Jonathan McCrea – Keynote Speaker

Jonathan McCrea is a multi award-winning science and technology broadcaster and founder of Whipsmart Media, a communications company based in Dublin. An expert in future trends with a background in technology, he is the lead media trainer for Science Foundation Ireland’s 700 researchers and has given numerous tailored keynotes on new developments in science and technology for clients such as Bank of Ireland Life and the Institute of Advertising Practitioners in Ireland.

In 2010, Jonathan created Futureproof, Newstalk’s flagship science and technology programme that has travelled the globe from French Guiana to the Arctic Circle. The show has won two gold awards at the PPI National Radio Awards and one silver in the four years it has been on air, most recently the 2014 PPI Best Specialist Speech programme. It currently boasts the highest listenership per hour across the entire Newstalk schedule, including weekday programming.

In 2012, Jonathan presented the critically acclaimed The Science Squad for RTE 1, a 6-part TV series looking at cutting-edge science and technology in Ireland. The fourth series is currently in pre-production. Jonathan also hosts The Lie, TV3’s big-budget, prime time quiz show that premiered in February 2014. It returned to screens in October 2014 and will continue its successful run in April 2015.

As part of his role as a science and technology communicator, Jonathan has provided training and workshops for organisations such as The British Council and Science Foundation Ireland. He has also has fronted or produced a number of large public events for clients such as Enterprise Ireland, Sony Pictures, The Science Gallery, Electric Picnic, and Adidas among others. For the Festival of Curiosity in 2014, he developed the headline show called Curious Futures examining how the world might look in 2050.

Jonathan has written on science and technology for the Irish Times and the Irish Independent among other outlets and is the resident technology expert on George Hook’s prime-time programme on Newstalk, The Right Hook. Jonathan has been a columnist for Stellar Magazine, Confetti and also wrote regularly for the Sunday Business Post on film. Before turning to a career in media, Jonathan worked in network management and Information Security for Ocean, BT and Siemens.

Jonathan is currently in the process of writing two books: ‘Where’s My Flying Car?’ and ‘Say that Again: The Science of Powerful Communication’.