Elina Hiltunen is a renowned motivational keynote speaker and a leading futurist with an impressive academic background. Holding a Doctor of Science in Business Administration from Aalto University and a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from Helsinki University of Technology, her expertise spans diverse academic fields. Recognised globally, Forbes has listed her as one of the top 50 leading female futurists in the world. Her role as a speaker is deeply informed by her extensive experience in lecturing on various future-oriented topics both in Finland and internationally. Currently, she is enhancing her academic prowess by pursuing a second PhD at the National Defence University in Finland, focusing on the innovative use of science fiction in the foresight processes of defence organisations.
Elina's career trajectory has been both diverse and impressive. She has served as a futurist at Nokia, the Finland Futures Research Centre, and Finpro, contributing significantly to future forecasting and innovation. Her entrepreneurial spirit is evident in her founding of What's Next Consulting Oy in 2007, offering consultancy services to organisations aiming to better prepare for future challenges. Furthermore, she has played a pivotal role as an Executive in Residence at Aalto University, ARTS, and ventured into publishing with Saageli, established in March 2021, primarily focused on publishing her works.
A prolific author, Elina has contributed 14 books to the literary world, with four dedicated to futurism and one a science fiction anthology. Her works are not confined to Finnish audiences alone; two of her future-focused books have been translated into English, along with her PhD thesis on weak signals. Beyond her books, Elina maintains an active presence as a columnist in various business and technology magazines and has participated in YLE's science-themed TV series. These endeavours highlight her commitment to disseminating knowledge on future trends and innovations.
Elina Hiltunen's contributions extend beyond foresight and futurism. She is an innovator, developing tools for future thinking such as Futures Windows and Strategic Serendipity, and co-inventing the TrendWiki tool for crowdsourcing futures in organisations. Her engagement with STEM extends to encouraging young girls through the ‘Tiedettä tytöille’ (Science for Girls) project. Additionally, her creative side is showcased in her work as a freelance amigurumi designer and author of three books on the craft, along with children's books focusing on computational thinking. Elina's multifaceted career and diverse interests make her a highly motivating and inspirational keynote speaker, capable of engaging a wide range of audiences on a variety of topics.
