Keynote SpeakersAdah Parris (pronounced Ad-der)is a leading keynote speaker, polymath, anti-disciplinary artist, tech futurist, and activist.
Adah is dedicated to inspiring individuals and organisations to embrace new ways of thinking and doing.
She challenges individuals and organisations to think differently by asking, “What type of ancestor do you want to be?”
Adah has a unique blend of expertise in multiple fields, including living systems, technologies (digital and ecological) and systems design.
Her perspective on innovation, transformation, and technology is both empathetic and subversive. She challenges the status quo and helps people recognise and bridge the gap between their external stories and internal behaviours.
Adah Parris is the Chair of Mental Health First Aid England and the advisory group for the Centre for Cultural Value. She has also been recognised as a TED Talks Global Emerging Innovator.
Her work explores the anatomy of transformation and innovation.
“What type of ancestor do you want to be?”
Her cutting-edge philosophy, Cyborg Shamanism™, merges ancient wisdom, living systems, traditional ecological knowledge and practices, and digital technologies. Through her consulting and her ancestors retreats, she provides individuals with the tools and practices to bridge the gap between where they are and where they want to be.
Adah has over 20 years of experience in transforming cultures to nurture decentralised innovation environments and has worked with some of the world’s leading organisations and institutions, including Natwest Bank, Google, Unilever, Sainsbury’s, Ogilvy Labs, The British Council, The EU Council, The Tate Modern, the British Film Institute (BFI), ArabNet Dubai, Innovate Finance, Wayra UK, The University of The Underground, and Shambala Festival to name a few.
Her work with individuals and organisations helps them to expand their perspectives, develop a deeper understanding, and take action towards a more sustainable future.
“One of the most important futurists in the world”
Forbes Brazil
Adah encourages businesses to embrace the idea of being a good ancestor, prioritise long-term thinking, inclusivity, and sustainability, and create immersive experiences that prioritise well-being and ethical responsibility. By adopting this holistic approach, businesses can foster deeper connections with their employees and customers, drive innovation, and leave a positive legacy.
Adah Parris is a visionary and catalyst for change, inspiring individuals and organisations to create a more sustainable future based on community, kinship, and living ecosystems.
With her unique blend of expertise, she helps businesses embrace new ways of thinking and doing and encourages innovative solutions to global challenges. By considering the impact of our actions on future generations, adopting sustainable practices, and creating inclusive environments, businesses can drive innovation, foster deeper connections and leave a positive legacy.
Adah Parris – Futurist, Innovator and Sustainable Growth Speaker
Do you need a keynote speaker who inspires innovative solutions to global and business challenges? Adah Parris can transform your approach to change, leadership, and culture.
How Nature Can Unlock AI’s Potential for Systemic Regeneration
In this thought-provoking keynote, Adah presents a strategic approach for leveraging AI in harmony with environmental principles to drive innovation and sustainable growth.
This presentation outlines the practical integration of AI with insights derived from natural systems, emphasising the value of ethical AI development and leadership strategies that prioritise long-term ecological sustainability and business resilience.
Attendees will explore actionable frameworks for enhancing AI’s impact through environmental mindfulness, ensuring their initiatives contribute positively to both their organisations and the wider ecosystem.
Parris delivers a compelling case for adopting a forward-thinking approach to AI, demonstrating how businesses can achieve competitive advantage and sustainability by aligning technology with nature’s blueprint for regeneration.
Belonging and kinship in the age of 1s and 0s
This talk explores the concept of belonging in an increasingly digitally connected world and suggests an alternative approach to understanding it through the lens of “relational ecology,” which emphasises sustainable relationships with others and the world around us.
The talk also raises important questions about the role of artificial intelligence in facilitating these relationships, the need for inclusivity and respect for diversity in fostering kinship, and the importance of a Long-Now mindset in creating cultures and ecosystems that promote growth and transformation.
Ultimately, the talk suggests that focusing on connections with others and the world may be the key to creating a sense of belonging and well-being.
Take only memories, leave only footprints. Cultivating Timeless Change in the Now
Explore a transformative leadership approach that combines ‘vision quests’ foresight, ‘radical presence’ in decision-making, and a focus on uncovering hidden organisational dynamics, all while embracing the patience required for impactful and lasting change.
This talk inspires leaders to think and act beyond their tenure, laying the groundwork for a legacy of sustainable success and positive organisational transformation.
The possible has been tried and failed. Now it’s time to try the impossible: Art, Storytelling, and Transforming Perception
Join Adah Parris on an avant-garde journey inspired by the innovative realms of Othered Futurisms and Afro-Surrealism, where we embrace the unconventional and push boundaries.
This exploration highlights a vision distinct from the Global North’s techno-centric futurism, focusing on cultural reclamation, social justice, spiritual connections, and environmental consciousness.
Discover how art and storytelling’s transformative power, infused with creativity, symbolism, and cultural resonance, can revolutionise our worldviews and lead us toward a more harmonious future.
Charting the Future: Balance, Chaos, and Storytelling in Digital Realms
Adah Parris embarks on a journey into the metaverse and extended reality (XR), illuminating how the balance and chaos of the cosmos can shape these emerging digital platforms into arenas for creative, collaborative exploration and multidimensional storytelling.
Stressing the crucial roles of diversity and inclusion, she underscores the innovative spirit needed to harness these technologies fully. Yet, Parris offers a cautionary perspective on the risks of a digital divide, highlighting the imperative for inclusivity and accessibility within these virtual spaces.
Her insights serve as a call to action for leaders to navigate the challenges of the metaverse and XR thoughtfully, ensuring equitable access and preventing these advancements from becoming gatekept realms.
