Dr Richard David Hames

Dr Richard David Hames's Biography

Thought Leader| Philosopher-Activist | Author | Speaker

Described by Forbes Asia as “one of the smartest people on the planet”, Richard’s groundbreaking insights challenge the boundaries of conventional thinking and inspire us to reimagine our collective future.

A polymath, dynamic public speaker, and visionary entrepreneur, Richard stands as a trailblazing force in global leadership, constantly sought by governments and business leaders for his searing intellect and remarkably accurate foresight on all issues concerning the future of humanity.

An Australian citizen educated in the UK and Europe, now residing in Asia, Richard has garnered an impressive array of accolades, including a French Government Scholarship, a Leverhulme European Fellowship, the Mondadori Professorial Fellowship, and the inaugural Lord Attlee Fellowship. He holds doctoral degrees in music, medicine, and computer science, and most notably became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 1994 and a Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science in 2004.

The visionary Centre for the Future, which he founded, and his role as Chairman of the esteemed Asian Foresight Institute in Bangkok underscore his transformative influence. Richard’s journey began in medicine, computer science, academia, and the arts before he emerged as the Group Chief Executive at ArtsMedia International. His adept leadership turned the struggling enterprise into a thriving European media powerhouse.

Rooted in his early work in Total Quality Management and inspired by his association with Dr. W Edwards Deming, Richard co-founded Global Business Network (Australia) and established ABN Learning, an innovative consulting division. In 1995, he established The Hames Group, an entity in Chicago fusing think-tank, design laboratory, and advisory firm elements. Until recently he was the Chief Strategist at Eternus, a global group that elevates ideas and businesses by providing support through advice, strategy, infrastructure or capital, to help businesses grow, profit and make a positive impact.

Richard’s global influence is evident through strategic advisement to governments, institutions, and multinational corporations across the USA, France, UK, Australia, UAE, China, Africa and beyond. His mentorship has extended to Presidents, Heads of State, entrepreneurs, and forward-thinking CEOs.

At the forefront is his groundbreaking Deep Design approach, rooted in complexity science and living systems, driving second-order change. Methodologies like Transformational Narrative, Systemic Acupuncture, and Strategic Navigation, all founded on generative learning principles, demonstrate his forward-thinking approach to managing complexity.

As an elder statesman in the field of anticipatory foresight, Richard has explored topics ranging from the future of conflict, the resilience of the Westphalian model, and the continuing impacts of colonialism in the “global south”, to the integration of machine learning into our daily lives. His predictive accuracy is notable, having forecast the rise of authoritarian figures like Trump, Erdogan and Modi, identifying patterns that led to the global financial crisis and recent pandemics, warning corporations about the impacts of the climate crisis on business, and anticipating socio-political events like the Arab Spring and the attack in America on 9/11.

A prolific author, Richard’s books like “The Management Myth: Exploring the Essence of Future Organisations” and “Burying the 20th Century – New Paths to New Futures” underscore his expertise. Recent works delve into societal transformation, pandemic insights, and more. For an in-depth exploration, engage with Richard’s writings on The Hames Report – Limited Edition and The Virtual Activist.

Elevate your event with a captivating and thought-provoking speaker. Richard will leave your audience enthralled, informed, and empowered to embrace the possibilities of the future.

Future Insights: With decades of experience as a renowned futurist, Richard has developed an unparalleled ability to identify emerging trends and anticipate the societal impacts of transformative technologies. His foresight provides invaluable context for businesses, organisations, and individuals seeking to navigate an ever-evolving landscape.

Thought Leadership with Heart: Richard’s approach to speaking is not just about imparting knowledge; it’s about inspiring meaningful change. His thought-provoking narratives and engaging storytelling foster an emotional connection with the audience, leaving a lasting impact on hearts and minds.

Interdisciplinary Insights: As a polymath with expertise in economics, politics, philosophy, and complex systems, Richard weaves together diverse perspectives to offer a holistic understanding of complex global issues. His cross-disciplinary insights ignite curiosity and inspire innovative thinking.

As a foresight practitioner Richard and his team have examined hundreds of topics, ranging from the future of conflict and work to taxation, business and society, food security, international terrorism, smart cities, financial services, health care, science and alternative energy.

Contact Helene Greenham directly to enquire about Richard David Hames for your event – helene@platinumspeakers.com.au

Speaking Topics Include

Managing Uncertainty: Future-proofing your organisation

Uncertainty is a permanent feature of running a business today. But there's a way of using it to your advantage. Being "future-ready" entails the daily practice of using new strategic tools and substituting Strategic Navigation in place of standard planning. Then, using real-time
intelligence, aided by AI to guide decisions in a navigational context, you become pretty much "future-proof".

Managing Uncertainty gives you the tools, tricks and habits you need to avoid being taken by surprise by external events. Strategic Navigation is the risk free way of remaining ahead of the curve and understanding what's around the corner and an exercise in engaging the entire workforce.

Key Takeaways: Participants in this keynote/workshop are given a comprehensive overview of the Strategic Navigation methodology, along with the key tools for implementing "futurereadiness" out of the box!

Dangerous 2025 - The Evolution of Artificial Intelligence

AI models are evolving far beyond what they were programmed to do, teaching
themselves new capabilities, solving problems in unexplainable ways, creating their own internal languages, and solving problems in ways we do not understand.

Dangerous 2025 examines the risks and opportunities, considering the staggering pace of AI, achieving in months what took humans 300,000 years of evolution to do. These systems may surpass human reasoning in most domains in 2025, marking the emergence of a new form of intelligence capable of reshaping reality itself.

Key Takeaways: We analyse whether humanity is prepared for this transformative future and what needs to happen - in terms of coding, risk legislation, and security applications - to ensure that the future is one in which humans control technology rather than the other way around.

Going Global: The future of Australian banking

Beyond a 5-year horizon, with China and the BRICS nations playing an increasingly important and larger role, traditional banking models will, of necessity, morph into a multipolar financial system. Richard predicts a reduced reliance on Western financial institutions and models; greater use of local currencies, digital currencies, and alternative payment systems; and a focus on financial inclusion, regional collaboration, and technological innovation tailored to the needs of emerging markets.

Going Global maps out a new paradigm for banking in the Asia Pacific region. In this scenario, BRICS nations will become architects of a parallel financial ecosystem that will redefine global banking. The balance of power in the financial world will hinge on how effectively these nations collaborate and execute their shared vision. For Australia, pressure from the US, regulatory divergence, and dependence on China pose the greatest risks, but diversifying trade and aligning with regional players like Indonesia offer opportunities.

Key Takeaways: As the global financial system becomes more multipolar, Australia’s ability to adapt and innovate will ensure its relevance. In this keynote, Richard identifies what must happen for Australia to position itself as a bridge between Western and BRICS systems in order to safeguard its economic interests, strengthen its role in the Asia-Pacific, and contribute to shaping a more inclusive and interconnected global financial ecosystem. This dual alignment will not only protect Australia from geopolitical risks but also position it as a key player in the evolving financial order.

Australia - First Global Nation

It's evident that Australians are increasingly fed up with the games being played by the two main political parties and want to weaken entrenched political and corporate power. The next election gives Australia a chance to break the Liberal-Labour duopoly while using new technologies to introduce more direct forms of democracy leading to civic renewal. The greater prospect, though, is to see a future where Australia stands as a truly global prototype in the community of nations.

Australia – First Global Nation reflects a vision of Australia as a diverse, economically integrated, and diplomatically active nation that serves as a bridge between cultures and regions. This scenario highlights Australia's potential to lead on global issues, embrace diversity, and act as a model for how nations can thrive in an interconnected world.

Key Takeaways: In this keynote Richard identifies the conditions needed to elevate Australia's economic complexity and competitive ranking globally; strategies for bridging the Sinic-Occidental divide; how grassroots engagement can strengthen civil society; ways to liberate entrepreneurial energy and focus using the innate resources and talents of a successful multicultural community.

The Future of Healthcare & Wellness

We are living longer, healthier lives. The future of healthcare is shifting rapidly toward a personalized, preventative, technology-driven model that empowers individuals to take control of their wellbeing. Advances in agent-based diagnostics, cellular-level treatments, and telemedicine, for example, are already driving innovation, with an increased focus on mental health, holistic care, nutrition and exercise, changing the role of clinicians and hospitals. Ultimately, the integration of wellness into daily life will transform healthcare from the treatment of disease, to prevention, via enhanced individualised care - reducing our dependence on drugs and invasive procedures, thus turning the current system on its head.

The Future of Healthcare & Wellness is an overview of the latest developments in the field, as seen through the eyes Dr Richard Hames, a futurist who started his career in medicine and is currently Director of Strategy for MHealth UK (with deep expertise in international healthcare development and management) and Chairman of Ora Life (an Asian wellness startup featuring whole genome sequencing).

Key Takeaways: Richard points participants to key developments in technology (such as predictive analytics, alternative therapies, health apps, implantable devices, and digital twins) where these are being deployed; and professional contact details for people who are leading the field globally.

Unleash Your Unique Potential

Richard's third book, "The Five Literacies of Global Leadership", blew orthodox leadership models out of the water. Simple to understand, easy to implement, radical in impact, the "5L model" is used today by some of the world's most successful startups and social enterprises.

Unleash Your Unique Potential uses a leadership code driven by dialogue. Based on consistent ways of seeing, interacting, and making decisions, it contains the trade secrets of the alchemists, artists and entrepreneurs among us. Leaders who use the 5L code charge others with energy in a constant upgrading of discovery and innovation.

Key Takeaways: A new philosophy of leading; an explanation of the 5L code; a primer in how to use the Five Literacies to engage and motivate any workforce.