Richard van Hooijdonk is a globally recognised futurist, keynote speaker, entrepreneur and authority on emerging technologies. As Founder and Chief Executive of Futurezone.ai, Richard leads a future-focused intelligence agency dedicated to helping organisations and leaders see beyond today's limitations and prepare for tomorrow's opportunities. Backed by an international research team, he focuses on the technologies reshaping business and society, including generative AI, robotics, autonomous systems, quantum computing, biotechnology and augmented reality. Through his research, publications and presentations, he has shaped the insights that more than 650,000 people have experienced in his sessions worldwide.
Richard's career began in senior marketing and communications leadership roles. He served as Director of Marketing and Communications at DSB Bank N.V. before founding MarketingXperts, where he advised organisations on marketing strategy and innovation. He later became Director of the Commercial Innovation Program at OHRA, followed by Marketing Director at Exact Software. His expertise in digital transformation led to his appointment as Chief Digital Officer at Wegener NV, where he helped guide the organisation through significant technological change. Alongside his corporate career, Richard was invited to become a guest speaker at Nyenrode University and later expanded his media presence as host of the BNR radio programme 'Mindshift'.
Throughout his career, Richard has built a substantial body of thought leadership. He regularly shares cutting-edge insights through his Future Intelligence blog and has published more than 2,000 articles, books, e-books and white papers examining future trends and technological breakthroughs. He is also a familiar voice and face across media, sharing his perspectives through radio and television appearances that explore the impact of innovation on business, government and society. His research-driven approach and ability to translate complex technological developments into practical insights have established him as one of Europe's most sought-after futurists.
Richard is hired as a motivational speaker because he combines deep technological expertise with an inspiring vision of the future. Over the past 15 years, he has delivered hundreds of keynote presentations for leading organisations including Google, Microsoft, IBM, Samsung, Gartner, Interpol, the European Commission, PwC, Deloitte, Booking.com, Heineken, Unilever, Dubai Police and Nike. Audiences value his ability to make emerging technologies relevant, accessible and actionable, while motivating leaders and teams to embrace change, innovation and new opportunities. His presentations are renowned for challenging conventional thinking, inspiring future readiness and equipping organisations with the confidence to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.
