Dave Coplin

Dave Coplin told his Mum that one day he would be the CEO of a big company. Today, he holds the title of ‘Chief Envisioning Officer’– an unusual title he gifted himself to describe what he does, helping organisations and individuals envision the full potential that technology offers of a modern, digital society by focusing not on the technology itself, but on the humans who use it.

Dave has a tell-it-as-he-sees-it style and a light-hearted approach, which his audiences enjoy as he helps them think differently. This results in him being recognised as one of the most influential people in the digital industry – nominated as one of the Drum’s Digerati (2013, 2014) BIMA’s Hot 100 (2013) and the Digital Marketing Show’s “Class of 2014”.

Technology geekdom is in Dave’s DNA; a life-long Star Trek fan and a former CrystalMAze winner all contribute to the friendly, beardy, pony-tailed technology alchemist we know today. His appearance at Destination Star Trek saw him take to the stage to talk about a subject close to his heart – how technology, and even innovations referenced in Star Trek, are being brought to life now, changing the way we live and work forever.

With over 25 years under his belt in the technology industry, Dave has been at the forefront of conversations around how individuals and organisations can benefit from the transformational potential that technology offers, rather than simply using it to do the same things only slightly better. Dave’s mission is to make people reconsider their relationship with technology and how it can help them work smarter, not harder.

Bringing some much-needed new and exciting thinking to the IT industry and the world of work, Dave has written two books Business Reimagined and The Rise of the Humans (published by Harriman House) which discuss the need to rethink how we use technology to make it work for us, not against us. Both books have sold well over 12,500 copies combined in the past year. He is currently working on his third book.

The Rise of the Humans (2014) shines a light on a cultural phenomenon threatening to overwhelm us – the deluge of digital information which surrounds us in work and in life. Dave argues that the sheer volume of information that we’re presented with often prevents us from ever going deep into subjects, and constrains us from getting the much needed headspace to think. He claims this deluge consequently often leads us to snack on data in a way that’s unhealthy for our minds, working styles and, most importantly, our lives.

Dave’s work as a published thought leader has allowed him to start a new conversation with audiences that resonates broadly at all levels within organisations and individuals about the changing nature of work which requires even greater levels of flexibility, collaboration, creativity and innovation. With a loyal audience on social media, Dave is a prominent and regular voice at leading industry events and platforms including the RSA, WorkTech, and Cloud World Forum.

His RSA Animate video on the need to re-imagine work has generated over 600,000 YouTube hits to date. His point of view resonates widely. Recent feedback from a regional Financial Service Commission highlights this, “It is not often you get to listen to someone without a sales pitch thrown in.”

Through addressing the intersection of modern society and technology through his public speaking and published works, Dave is spearheading the development of the UK’s IT and digital industries by helping people to understand and aspire to greater outcomes from our use of technology.

Dave is an authority in the industry, on a broad range of topics and a regular contributor in UK and Pan-EMEA media including the BBC, The Telegraph and The Guardian on topics from the future of education, privacy and on-line safety, right through to the Big Data rock stars and the impact of Machine Learning.

To book Dave for your next event, please contact a Prime Performers Booking Agent on 020 3500 3331 to discuss your requirements.