Ian Hawkins is a writer, speaker and presenter who tackles the big questions about how people and businesses can adapt in a world that is changing faster than ever before.

Ian Hawkins is a business journalist specialising in thought leadership, technology and communication. He has written and made programmes for some of the world’s biggest media platforms including CBS and BBC World, and was Editor-in-Chief of PEX Network, with a focus on operational excellence, automation and data. 

Born with a debilitating heart condition at a time when treatment was rare, dangerous and traumatic, Ian has takes a very personal view of innovation, asking whether the risks outweigh the benefits and investigating who pays the price for new discoveries. The experience has left him with PTSD, which in a world that is slowly getting to grips with the importance of mental health, he talks about with insight, dignity and plenty of humour. 

Ian’s outlook has taken him to find the stories of businesses around the world, from pharma labs in Gothenburg to water purification in Nicaragua, dodging muggers in Panama City and shooting film from a helicopter over an active volcano. Throughout, he has learned that while technology is always changing, people never do - but we can all do something to make sure we are able to work in the new world that is evolving around us. 

A natural-born storyteller, Ian speaks about how humans and robots are working together, tackling the big issues in business and technology with wit and clarity. Whether moderating a discussion or presenting a keynote, audiences are energised, informed, educated and inspired to make the future better. 

​

WHAT IAN TALKS ABOUT

With outstanding feedback from respected clients across a range of briefs, Ian's keynotes are crafted to enable change in the audience. From how managers can boost their teams’ mental health and well-being through remote communications to using data to make better decisions and avoid cognitive bias, he is also a skilled moderator for live and online events.

​

MENTAL HEALTH AND CHANGE

After COVID, there is a renewed impetus for businesses to become better places to work, that truly enable people to work to the top of their skills and thrive. Taking such actions can only deliver positive benefits to organisations. Drawing on personal experience, psychology research and best practice from organisations around the world, Ian looks at practical ways people can improve their working environments with strategies that can be put in place immediately. He also speaks on change and look at how small, sustainable changes are able to make a huge impact on individuals, teams and the world at large. He shares his own journey through tough times, showing that however limited our choices may be, we can still be in charge of our own destiny. 

​

INNOVATION, TECHNOLOGY AND TRANSFORMATION

New technology is transforming how data is understood and used – and in turn, how businesses operate. The digital transformation revolution has impacted every industry, and businesses are facing a stark choice: keep up, or become obsolete. But innovation and disruption aren’t new and organisations are fundamentally human endeavours. In his presentations, Ian looks at case studies from recent and distant history, draw out the lessons that are relevant today, and give an insight into the near future. Audiences are left with plenty to think about, ideas for shaping their strategy for surviving and thriving in an unknowable future, and avoiding the technology tail from wagging the business dog. 

​

PRESENTING AND MODERATING

A good presenter is the glue that holds an event together, managing expectations for the audience and providing vital information that helps the day run smoothly. Prior to the event, they are also able to advise on agenda, content and maximising impact of the key messages. Moderators are able to interview speakers, provide a voice for the audience and generate a productive atmosphere. I have experience of both roles across live and online events from conferences to webinars, awards ceremonies and workshops. 

​