pioneering Service Design Bootcamps, and an Honorary Professor of Warwick Business School, where he helped found a Behavioural Design Lab, and Honorary Fellow at the Royal College of Art.
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You can book David Kester through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with David's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
David Kester'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 David tailored to your event.
David Kester speaks on a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with David to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book David Kester for events worldwide, subject to David'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 David Kester 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 David can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief David Kester 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 David can offer.
David Kester 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.
David Kester's areas of expertise include a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. To get a clear sense of David'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.
David Kester can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in a range of business, leadership and industry subjects is relevant. Details of David'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 David Kester 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 David Kester, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check David's current availability for your dates.